Courtney Conolgue wins Hurley US Open of Surfing

Courtney Conolgue achieves the biggest win of her young career in front of her hometown Huntington Beach crowd. Her vicious backhand attack and gutsy performance wowed the crowd repeatedly at the open. Courtney has been surfing the US Open since the young age of 12 and there is no sign of her slowing down. Defeating the defending champ Malia Manuel in the finals was not an easy win for Courtney, especially in the huge surfing conditions of the Open. Courtney made it the second year in a row a woman without a driving license wins the open. Courtney’s impressive performance solidifies her as a threat to the world’s finest competitive surfing movement and continues to establish the explosive regular-footer as a frontrunner in the women’s progressive surfing movement. After completing her education goals, Courtney plans on participating in the ASP World Tour of Surfing. Courtney is a long time user of Power Balance, a performance technology that improves balance, coordination and strength.

Last year at the US open of Surfing the waves were so small, spectators blamed the all-grom woman’s final on their small statues, this year proved them wrong. Courtney’s competitive drive, fierce training and use of Power Balance performance technology were evident in each of her heats. Courtney’s success in competitive surfing will continue to grow as she competes in future competitions.

Trialist Joe Aaron Eliminates Reigning ASP WLT Champion Phil Rajzman in Round 3

7 November, 2008 : - - San Clemente -- The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Longboard Tour (WLT) completed Round 3 of the Oxbow World Longboard Tour at San Onofre State Beach today in Peaky two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf.

Round 3 action saw event trialist Joe Aaron (USA), 17, eliminate reigning ASP WLT Champion Phil Rajzman (BRA) from competition, while Hawaiians Bonga Perkins (HAW), 36, and Ned Snow (AUS), 23, posted some big scores in their bouts.

The Oxbow World Longboard Tour at San Onofre State Beach marks the last of two events on the ASP WLT with the top finisher of the series taking the title of ASP World Longboard Champion. Ingleby won the last Oxbow World Longboard Tour event at Les Cavalliers in Anglet, France and the Australian is still in the hunt for back-to-back Oxbow World Longboard Tour wins.

Aaron, who entered the Oxbow World Longboard Tour event via the trials, issued the upset of the contest by eliminating the defending ASP WLT champion, Rajzman, from competition in a tight Round 3 heat to advance into Round 4. The unexpected elimination of Rajzman by the young local surfer halts the Brazilians chances of a repeat ASP WLT title.

"I'm so psyched," Aaron said. "I'm just stoked that I got the sets and beating him is just such a career highlight for me. To me, before I started that heat I was kind of thinking that going against the world champ, that it was impossible for me to advance, but I guess nothing's impossible."

Aaron, who is the youngest surfer remaining in the event, hopes he can carry the confidence earned from defeating the current ASP WLT Champion into his next heat. "This helps my confidence," Aaron said. "This betters me and I just want to keep on trucking and try to stay confident in my next heat."

- Surfers Village-