Billabong Pro Tahiti Day 9 - Highlights from Billabong on Vimeo.

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti played host to an incredible day of action, with major shifts in the hunt for the ASP World Title as well as surfers falling off the Dream Tour.

Manoa Drollet, local Tahitian wildcard, caused the upset of the event, eliminating current ASP World No. 1 Jordy Smith from the competition in Round 3. The quiet Tahitian utilized his intimate knowledge of the break and picked off the better set waves to control the heat and come away from with the win.

Enjoy these highlights from Day 9, which saw perhaps the best surf so far and reduced the ASP's top 45 to 32.

Photo: ASP / KIRSTIN
Freddy P sneaks into a Tahitian barrel

Photo: WRIGHTCOASTSURF.COM
The HopefulsA bevy of Miss Reef hopefuls graced the stage at the 2010 Miss Reef Contest this past weekend, but only one contestant took home the coveted title. Simply going by her first name, Natalia, the Argentine was officially crowned Miss Reef as she won over thousands of spectators and judges at the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships. Natalia won her share of $2000 in prizes and will fly to Hawaii in November to compete at the Miss Reef Hawaiian Pro during the first stop of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Photo: WRIGHTCOASTSURF.COM
Miss Reef Contestant

The Miss Reef contest held during the ECSC was a worldly event with contestants representing from up and down the Eastern seaboard, and as far away as Panama, Brazil and Argentina. In fact, the Miss Reef contest is one of the few times where the identity of Miss Reef is actually revealed to the public.

Feel like you missed out? Well you did, but stay tuned for more info on the upcoming Miss Reef Hawaiian Pro this coming November. Even if you aren't lucky enough to live on the North Shore, a live webcast of the Miss Reef Contest could be the next best thing.

Photo: WRIGHTCOASTSURF.COM
"And I do my little turn on the catwalk"

Want to see more of Natalia? A Miss Reef title will offer her the opportunity to represent Reef in advertisements, inclusion in the Miss Reef Calendar, and appearances at special events around the world. Stay tuned!

Chris Chippa Wilson weighs in with Big Spin from Kustom Airstrike on Vimeo.

Kustom Airstrike, the world's richest aerial surfing contest has entered its last week and the race for the $50k winner takes all prize money has just intensified with a late entry from one of Australia s most innovative surfers, Chris "Chippa" Wilson.

Chippa, who hails from Cabarita on the far Northern NSW Coast, got the entry in 6 days before the Aug 31 deadline, with an aerial that's bound to get a lot of interest.

"It's a skate move called a 'Big Spin'" said Chippa. "It's basically a backside 360 board varial, with a 180 body varial thrown in as well."

"The move is innovative because it's something completely different to what we normally do on surfboards. I like to bring some skate style into my surfing. It's no flip, but it's way more innovative than anything I've ever done!"

The event waiting period officially closes on August 31, 2010, with the winner to be announced in the first 2 weeks of September.

Check out all the entries on kustomairstrike.com

Chippa Wilson gets filthy

Photo: Reef
Reef Marketing Director, PJ ConnellAn international brand with a unique history, Reef was born from the vision and coastal lifestyle of two Argentinean brothers - Fernando and Santiago Aguerre. The brothers' dream was to create a high quality, active lifestyle sandal. So in 1984, they saved up $4,000 and headed to La Jolla, CA.

26+ years later, Reef is a leading provider of innovative and comfortable footwear. At its core, Reef is a surf company, but also a generous one (as you will read about the Reef Redemption initiative). I checked in with Marketing Director PJ Connell. Enjoy!

- Danny Spyra

Photo: Reef
Miss Reef
BNQT - THE SUMMER 2010 REEF LINE OF FOOTWEAR LOOKS AMAZING. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT TO EXPECT FROM EACH FOOTWEAR SERIES?

PJ - Reef has an expansive collection of footwear styles, so to help our customers break it down we segment the line into five categories:

1. The Performance group is where the true innovation and function comes in. These styles are some of our most technical in terms of comfort.

2. The Essentials category is where our classic, go-to Reef sandals live. Some of these styles have been in the line since Reef was founded in 1984, as well as some new styles that are sure to become the next generation of classics.

3. The Leather category is all about premium materials, clean styling and channeling the casual, surf roots of the brand.

4. The Supreme Collection is simply the best of the best using the finest materials, including ISA Lite (Low Impact to the Environment) leathers.

5.Finally, the Progressive category is where we throw all the rules out, and just have some fun. The common bond between all categories is that each is designed to be Ridiculously Comfortable.

Photo: Reef
The innovative Vision sandals

BNQT - THE "TUNNEL VISION" FEATURE ON THE VISION IS CERTAINLY UNIQUE. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS SANDAL?

PJ - The concept behind the Vision was to create a sandal that was so lightweight, you can literally see right through it. The lightweight injection "Tunnel Vision" in the sole helps achieve the concept that you can see and feel. To support the launch of the sandal, Reef actually called upon the public to "Upload their Vision" for a user generated ad featuring personal photos of travel, surfing, friends etc. Check out the Vision sandal micro-site: http://www.reef.com/guys/vision-sandal.php.

Photo: Reef
The J-Bay: durable, stylish and environmentally
friendly
BNQT - THE J-BAY SANDAL IS COMPRISED OF PREMIUM MATERIALS LIKE PIG SKIN, BUT I HEARD IT S ALSO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. HOW SO?

PJ - The J-Bay comes from our Supreme Collection and is made with ISA L.I.T.E (low impact to the environment) leather. The process used to make this leather has been specifically designed to control and minimize CO2 emissions, a major cause of climate change. In addition, the J-Bay is a member of the Reef Redemption Program, which means 1% of the proceeds will benefit Reef selected environmental organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and SurfAid International.

Photo: Reef
The Chengu features Reef's new asymmetrical strap
BNQT - REEF DESIGNED THE NEW ASYMMETRICAL STRAP WITH COMFORT IN MIND. HOW DOES THIS STRAP (FEATURED IN THE CHENGU) DIFFER FROM OTHERS?

PJ - The Chengu was designed with the idea that the strap of a sandal should follow the natural lines and curves of your foot, and the foot isn't symmetrical. The Chengu uses a thicker strap on the inside to hug your arch, and the thinner side gives your foot the freedom it needs. The asymmetrical concept is really catching on and becoming one of our better selling styles.

Photo: Reef
Reef Bohemia: minimalistic yet stylish
BNQT - LET'S MOVE ON TO WOMEN'S FOOTWEAR. THE BOHEMIA IS MINIMALISTIC YET STYLISH. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS DESIGN?

PJ - The Bohemia has that classic Reef silhouette, with a unique strap detail. The strap on the outside can actually adjust up or down to fit the shape of your foot. The Bohemia also uses ISA L.I.T.E leathers and is part of the Reef Redemption program.

Photo: Reef
The Ugandals feature beads from women in Uganda

BNQT - THE UGANDAL SANDAL HAS AN INCREDIBLE STORY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE SANDAL IS MADE AND WHO IT HELPS?

PJ - Reef has partnered with an organization started by five young friends called 31 Bits. This organization aids a group of displaced women in Uganda by helping them to sell their beautifully handcrafted paper beads to an international market. The idea is to help them grow their own business and to help provide for their communities for years to come. As an added benefit, the paper they use to make the beads is made from 100% recycled magazine paper! Reef has partnered on two Ugandal styles thus far, and a third style will launch this January! An amazing video about the project can be seen here http://www.reef.com/girls/ugandal.php

Photo: Reef
Sneak peak at the Reef Coastal Cruisers out this
Fall!
BNQT - FINALLY, CAN YOU GIVE US A SNEAK PEEK AT THE COASTAL CRUISERS (LAUNCHING THIS FALL)? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

PJ - The Coastal Cruiser Collection is Reef's initiative to bring effortlessly stylish and ridiculously comfortable footwear to beachgoers and city dwellers alike. The styling of the lightweight canvas slip-on shoes is easy to wear, offering a comfortable, no-nonsense alternative for Reef sandal wearers, all year long.

The relaxed nature of the Reef Coastal Cruiser Collection proceeds with the ability to go laces in or out. The styles have an optional collapsible heel, which transforms the shoe into a cozy no-fuss slide. All styles in the collection are machine washable, and are constructed with odor controlling materials. Coastal Cruisers can be worn confidently without socks, for a slick and casual boat shoe look.

Street Beat Archive:

Whitney Morris with O'Neill Girls

Erik Paulsen with TAVIK

Joe Babcock with Gravis

Mike Quilliam with Atwater

Chris Friel with SABRE

Ryan Hagy with Metal Mulisha

Dustin & Dylan Odbert with ambsn

Chad LaBass with Freestyle

Joey Jorgensen with Analog

Kelly Magrath with DC

Frank Delgadillo with COMUNE

Derek Boucher with Vestal

Steve Van Doren with Vans

John Harbin with West Wetsuits

Ryan Rush with ECO'Neill

Nicole Hanriot with TAVIK Swimwear

Matt Gleason with Liquid Force

Eric Mehlberg with Kustom

Mike Murphy with Fyasko

Ian Foulke with ISIS

Jonathan Paskowitz with Lightning Bolt

Matt Harkins with SPY OPTIC

Chris Brunstetter with Goldcoast Longboards

Damon George with ERGO

Charlie Setzler with Rusty