Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist for METALLICA has become an avid surfer in the past few years and as the band is nearing completion on their upcoming album "Death Magnetic" is it possible Kirk and his wife Lani are thinking about business endeavors outside Metallica?

Hammett recently revealed he has had initial thoughts of starting a clothing line geared toward the surfing industry: "I've actually thought of a sportswear line, surf clothing line. I have the name and it's so good I'm not even going to tell you guys. But yeah, I have big plans. Whether they actually find the time to actually come to the surface remains to be seen."

Metallica are in the final stages of their highly anticipated album "Death Magnetic" which is set for release September 16th. The band has enlisted the services of producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin and the band will be releasing the album as a box set dubbed 'The Coffin Box' which contains a Documentary DVD, bonus tracks and collectibles for their fans. Metallica are currently touring Europe in support of "Death Magnetic".

SOURCE: Imperiumi.net

For the fourth season in a row, the Rip Curl Pro Search event will throw a curveball at the world’s best surfers, offering the ASP Top 45 a never-before-competed-at Dream Tour venue.

Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search will once again pit the best surfers on the planet at a location that has never before hosted an ASP event. Previous Rip Curl Pro Search venues have included St. Leu on Reunion Island (2005), “La Jolla” in mainland Mexico (2006) and El Gringo in Chile’s port town of Arica (2007), but 2008’s venue has been kept secret from the public at large.

Kelly Slater (USA), eight-time ASP World Champion and current ratings leader on the ASP World Tour, has been in staggering form this season, collecting four victories in five events (Gold Coast, Bells Beach, Tavarua and Jeffreys Bay), and will be the man to beat at the Rip Curl Pro Seach.

“I’m really relaxed,” Slater said. “My life is really good personally and professionally. There’s nothing side-tracking me and nothing in the way. I’ve got to take the same approach that I took at the start of the year, which is not being preoccupied, and just focus on what’s happening right now and how do I maximize that.”

Padang Padang's new resident shipwreck, the Ho Tsai Fa (No.18 CTA-2699) is now off the surfing reef and wedged into the rocks facing the surf break. Daily physical efforts from Bali-based ROLE Foundation, GUS Foundation, Rip Curl, and a crew of volunteers have been concentrated on the low tides, the only time the ship is safely accessible on dry reef. The good news is most hazardous materials like oil, diesel, and loose bits of boat have been removed and hauled away.

Concerned divers have cleaned the underwater reef of fishing hooks, sharp gaffs, wires, nets, pieces of metal and other dangerous shrapnel from the wreck. The bad news is that the ship's 100 ft+ (33 m+) fiberglass frame could start breaking off at a faster rate with each new swell, further polluting the surrounding areas. Gaping holes are already ripped into the boat's bottom, meaning that any attempts to pull it off the reef  would result in the ship sinking like a rock.

The offensive stench of the remaining fish and bait rotting in the ship's hold truly tests one's limits. Other fishy smells come from the crew that jumped to safety, way in advance, while the ship was set on a crash course for Bali. Apparently the ship had broken all contact for about a month before the wreck, its whereabouts and intentions unknown. Police are on the lookout for the crew. As we know, the ship wrecked on the opening ceremony night for the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang late last Friday night, choosing its final berth not far below the judging tower and contest lookout.

The 2008 Fuerteventura Kitespeed Grand Slam came to an end today with another two exciting races in conditions from 25-35 knots. It was again a hard fight between Sebastien Cattelan, Robert Douglas and Alex Caizergues.
Cattelan ended the event with two more bullets and clearly took the event win, but it was very close between the second and the third place. The better end was then for Robert Douglas, only one point ahead of Alex Caizergues, and also rewarded by a new american kitespeed record of 40.21 knots.

In the womens fleet both Sjoukje Bredenkamp and Charlotte Consorti took one victory, leaving Charlotte with a perfect score after 8 races. Katja Roose came in third.

The 2008 Fuerteventura Speed:World:Cup continues from Friday on with the ISWC Speed WIndsurfing World Championship, running til the 2nd of August and presenting the top 70 speed windsurfers of the world.

SOURCE: Speed:World:Cup

Sotavento Beach saw another epic battle today, with the better end for Sebastien Cattelan. Two races were completed today, varying from 20 knots and flat water to 30 knots and killer chop.

It was again Cattelan, Douglas and Roberts who fought for the event lead. Christophe Prin-Guenon is also still in reach of the podium.

Cattelan managed two bullets today, and Prin-Guenon together with Robert Douglas short behind.

The first race was started in app. 20 knots of wind and perfect water conditions. With two extensions it was clear that the conditions improved over the duration of the leg. The second leg was started for the afternoon session then, with the winds picking up to almost 30 knots,and it was again a fight between the "big three" for the lead.

Day four of the 2008 Fuerteventura Kitespeed Grand Slam saw one of the most thrilling kitespeed races of all times. The first leg brought some big surprises, but todays second heat outperformed everything looked at before.

The first heat started in winds averaging 20 knots, gusting 25, but on a much broader angle than yesterdays races. The favorites seemed to have not big enough kites for such conditions, and so it was up to Robert Douglas from the USA to get the victory. The favourites, first of all Alex Caizergues and Sebastien Cattelan struggeled with the conditions, and so it was up to Robert Douglas (USA) to snatch the victory ahead of Rolf van der Vlugt (NED) and Christophe Prin-Guenon (FRA).

The second heat was postponed for one and a half hour to get hold of the best wind conditions of the day in the afternoon. What followed now was a race in really tough conditions, 25 knots average wind gusting 30, and quite rough water. With a wind angle of app. 145 degree it was hard for most of the riders to make the course.

First shock to the final day’s proceedings was that Micah Buzianis (JP, NeilPryde, MFC) would not be participating after sustaining a broken leg in the previous day’s racing. The upshot of Buzianis’s injury meant he’d clock up last place finishes in all subsequent races, a devastating blow to his event campaign considering he was ranked second overall.
 
Men’s Eliminations
 
Having completed 11 races over the previous four days, the men’s fleet needed to rack up a minimum of two races on the final day to gain a crucial third discard (i.e a sailor’s worst three results could be discarded).
 
Ample wind and time on the clock meant this wouldn’t be an issue, and the first two races were completed back to back before lunch.
 
A late flourish from Benoit Moussilmani (F2, Simmer Sails) saw him sail home to victory in the final of race 12, awarding him his first ever race win in PWA competition. Behind him, Ben Van Der Steen (Exocet, Simmer) continued his assault on the podium in second, and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (T1, North Sails) added a third to his bag of results. Antoine Albeau (Starboard, NeilPryde) took a conservative tenth place, handing him the guaranteed event title, with races still to go.

The men hit the water first to add a ninth race to their tally from the previous days. Signs of nerves were all too apparent, when four out of the twelve competitors in the losers’ final false started.

Taking the reigns of the depleted heat, Josh Angulo (MauiSails, Dakine) clawed his way into first position, meaning he’d walk away with a 13th place finish for that race.

In the winners final, which would decide the top twelve positions of the race, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (T1, North) emerged as the man to beat. He fended off advances from event leader Antoine Albeau (Starboard, NeilPryde) to take his second race win of the event so far. Albeau finished in second, and Ben Van Der Steen (Exocet, Simmer) looked dangerous in third.

Following a short break for lunch, the second race of the day swung into action. First to slip up was F2’s shaper, Patrik Diethelm (F2, North), who failed to make it through the first round of heats thanks to a false start.

Two race eliminations, and two full fleet races were completed in the men’s and women’s fleets. Winning the men’s eliminations were Finian Maynard (RRD, NeilPryde) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (T1, North). The men’s full fleet races were won by Antoine Albeau (Starboard, NeilPryde) and Micah Buzianis (JP, NeilPryde, MFC).
 
In the women’s fleet, Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou, The Loft) continued to dominate, winning both race eliminations and one full fleet race. Karin Jaggi claimed victory in the remaining full fleet race.
 
Men’s Fleet
 
Race 5: Kick starting the day’s proceedings in a fresh 15-30 knot wind, the first round of heats followed a relatively predictable path to the semi finals. Moving into the race final, all the big names stood poised to do battle.

The final settings for the Rio das Ostras event where being made today. The city already breaths Bodyboarding. Top riders such as Uri Valadão, Neymara Carvalho, Eunatte Aguirre, Rita Pires and Catarina Souza are already in town and ready for action.
 
The stage is being set...

This Wednesday only the amateurs will compete for the 2nd event of the Brazilian national tour.
 
All professional riders must attend the official check in this Wednesday from 9:00AM to 7:00PM on the Rio das Ostras Bodyboarding house, near the beach.
 
The competition will have online webcast starting this Thursday – www.abbctour.net/rdo2008.

SOURCE: IBA Tour

Everything is ready for the 4th IBA world tour event that will happen from July 24th to 27th in Costa Azul Beach, in Rio das Ostras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The competition will distribute $30.000 dollars and 1000 points in the world ranking.
 
The mandatory check in will take place on Wednesday July 23rd from 9:00AM to 7:00PM in Rio das Ostras Bodyboarding house, right beside the Costa Azul beach.
 
Seems to be coming for next week a good swell that might bring nice waves to the competition staring on Saturday. As usual, the Rio das Ostras Bodyboarding 2008 will have online web cast starting Thursday 24th 9:00AM local time.

To follow the web cast check out: www.abbctour.net/rdo2008 .

SOURCE: IBA

The 2008 Senor Frogs Sandy Beach Pro went off without a hitch this past 4th of July weekend. Over 80 competitors came out to test their skills at Half Point the world famous reef break on Oahu’s south shore.

Both days of the two event where started with Amateur rounds and many amazing rides by new comes like Alex Brown, Matthew Holtzman, Bubu Casamerio and many more. The Amateurs gave the Pro’s a heads up to where the future of the sport is going with consistent surfing through out the two days.

The 13- 18 AM division was one by Alex Brown narrowing out his Kauaian friend Matthew Holtman by 2 points. Trevor Cam and Alan Lamphere followed up with the 3rd and 4th sport respectively in the final.

Next in line where the Open Am heats in which another Kauaian Travis Smith made an impression while JB Hillen from the Westside of Oahu made a big push on to the USBA with his first USBA event!