Back in the Stone Age when some unknown carved a board, specifically to ride a wave, the foundation for contemporary boardriding was established. The activity came to Hawaii 1500 years ago with the arrival of the first Polynesians. In the post European contact period, authors Jack London and Mark Twain were early enthusiasts.

Acceptance of surfing was greatly expanded through the exploits of Hawaiian waterman Duke Kahanamoku. Duke, the swimming sensation of the 1912 Olympic games, toured the world enthusiastically promoting his native culture. In the process Duke introduced surfing to Australia , the eastern U.S. coast, and many of Hollywood ’s top personalities.
By the 1920’s there were approximately three hundred dedicated wave riders in the world. World War II curtailed the growth of the emerging surf scene. Soon after the war, newly developed materials such as Styrofoam, polyester resin and fiberglass cloth found their way into surfboard construction. Enterprising veterans such as Dale Velzy and Malibu ’s Joe Quigg began to craft boards that were radical departures from the old pre-war planks. These easy to ride boards opened up the once exclusive sport to legions of enthusiasts.
Hollywood discovered the one-time sport of Hawaiian Kings and a full-blown fad exploded. Gidget, the 1959 motion picture, prompted commercialism. Surf mania ran rampant. Kids in Kansas began bolting surfboards to their car tops in an effort to appear cool.

Fads and function operate on different paradigms. Looking like a surfer is not the same thing as being a surfer. In the beginning those who rode the waves wore nothing at all. By the start of the twentieth century, surfers attempted to adapt extant surf bathing attire to their own use. From Santa Cruz to Sydney surfers fought a losing battle with the heavy woolen tank suits that were originally intended for a passive dunk at the plunge. In Hawaii “da bruddahs” cut off the tops of their woolens, forever voiding the best intentions of the Victorian moralists.

Back in the 1930’s, early surf proponents like Palos Verdes Surf Club founder, Doc Ball, fashioned their own trunks in the effort to discover a workable garment. For the most part though, conventional clothing manufacturers turned out thinly disguised versions of the ubiquitous swim trunk.

By the sixties, surf chic was a cultural phenomenon. Carloads of guys wearing suits and wing-tipped dress shoes showed up on the sands of Malibu on research and destroy missions. The clever marketers from the garment district even tried the protective camouflage- celebrity model approach. Blatant examples of this were evident in the surf crazed 1960’s.

Jantzen went with frontmen Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers, John Severson, the publisher of Surfer Magazine and United States Surfing Champion Corky Carroll. MacGregor used board manu Hobie Alter as a pitchman. Catalina Martin sponsored the Malibu Surfing Association and the Wind an Sea Club. Catalina went so far as to partially underwrite the Blum brothers’ movie The Fantastic Plastic Machine chronicling the emergent V-bottom short board revolution in Australia .

A few years later, indigenous root brands came to market: Hang Ten, Birdwell Beach Britches, Golden Breed, Kanvas by Katin, Reed of Newport and Roy ’s Beach Cabana. By and large these products imitated the garments favored by traveling surfers that were made by small Hawaiian boutique tailors like M. Nii of Waianae, Taki of Waikiki, H. Muira and Reyn Spooner. These trunks were constructed of stiff heavy canvas and were totally restrictive to movement. The fact was surf trunks were not designed for the act of surfing.

Ostensibly these Baggies may have been passable gear back in the stand and pose phase of the sport. Board lengths and weights dropped dramatically towards the end of the sixties. This dawn of newer directions in surfing under scored how archaic these stiff bathing suit relics actually were. Instead of riding on the waves in the old hopelessly heroic straight-line style, people were now actively traveling all over the wave’s surface in agile anarchy. Progressive moves like acceleration turning, riding inside of the barrel and flying off of the lip obviously demanded equally modern boardshorts.
In the late 1960’s Australian surfers Alan Green and John Law chased a dream – to live in Torquay, make a living and go surfing. In 1969 Alan Green produced wetsuits (Rip Curl) on a $2500 loan from his father, the next product was sheepskin boots (UGG Boots), and in 1970 he and John Law formed the company named Quiksilver. Greenie and Law ripped apart some old trunks and discarded the portions that they deemed unnecessary or undesirable. Gone was the leaden canvas, the lace up front, the long stovepipe legs, the double thick seams and buttons that hurt when you paddled. Nothing of the old was left so they started from scratch. A pattern that was anatomically based was devised to move with the surfer.

Greenie and Law’s innovative trunk was made from a durable, lightweight fabric that dried rapidly. Their boardshorts had short scalloped legs that didn’t bind or hang up. The styling was essentially clean. A wide waistband yielded support. They designed a snap that held and placed it so a bloke could paddle. There were no decorative add-ons. There was a wax pocket, a lay flat Velcro front closure and that was about it.

So Greenie and Law put them on and went surfing. Hard at it, all day every day. People notice what works. They also pay attention to individuals who devote years to chasing a dream. Soon other riders would do anything to get one of these elusive newfangled boardshorts. This was the birth of Quiksilver, the genuine, original, functional choice of the hard-core participant.

Leading the beg, borrow and steal-a-pair brigade, was the foremost competitor of the decade, Jeff Hakman. Personally trained by the Duke, he understood both the history of the activity and the scope of greatness. Tutored by the legendary surfboard shaper Richard Brewer he had an immediate grasp of functional design. Above all, as one of the key players in the radicalization of surfing itself, Hakman knew the future when he saw it. In Torquay, Oz for a contest, Jeff got one of those glimpses. Quiksilver boardshorts. With a little chicanery Jeff managed to abscond with some that he forgot to return to his mate, Australian pro Mark Warren. They were a perfect fit and everywhere Hakman toured people were mad to possess them. In 1976, Hakman left Torquay with a Bells trophy and an agreement to distribute Quiksilver in the United States .
Back home in Hawaii , Jeff enlisted the aid of his surfing friend Bob “Buzz” McKnight a surf filmmaker and student who just happened to be close to graduating from the University of Southern California with a business degree. The demand for these new boardshorts was there. The design was there. Everyone who wore them said these Quiksilver’s were the most comfortable trunks that they had ever worn. Bob, in addition to surfing everyday, was a business major. How can you fail with a combination like that, Hakman reasoned. With his usual persistence, Jeff managed to persuade Greenie and Law to grant Bob and himself the American license to the magic boardshort. No recounting of the annals of the sport fails to include the torrid tale of the eager to impress Hakman actually eating the serving doily off of the dinner table at a local Torquay restaurant much to the delight of Greenie. A great partnership had begun.

By the mid-1970’s, a small office/warehouse/distribution center was opened in Newport Beach , California . McKnight and Hakman built a business based on word of mouth, quality, unbelievable service and their extensive personal contacts at surf shops on all three coasts of the USA .

Growing a company that produces a never seen before product category is a difficult way to go. The partners were hard at it product testing in the water, designing at the sewing machines and selling to the surf shops. Leading converts from surfing’s new school like Danny Kwock came on board.

The firm’s constant innovation in materials, high tech fabrics and cutting edge graphics helped propel Quiksilver further. Involvement in assorted boardriding activities led to the creation of newer designs for these varied avocations. Novel apparel for committed snowboarders and skateboarders led to additional expansion. The Quiksilver program is universally recognized as the embodiment of purist improvisation and innovation. Quiksilver’s position of leadership in the international teen and young adult markets is undeniable.

The seventh decade of this century went out in loud outrageous fashion as Quiksilver let loose with Echo beach prints (which included polka dots, triangles and checkerboards). The sky was the limit in the early 80’s: paint and graphics poured from the heavens and brought competitive, fashion-hungry beach culture, The Quiksilver War Paint and ST Comp stretch series were worn by legendary Australian surfers Gary Elkerton and Tom Carroll.

Both were bold, each stood apart, as did the expanded Quiksilver team of professional surfers endorsing the products to a worldwide market. These were the Performers, committed to a new era of high-performance surfing. Going with the roots of Greenie and Law’s simple goals of fashion and function, Quiksilver designers listened to the words of top surfers, snowboarders, and skateboarders in order to deliver a line of swim wear and sportswear to enthusiasts who participated in their active sports.

In 1984, Jeff Hakman went to Europe with surf filmmaker Harry Hodge, Brigitte Darrigrand and John Winship where they founded Quiksilver Europe. The trio took the Quiksilver formula and applied a European twist to its approach on product design and marketing.
In 1988, Quiksilver showed its prowess by endorsing one of the industry’s largest ever contracts with world champion Tom Carroll and in 1990 outstanding USA amateur surfer Kelly Slater joined the Quiksilver team. Slater went on to dominate, leading the “new school” of surfing and winning six world championships.
Quiksilver was instrumental in stimulating the current growth in women’s boardsports participation. The introduction of the Roxy junior swim and sportswear brand in 1991, inspired major trends in the activity. Roxy was the first brand to create functional, yet fashion driven clothing and equipment for both the would-be and accomplished female surfer. The unique style of Roxy’s performance-inspired design has been widely imitated throughout the fashion industry.

Long before the bastions of mainstream news reporting began charting the company’s progress, there was an elemental approach at work within Quiksilver unique to the company. Following Quiksilver’s initial public stock offering in 1986, there has been a continual interest in the company’s activities.

Many of these narratives center on the organization’s notable accomplishments: the over six-hundred million dollar per year gross sales and a unique prominence in the growing US teen market, which has over two hundred billion dollars of discretionary spending power each year in the US alone. So why does CEO and chairman of the board Robert B. McKnight Jr. insist that key management repeatedly meet on field trips and indulge the pursuits of gravity before they sit down to meet?

First and foremost Quiksilver’s products are created out of need. Whatever success they will enjoy is always secondary to that point. From Alan and John’s first pair of boardshorts through the aggressive new imagery of the Echo Beach period of the Eighties, down to anything in the line today, this is authentic performance gear. The point is that Quik stuff works so well because the people who design, make and sell it demand that it excel. This is why board meetings may be scheduled on European slopes, a ship off the coast of Java or a lake in Arizona . Quiksilver employees are a vital part of all research and development. They are the end users; everything they do is designed for them. There are no corporate marketing mission statements, trend- marketing surveys or fashion forecasts anywhere near it. Simple logic is, just create the best, most functional items imaginable and then work it. A survey of current Quiksilver employees will reveal an impressive number of former world, national, state and pro competitive title winners in surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding. You don’t find this coefficient of reality elsewhere.
The Quiksilver style is rooted in the activity. Proof of the viability of Quiksilver’s passionate approach can be found in its continued support of athletes such as six-time world professional surfing champion Kelly Slater and women’s four- time world professional surfing champion Lisa Andersen. Affiliates often take their association with the company further.

Rusty Keaulana, in addition to being a three-time world longboard champion, works with disadvantaged children in the Hawaiian community. Two-time world champion Tom Carroll develops prototype equipment in Australia . Ten- time international windsurfing champion Robby Naish is involved with European operations. Legendary waterman Barry Kanaiaupuni and six-time world professional surfing champion Kelly Slater own Quiksilver Boardriders Clubs.

Bruce Raymond, an Australian surfing champion, is the International Director of Marketing. Founding figure and multiple International Pro Champion Jeff Hakman still works daily in concert with Harry Hodge in France . Former United States surfing champion Willy Morris is a sales rep in California . French surfing great Peyo Lizarau is a vital part of the marketing team in Europe .

Quiksilver also sponsors a healthy number of surf teams, snowboard teams and a diverse selection of skateboarders, sailboarders, wakeboarders and motocross riders. The company also organizes and sponsors numerous contests and events ranging in scope from premiere international events to small community based efforts that its riders and dealers may be involved with.

The events created by Quiksilver may prove to be one of the company’s most compelling legacies. The choice of location, selection of invitees, method of judging, the style, look and promotion are all variables that are fine tuned in the making of a Quik event. A number of these projects have influenced the development of the extreme sports milieu.
A selection of these influential events includes: The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Series at Waimea Bay; The ground-breaking 1995 Quiksilver Pro at G-Land, Indonesia, that put hardcore credibility back into professional surfing events (the best surfers in the best waves); The World Amateur Surfing Championships at Newquay England, 1986; The Quiksilver Snowboarding and Surfing Cup in Europe; The Quiksilver Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu; The Quiksilver Winter Classic Surf/Snow Event; The Quiksilver Mavericks Big Wave Event; The Roxy Surf Jam at Hanalei and Ventura, The QuikSilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race. These pioneering events have firmly established Quiksilver as the authentic leader in the action sports market.

Another unique Quiksilver involvement is a series of innovative concept stores and shops, which have greatly improved both brand recognition and distribution standards.

Quiksilver Boardriders Clubs and in-store shops, Quiksvilles and Roxyvilles, have become key retail models around the world. Presently, there are two hundred and fifteen Quiksilver Boardriders Clubs globally including thirty in the United States . Trend setting in both their concept and execution, they are definitive presentations of the Quiksilver ethic. Flagship stores in Paris , London and New York are often mentioned by the fashion and business press as examples of truly entertaining retail concepts.

Today, Quiksilver offers a diverse line of products under its umbrella including a complete clothing collection, accessories, eyewear, watches, and wetsuits. A similar offering for boys ages 8-14 years old, 4-7 years old and toddlers. The Winter Sports division is emerging with snowboarding apparel and hard goods designed for high performance enthusiasts. To further expand the division, in 1997, Quiksilver acquired Mervin, a snowboard manufacturing company that makes Gnu and Lib Tech snowboards and Bent Metal bindings. QuikSilverEdition is a line of clothing targeting the now 25-40-year-old waterman. In 1999, the Company brought legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk into the Quiksilver family by sponsoring him and purchasing his company, Hawk Clothing. Girl’s lines including Roxy, Roxy Teenie Wahine, Raisins, Radio Fiji , and Leilani swimwear are stronger than ever.

Quiksilver has become far more than just a fashion apparel company. It is a company with deep roots in the history of the demanding outdoor sports lifestyle. Quiksilver, now a truly global brand, remains a pioneering force in the most original of all sports: surfing.

Check out the full range of Quiksilver clothing and Roxy clothes at www.jeanzunltd.com

Whether you’re a part of the Roxy surf culture, or just like to admire the stunning collection of Roxy clothing, footwear and accessories, there is no look cooler than the Roxy beach, fun-loving surfer girl.

The Roxy girl can both ride epic waves and look hot in sumptuous Roxy fashion while doing it. Roxy clothes look fresh and serve a function.

A few things every Roxy surfer girl wants oodles of are: Roxy bikinis, Roxy board shorts, Roxy sundresses, Roxy sunnies, and Roxy beach accessories.

Adopt the Roxy look with a spiritual approach; let your hair go au naturel, ditch heavy makeup, and just be a beautiful Roxy babe.

This Seasons Roxy swimwear features bright colours and a wide choice of prints which are the main strength of the Roxy swimwear collection.  Plain colours are bright and intense, from hawiaiian floral designs up to Roxy screens they are guaranteed to be fresh and cheerful, all Roxy prints are exclusive.
A lot of Roxy bikinis are sold as separates with a wide choice of sizes, from XS to XL for tops and bottoms, fitted to each morphology.   Roxy bikinis come with adjustable straps and ties, for tightening.  A large coverage shape is offered in numerous themes.   A wide range of styles is on offer, always fashion and fresh for young silhouettes. Roxy offers a selection of slide or fixed triangle tops and more or less covering bottoms and innovating shapes.  Also available in the Roxy swimwear collection low-rider pants and hipsters, cleavage enhancing tops and low waisted bottoms.

Styles are made up to last an endless summer.  Thanks to fabrics such as Meryl Nylstar in most of the swimwear themes.  Meryl provides softness, lightness and fast dry.  Thanks to the make up of Roxy swimwear, all styles are lined so the product never loses shape.  Great quality ensures your Roxy bikini is sure to keep its bright appearance in spite of sunbathing and swimming in the pool or sea.  Great quality trimmings will provide you with eyelets that will not rust in salt water.

All the Roxy swimsuits are made for dynamic and sporty girls.  Stretch material and memory fabrics are used to prevent styles loosing shape, thanks to lycra use from Invista (10% minimum in all fabrics).  The fabulous cut of Roxy swimsuits will ensure support with the help of a underwire bra and memory foam linings beneath the chest. All styles have protected seams.
All one piece Roxy swimsuits and other styles are made in fabrics that are most adapted to pool water.  Indeed Xtra Life Lycra fabric used in these themes resists chlorine and other pool chemicals, allowing Roxy swimwear to keep their shape 5-10 times longer than unprotected elasthane.
Remember beach babes to always rinse your Roxy swimwear in clean warm water at the end of each day to keep your stunning Roxy bikini as new as the day you purchased it.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, has won the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile, defeating Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, in the Final to claim the inaugural event on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Gilmore wasted no time in the Final, securing the day’s high single-wave score of a 9.57 out of a possible 10 on her opening wave for a fluid series of fin releases and power carves.

“It was a really little wave,” Gilmore said. “I had a few flashbacks from 2005 where I was trying to pick off the little ones that were going to grow down the line. Today it just so happened I picked a good one. It is important to get a good start and get a lead early in the heat.”

Gilmore’s victory today at Snapper Rocks marks her fourth consecutive win on the ASP Women’s World Tour, having claimed the last three events of the 2008 season, and puts her well on the path to a third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title.

“It’s a new start for me,” Gilmore said. “To win on your home turf, in front of all these people, it’s unbelievable.

”The phenomenal natural-footer has been a perennial event favorite at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast since claiming the title as a 17-year-old wildcard in 2005. Despite her extensive local knowledge, Gilmore had failed to secure a solid result at home since beginning her ASP Dream Tour campaign until today.

“This win is definitely more satisfying,” Gilmore said. “In 2005, I was blown away. I couldn’t believe I achieved it, but this time around it’s pleasing to know that I’ve come off a season as world champ, and I’ve done some training, so to come back out here today and win makes you feel really good.”

Bartels struggled to secure a scoring wave in the first half of the Final, only able to a post 7.50 out of a possible 10 with under five minutes to go.

“I am ecstatic right now,” Bartels said. “Surfing against Steph (Gilmore) in a heat is always a challenge for me. I know how good she is. I knew I needed to put up big scores, but no waves came through. She surfed unreal and I am just glad that I got to surf Snapper with one other person out.”

Despite the disappointing showing in Final, Bartels’ runner-up finish sees the Hawaiian rocket up the ratings from ASP World No. 7 to No. 2 heading into the rest of the season.

“To get a good result at the beginning of the year gives momentum to go into the next event and feel a little bit more confident and relaxed,” Bartels said. “I’ll just work on my surfing and see what mistakes I have done in this contest and just hope for the better in the next and try not to make the same mistakes.”

Coco Ho (HAW), 17, 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie, put on an inspiring performance in the Semifinals, falling just short to eventual runner-up Bartels to finish equal 3rd.

“It feels good,” Ho said. “I’m really happy for Melanie as well. She was surfing so well out there and got the better of every exchange. With ten minutes remaining, I was just like, ’I am out at Snapper with just Mel (Bartels),’ and I am just going to focus on getting as many waves as I can and just push every turn.”

Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, fellow 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, had an impressive run at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, before falling to eventual winner Gilmore in Semifinal 1.

“Steph (Gilmore) is the local favorite and world champ,” Hareb said. “She has everything going for her at the moment. It would have been good to meet her in the Final, but I’m still happy with making it to the Semifinals.”

Requiring only an average score to take the lead in her Semifinal heat, Hareb grabbed a roping righthander with the clock ticking and belted a first turn before getting caught up in her second maneuver.

“I’m a little bit disappointed about the last wave which I came off,” Hareb said. “I knew I could have won the heat with that wave.”

Huntington Beach, CA – (March 4, 2009) – Roxy is pleased to announce that Santigold and Cold War Kids will co-headline the outdoor free concert at the Fifth Annual Roxy Chicken Jam, March 27-29, 2009, Mammoth Mountain, CA.  The all-women snowboard event will bring together the top pro women snowboarders from around the world to compete in slopestyle and superpipe events for a combined prize purse worth $50,000. In addition to crowning the Swatch TTR Women’s World Champion, the unique event will feature a festival atmosphere with a mascot competition, games and goodies for all to enjoy.

“We’re proud to sponsor an event that not only nurtures talent in women’s snowboarding, but also gives back to the community and spectators,” said Randy Hild, Executive Vice President, Roxy Global Marketing.  “We’re excited to offer Roxy’s fans the chance to enjoy Santigold and Cold War Kids, as part of the Roxy Chicken Jam.”

The lovechild of submarine sonar and low frequency midnight moans, Santigold was born somewhere between Bedstuy and Bushwick, Brooklyn and was placed under the care of enigmatic singer and songwriter Santi White. Her eponymous debut album Santigold was released in 2008, the album’s single “L.E.S. Artistes” placed at number two on Rolling Stone’s Singles of the year, while the album Santigold was sixth on their albums of the year list.  Santigold is currently featured on the new Jay-Z track produced by Kanye West, “Brooklyn Go Hard,” and can be seen touring with Coldplay in Japan throughout February.

Hailing from Fullerton, CA, the indie rock band Cold War Kids burst onto the scene with their debut Robbers & Cowards in the fall of 2006. In 2007, they contributed to OKX, a tribute to the 10-year-old Radiohead album OK Computer, recording their version of the track “Electioneering.”  In September of 2008, they released their sophomore album Loyalty to Loyalty.

In addition to the competition, the Roxy Chicken Jam will include a winter wonderland festival, featuring a free concert with musical guests Santigold and Cold War Kids on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 7pm.  Additional activities over the course of the weekend include the ever-comedic Mascot SuperPipe Competition, hair by Paul Mitchell, Roxy demo boards and skis, and other giveaways and goodies.

The 2009 Roxy Chicken Jam is presented by ROCKSTAR Energy Drink.  Additional partners include Paul Mitchell, Covergirl, JBL, Zumiez, Ford Models, FuelTV, Nylon Magazine, Mammoth Mountain, and Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour.  For more information on the Roxy Chicken Jam and festival visit www.roxy.com/2009/chicken¬_jam.

About Roxy:
Roxy is a brand of Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK), the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, wintersports equipment, footwear, accessories and related products.  The Company’s apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage.

The reputation of Quiksilver’s brands is based on different outdoor sports.  The Company’s Quiksilver, Roxy, DC and Hawk brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach and water oriented swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji and Leilani. The Company continues to make snowboarding equipment under its DC, Roxy, Lib Technologies, Gnu and Bent Metal labels.

The Company’s products are sold in over 90 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, skate shops, snow shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops and other company-owned retail stores, other specialty stores and select department stores.  Quiksilver’s corporate and Americas’ headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California, while its European headquarters are in St. Jean de Luz, France, and its Asia/Pacific headquarters are in Torquay, Australia.

The Roxy Pro Australia is just about here and we are getting really excited to see Sally Fitzgibbons’ first competition on the ASP! She has had an incredible year so far, qualifying for the ASP Tour in record time and the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks will be her first competition on the pro circuit.

Our very own Lisa Andersen will be at the event. She is going to be sending us updates for the blog so stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes info from her!

The holding period for the event is from Feb. 28th - Mar. 11th. Check the website daily because when the contest is on we are going to have a live webcast! Yay! You won’t be missin’ any of the action.

Below are the Roxy Pro’s round one match ups:

Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL)

Heat 2: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)

Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), TBA

Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW)

Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)

Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)

Roxy clothing has taken green to heart.  Whether we’re catching waves or catching the lift, the planet is our playground, worthy of our appreciation and our protection.  Roxy’s new green print products are made with earth-friendly materials which may include materials like organic cotton, fleece made from recycled bottles, and recycled hardware- sustainable resources that will flaunt your eco style, not cramp it.  Being eco sensitive is a little more expensive, but it saves the kind of green that counts.  Look for the greenprint on all kinds of Roxy products this season. 

Check out Roxy’s ECO-CIRCLE products, these items are recycled and recyclable polyester by Tejin Fiber Limited, the only factory able to recycle polyester indefinitely, thanks to Eco-circle.

You can return your old garments so that we could recycle them in polyester raw material again.  To know where to send your old garments, please check on www.roxy-eco.com

Roxy South Africa are once again off to Mozambique, to the fabled break of Ponto Do Oro, for the Roxy Invitational 2009. The perfect right hand point break of Ponto will be the arena for the 10 best female surfers in the country to cut loose on the best day during the waiting period 4-11 May 09.

This year there is a new initiative to enable all surfers the possibility of entering the event. Go to the event website roxy.co.za/invitational and if you think you deserve to be a part of this prestigious crew, then this is your opportunity to state your case and put yourself before the selectors. Entries close 27 February 09.

This is the third year of this successful and popular event, and the 12 open slots are possibly some of the most coveted contest slots in the country. With a R10,000 first prize in the mix, women surfers get themselves into a bit of a frenzy trying to get into the event. The official Roxy Invitational website will be updated with the invited surfers profiles mid-March 09. The website also offers 2008 event pics, video and event news.

The Roxy Invitational is presented by Saltwater Girl Magazine, in association with Virgin Mobile and Resolution. * Please note that this is an invitational event and participation is by invite only. Contestants are selected by Roxy in its entire discretion and Roxy’s decision shall be final. All of Roxy’s rights are reserved.

About Saltwater Girl
Saltwater GIRL is a refreshing alternative to mainstream media offerings, targeting the independent free-thinking teenage girl who strives to be anything but ordinary. With strong roots in surf and beach culture, SWG is right at home in the Mozambican sand with some of SA’s top female surfers for a week of fun, sun, surf and mischief.
 

 Just minutes into Valentine’s day, the pink 60-foot sailing yacht that is Sam Davies’s Roxy was yesterday third to cross the finish line of an epic Vendee Globe solo round the world race.

There were 30 to 50 boats out to greet the first of the non-French competitors, the first of two women competitors, one of only 11 of the 30 starters last November.

It had taken her 95d 4h 39m 1s and she had travelled 27,470 miles through some of the worst that nature can throw at those who take up the challenge and she was as exuberant as ever. “I never thought I might finish in third place, not at all, not at all. I was king of hoping to make the top 10. This really is a dream come true.”

The dream was also put on hold as the 34-year old Cambridge engineering graduate has to pace the dock in Les Sables d’Olonne for two days to see if fourth-placed Marc Guillemot can finish in the 50 hours of additional time compensation he was awarded for standing by Yann Elies while waiting, leg painfully broken, to be rescued by the Australian Navy.

Davies was also diverted and Elies was on hand to greet her, as was Britain’s Mike Golding, who was dismasted just hours after taking the lead. But, for the moment, Davies could celebrate. “It was really all such fun,” she said. Maybe that is just my way of getting through the hard moments, trying to find the positive side of everything and use that energy to battle through the tough times. “I enjoyed every single day of this race. It does not feel like 97 days. It went really quickly.”

Davies joins the same roll of honour which is headed in Britain by Ellen MacArthur, who was second in 2001. And she should be joined over the next few days by Dee Caffari, still lying sixth yesterday, who will have sailed solo round the world in both directions.

In between them is Brian Thompson, who was catching Guillemot fast as the Frenchman nursed his yacht through the final 250 miles trying to avoid capsize after his yacht lost its keel. Still with 2,000 miles to go is Steve White, who can look forward to finish eighth in the 10-year old Toe in the Water, which he financed himself by mortgaging his house.

Revenge at last for Emirates Team New Zealand over their old rivals Alinghi, the Swiss holders of the America’s Cup, had local fans cheering on the final day of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland. The last time these two met on these waters in 2003 the Kiwis were thrashed 0-5 and their prized America’s Cup was carried off triumphantly to Europe.

Then the black boat from down under won through the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup challenger elimination series in 2007 to meet Alinghi, now defenders, in Valencia only to go down 2-5. Back home in matched boats they beat an Alinghi that had refused to race them in the earlier stages by 3-1 and even the chilly drizzle could not snuff out a glow all over the Viaduct Basin. A little pride and self-esteem had been restored. “I guess it was all my fault,” said Alinghi’s American helmsman Ed baird after being out played by TNZ’s Dean Barker. “We were just a little behind the curve all day.” And in a gracious gesture his skipper Brad Butterworth added: “It’s just been fantastic. It’s what we want to see more of.”

If it felt chilly in what is meant to be a southern hemisphere summer, it felt relatively warm in what can be a fierce Chinese winter as the Volvo round the world race fleet lined up in Qingdao for the start of the fifth leg, a record 12,300-miler to Rio de Janeiro. At first there were four of the original eight starters, but Spain’s Telefonica Blue pulled out just minutes before the start after hitting an underwater hazard.

He expects repairs to take at least 24 hours but a fifth team, Sweden’s Ericsson 3, arrived only hours later after finishing a repair interrupted leg four with just seven crew, and was organising a turnround, picking up three new crew and setting off in pursuit.

The overall leader, Ericsson 4, has seen its margin increased by three points as second-placed Telefonica Blue has taken a three-point penalty for replacing its rudders. But T Blue skipper Bouwe Bekking has recovered from a lower back injury, Kenny Read, skipper of third-placed Puma, is back at the helm after trying to mangle his left hand forefinger, and double Olympic medallist Ian Walker has set himself a target of lifting the Irish-backed Green Dragon up to third overall.