HISTORY: The Damian King Interview, Part I

HISTORY: The Damian King Interview, Part I

  Australian Damian King, also known as "Kingy" and "The Joker" within the international bodyboarding community, is a 2x Men's World Champion (2003 and 2004) as well as the 2011 Drop Knee World Champion.  Kingy was the first Australian bodyboarder to win multiple world titles, and is the first bodyboarder in history to have won titles on both the Men's World Tour and the Drop Knee World Tour of the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA).  Here, Kingy discusses his two men's world titles.  This interview was conducted at the IBA Media House on the North Shore of Oahu on 24 February 2011 during the IBA Pipeline Pro.

STEVE JACKSON:  What was going on in your life going into the first world championship that you won in 2003?

DAMIAN KING:  My mum passed away in March, so that was kind of like a kick in the bum to do something with my life.  I had just been kind of plodding along on the world tour, and just cruising kind of.  Literally, like half an hour after that happened I walked out of the hospital and just made a full decision that I was going to win a world title.  It was pretty crazy that I, actually, thought that.  I thought I've got to do something with my life, do something important.  Half an hour after she passed, I made that decision and then I was just absolutely focused, ridiculously focused on it.

STEVE JACKSON:  After you won that first world championship, how did that affect your life?  The day-to-day in life, short term, long term, looking back on it now, how did that change things?

DAMIAN KING:  I guess I felt, just as a person, I just felt a lot more confident in myself.  I remember even after that first event in Tahiti.  I wrote on my board.  I wrote on the front of it kind of where I could just see, but I wrote "1st Place" and I ended up getting first.  I remember after that first event, I just spun right out.  I was just like, "Wow, I can't believe I was, actually, so determined to win and I won!"  I won the 2001 Shark Island contest, but it was different.  I wasn't absolutely focused on winning as I was with Tahiti and all the other comps throughout the year.  Then, when I won the world title, I couldn't believe that I actually won.  At the end, I was just stuck in this work mode to win and when I actually won I was like, "Wow!"  I just couldn't believe.  You think you can win, but to actually win is another story.  I, basically, came away from the first world title thinking anything is possible if you fully focus.  Then, I just wanted to prove to myself that it wasn't a fluke, so I was just determined to win a second straight-up just because I was like I don't want to think that it was just luck.  So, I was just as amped for the second.  After the first one, I kind of like didn't really rest after the first one.  I was kind of like, "Hang on, I just want to make sure that can happen again."  I just wanted to test this out in my mind, and I ended up with another one after it was all over.

STEVE JACKSON:  When you got your second world championship under your belt, you became the first Australian to ever have two world titles in the sport of bodyboarding.  Did that play in your mind at all?

DAMIAN KING:  Not really.  All I wanted to do, basically, was use that to build the sport in Australia.  I was pretty busy, always trying to get mainstream media and all that kind of stuff.  I really didn't get caught up in it when I was world champion.  I thought what I did was good.  It was good that I accomplished that.  I thought it was a big accomplishment, but I really didn't feel myself change as a person.  I didn't really think like, "Oh yeah, I'm the only one."  I didn't really care about whether anyone had done it before or whatever.  Obviously, I have respect for that but it wasn't like I thought, "Oh yeah, I'm the only guy who's done it now."  It didn't really worry me.  I was just stoked that I put my mind to something and I did it.

  I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Damian King for taking the time to sit down and answer my questions for this interview.

(PHOTOS: photo #1 from The Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au , photo #2 from Happy Zurowski, photo #3 (Kingy and Action Jackson, North Shore 2011) from Manny Vargas)

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

...Damian King announces retirement, Jeff Hubbard wins in Puerto Rico, Fronton, Final rankings for DKWT and WWT!


DAMIAN KING ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS

Damian King claiming the 2011 IBA DKWT title in Puerto Rico.  Photo: Action

  PORT MACQUARIE, AUSTRALIA-  2x Mens World Champion and 2011 Drop Knee World Champion Damian King announced his retirement plans this past week.  Kingy, the only professional bodyboarder to ever win both the men's world title (2003 and 2004) as well as the drop knee world title (2011), will retire at the conclusion of the 2013 IBA Men's World Tour Grand Slam Series in which he will compete as one of the top 24 ranked bodyboarders in the world and battle it out for the world title.  For more information on this story, please click on the following link:

http://www.portnews.com.au/story/925559/world-champion-king-announces-retirement-date/


JEFF HUBBARD WINS 2012 IBA ENCANTO PRO PUERTO RICO

  ISABELA, PUERTO RICO-  2x World Champion Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii) won the 2012 IBA Encanto Pro at Middles in Isabela, Puerto Rico on the final day of the competition window (November 2nd-13th) last week.  With this, his third win of the season (Pipeline, Zicatela, and now Puerto Rico), Hubb goes into the final event of the 2012 tour with the points lead and an opportunity to claim his third world championship.  Stay tuned for more on this...

  Also, walking away with victories at the 2012 IBA Encanto Pro were South African Sacha Specker in the Drop Knee Pro and Brazilian Karla Costa-Taylor in the Womens Pro.  Specker, whom had already clinched the 2012 DKWT title, managed an oustanding performance and placed an exclamation point on a stellar season.

  1999 Womens World Champion Karla Costa-Taylor finished off the 2012 WWT with an impressive performance, including a perfect 10 scored along her way to victory at Middles.  Her win in Puerto Rico was proof-positive that she continues to regain her championship form and is a legitimate contender for the 2013 WWT championship.  For more information on the 2012 IBA Encanto Pro, visit the following link:

http://ibaworldtour.com/2012/11/jeff-hubbard-wins-2012-iba-encanto-pro/


IT ALL COMES DOWN TO FRONTON!

  GRAN CANARIA, CANARY ISLANDS-  The 2012 IBA men's world title will be determined in the season finale, event #8 of 8, at the 2012 IBA NMD VS Fronton Pro in Galdar, Gran Canaria (December 7th-16th).  2x World Champion Jeff Hubbard enters the event ranked #1 in the world, holding a slim 60 point lead over the other remaining title contender Dave Winchester (Australia).  Winny, who finished second behind Hubb in the 2009 title chase, is looking to claim his first world championship.  For more on this story, please visit the following link:

http://ibaworldtour.com/2012/11/the-iba-2012-nmd-vs-fronton-pro/

  For those of you not familiar with Fronton, it is considered one of the best waves in the world for high-performance bodyboarding.  Fronton features bowling lefts and rights, with gaping barrels and ramp sections, breaking over a very shallow and extremely dangerous reef.  Watch this video clip for a better idea of what to expect from the season finale at Fronton!

DKWT FINAL RANKINGS

  Here are the final rankings for the International Bodyboarding Association's 2012 Drop Knee World Tour.

1.  Sacha Specker (South Africa)
2.  Dave Hubbard (Hawaii)
3.  Cesar Bauer (Peru)
4.  Pancho Galdos (Peru)
5.  Ardiel Jimenez (Canary Islands)
6.  Daniel Alvez (Brazil)
7.  Kiko Galdos (Peru)
8.  Ricardo Sotelo (Peru)
9.  Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii)
10. Alberto Collucci (Venezuela)


WWT FINAL RANKINGS

  Here are the final rankings for the International Bodyboarding Association's 2012 Women's World Tour.

1.  Isabela Sousa (Brazil)
2.  Karla Costa-Taylor (Brazil)
3.  Eunate Aguirre (Basque)
4.  Maylla Venturin (Brazil)
5.  Minami Hatekayama (Japan)
6.  Sari Oohara (Japan)
7.  Neymara Carvalho (Brazil)
8. Catarina Sousa (Portugal)
9.  Lilly Pollard (Australia)
10.  Luz Marie Grande Perez (Puerto Rico)


  For more information regarding the IBA World Tour, please visit the following link:
www.ibaworldtour.com

(All photos by the IBA unless otherwise noted.)

HISTORY: The Michael "Eppo" Eppelstun Interview

HISTORY: The Michael "Eppo" Eppelstun Interview

  1993 World Champion Michael "Eppo" Eppelstun was the first Australian to win the bodyboarding world title, and considered an innovator of the sport.  He is credited with inventing the Double Roll, the ARS, and the Backflip.  Here, Eppo discusses his life leading up to his world title and the effect it had afterwards.  This interview was conducted at the IBA Media House on the North Shore of Oahu on 24 February 2011 during the IBA Pipeline Pro.

STEVE JACKSON:  With your championship in 1993, you won Pipeline and you won the world title.  What was going on with your life at that time?  Trying to get here, being here, the way the competition went down, becoming the first Australian to win at Pipe, tell me a little bit about what was going on with you.

EPPO:  Back then, in 1993, I was a pastry cook.  Actually, I wasn't a pastry cook.  I gave it up four months prior to come over to Hawaii and give it a good bash.  I was living on $75 a week back then.  That was my life.  When I came over, I was not the kid on the block.  There was Ross Hawk.  There was Barney (Paul Barnard).  There was Bullet (Steve McKenzie).  There was Matt Reilly.  These were all the Aussie guys.  I was the new kid on the block.

  I remember walking down the beach when it wasn't big Pipe, it was probably only 3ft. Pipe.  I remember Strohy (photgrapher Chris Stroh) coming up to me and he goes, "This is your day today."  I went, "What?"  He goes, "This is your conditions." Don't you reckon?  He goes, "Yep."  On the earlier days, I got through a couple of heats and just scraped through.  I remember taking off on a wave.  I'll never forget it.  Marcello Pedro just pulled back on a closeout 10-footer.  I'd had a shocker of a heat, and I just pulled in.  I got a 2.0 for that wave and it got me through.  I couldn't believe it!  I was down and out, I got a 2.0, and it got me through into second position.

  Back then, things were tough. You know?  I wasn't sponsored, but I had to grow up the next year.  I had this huge responsibility.  I was world champion.  I did a lot of promotion, and I did a lot of trying to help the sport.  Australia boomed.  Australia really boomed when there was an Australian world title,  which was the first non-Hawaiian world champion back then.  So, I've got a few firsts actually.  A first Aussie, a first non-Hawaiian.

STEVE JACKSON:  How did that win at Pipe, and winning the world title, change your life?  How did it affect you afterwards?

EPPO:  Emmensely.  I became a professional then.  Basically, I struggled with sponsorship.  It took me eight months just to seal a sponsor, which was Manta Bodyboards back then.  They came to the party, and I was loyal to them for over 12 years.  Once I won that, that's when the professionalism came in.  Like I said, I struggled with it.  Someone tried to manage me, and it was a nightmare.  I went down and met with three different types of media people.  They didn't come to the party.

  Then, I met a guy called Mike Perry.  About three years prior, he was the editor of Riptide.  He was, also, a consultant.  I said, "Would you manage me?"  He went, "Oh mate, to tell the honest truth it would be a waste of my time and your time.  If you become someone in the sport or win a world title, come and see me."  I remembered that!

  I went and rung him up, and asked if I could go meet him.  He said, "Yeah, alright, but I'm in a different time in my life right now.  I'm not going to manage you."  Long story short, three days later I'm still at his house and he goes, "You're not leaving, are you?"  I go, "I'm world champion, and I'm living on $75 a week."  He goes, "Okay, I'll do the negotiations for 10%, and that's it."  I went, "Sweet!"  The next year, I turned over $165,000.

STEVE JACKSON:  That's a big change in finances.

EPPO:  A huge change in finances, mate!

STEVE JACKSON:  You've talked about going into that championship, and what happened afterwards.  What was the celebration like?  I know whenever someone wins a world title, it's definitely worthy of a major celebration, and I've heard rumors for years about your party afterwards.  I want to hear it from the man himself.  What was that celebration like after you won Pipeline?

EPPO:  It was massive!  I felt sorry for the Brazilian guy who had our house.  We were living under his house.  He let it go because he was super cool.  It was massive until 11:30pm, when they told me they were taking me away because I was the life of the party.  I said to the policeman, "You haven't met Aussies!"  He just laughed.  Yeah, the part was massive.

STEVE JACKSON:  Thanks, Eppo, for taking the time to do this interview.

For more information about Eppo, click on these links:

http://pmba.com.au/2010/10/michael-eppo-epplestun/

www.bodyboardmuseum.com.au

PHOTO: Australian champs...1993 Pipeline/World Champion Mike "Eppo" Eppelstun and 1997 Pipeline Champion Steve "Bullet" McKenzie on the beach at Pipeline, February 2011.

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

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NEW DEAL BETWEEN IBA AND EBODYBOARDING.COM RETURNS MANNY VARGAS TO WORLD TOUR COMMENTARY BOOTH

Manny Vargas hosting commentary with guest commentator Ryan Hardy during the 2011 IBA Encanto Pro.

SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, USA-  This past week, the official announcement was made that Ebodyboarding.com has signed a deal with the IBA (International Bodyboarding Association) which will allow Manny Vargas to return as the commentary host of the IBA world tour.  The deal will cover the necessary expenses to have Manny Vargas host live webcast coverage for the IBA, as well as the next six Manny Vision video blogs for You Tube.

  Manny Vargas will make his return to the commentary booth at the upcoming 2012 IBA Encanto Pro Puerto Rico at Middles in Isabela (November 2nd-13th).  Stay tuned to www.ibaworldtour.com and www.youtube.com/ibaworldtour as well as IBA World Tour on Twitter and Facebook for all of the latest news, updates, and video highlights.  Also, be sure to check out www.ebodyboarding.com for all of your online bodyboard shopping needs.

PHOTO: Manny V & Action Jackson covering commentary at the 2011 IBA Encanto Pro.


ENCANTO PRO PUERTO RICO WILDCARDS CONFIRMED

ISABELA, PUERTO RICO-  The Wildcard selections for the 2012 IBA Encanto Pro (November 2nd-13th at Middles) have been confirmed.

Mens Main Event Wildcards:
Rafael Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Jacob Vandervelde (Hawaii)

Mens Trialist Wildcards:
Babby Quinones (Puerto Rico)
Javier Baez (Puerto Rico)

Womens Main Event Wildcards:
Maylene Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Natalia Revelo (Puerto Rico)

DK Wildcards:
Edgardo Gomez Cacho (Puerto Rico)
Troy Donovan (Puerto Rico)

For more information, click this link:
http://ibaworldtour.com/2012/10/encanto-wildcards/

Stay tuned to www.ibaworldtour.com and www.youtube.com/ibaworldtour as well as IBA World Tour on Twitter and Facebook for all of the latest news, updates, and video highlights

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

FRANCIRLEY FERREIRA AND JESSICA BECKER WIN AT POSTO 5 PRO

Francirley Ferreira scoring some tube time at his home break of Posto 5. PHOTO: Henrique Pinguim

COPACABANA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL-  After providing less-than-stellar surf conditions for last month's Rio Bodyboarding International event, Posto 5 delivered the goods for the Rio Matte Leao Bodyboard Carioca Tour's 2012 Posto 5 Pro/Am, the third event of the tour.  With a solid 4-6ft. swell and clean barrelling conditions, some of Brasil's best bodyboarders put on an incredible show.

  In the Mens Pro division, it was Posto 5 local Francirley Ferreira taking the win.  With this win, Francirley has moved up into 2nd place in the rankings with two events left on the 2012 Carioca tour schedule.  Here are the current Mens Pro standings after three events:

  Macae's Jessica Becker took the win in the Women's Pro division.

  After three events, Jessica is currently in 2nd place in the rankings.  Here are the current Women's Pro standings:

For more information on the Rio Matte Leao Bodyboard Carioca Tour, the latest press releases, and photo galleries be sure to visit:

FEBBRJ (Federacao de BodyBoarding de Rio de Janeiro)- www.febbrj.com.br

Circuito Carioca de Bodyboarding on Facebook- www.facebook.com/CariocaBB

Henrique Pinguim Images on Facebook- www.facebook.com/HenriquePinguimImages

(Francirley Ferreira water photo by Henrique Pinguim, Rankings and tour schedule images from FEBBRJ, all other photos by Steve Jackson)

  The remaining two events on the 2012 Rio Matte Leao Bodyboard Carioca Tour are scheduled for Barra de Tijuca in November and Sao Conrado in December.  Stay tuned for more news on these events.

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

JEFF HUBBARD WINS 2012 IBA ZICATELA PRO

  PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MEXICO-  For the second year in a row,  2x World Champion Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii) has won the IBA Zicatela Pro.  For photos and the official press release, please be sure to click on this link and visit the IBA world tour website:
http://ibaworldtour.com/2012/10/jeff-hubbard-wins-zicatela-2012/


EVENT #3 OF RIO MATTE LEAO BODYBOARD TOUR THIS WEEKEND

  COPACABANA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL-  The third event on the 2012 Rio Matte Leao Bodyboard Tour, a part of the FEBBRJ (Federacao de Bodyboarding de Rio de Janeiro), is scheduled for this weekend October 13th and 14th.  The event will be held at Posto 5 in Copacabana, the site of last month's Rio Bodyboarding International world tour event.  For more information, be sure to click on the following link and check out the official FEBBRJ website:
http://febbrj.com.br/circuito-rio-matte-leao-chega-a-copacabana/

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

CURRENT EVENTS: Bodyboarding News

  It's been a pretty busy month in the world of bodyboarding, and continues to be as such, so let's dive right into it!


THE 2012 IBA TURBO ZICATELA PRO BEGINS TODAY

  PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MEXICO-  The rescheduled contest window for the 2012 IBA Turbo Zicatela Pro (Sept. 27th - Oct. 6th) begins today.  Coming into this event, Australia's Dave Winchester is looking to clinch his first ever world title but defending 2011 world champion Pierre Louis Costes (France, currently ranked 2nd), 2x world champion Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii, currently ranked 3rd), South African Mark McCarthy (currently ranked 5th), and 6x world champion Guilherme Tamega (Brasil, currently ranked 6th) are still fighting to stay alive in the title hunt.  2x world champion Ben Player (Australia, currently ranked 4th) will not be attending, thereby eliminating him from world title contention.  Stay tuned to www.ibaworldtour.com for all of the latest news, updates, and highlights.


MANNY VARGAS OFF OF IBA COMMENTARY FOR REMAINDER OF 2012 SEASON

  SAN DIEGO, CA- In a surprising development, IBA Mens Grand Slam Series webcast commentator Manny Vargas announced he will not be in attendance at the final three IBA world tour stops (Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canary Islands) for the remainder of the 2012 season, and expressed doubt towards his possible return for 2013.  In a filmed video statement (attached below), Manny thanked the IBA, all of the riders, as well as all of the IBA fans.

For more about this, visit Manny's blog:
http://mannyvinthewater.blogspot.com.br/2012/09/iba-webcast-gig-update.html?spref=fb



SACHA SPECKER CLINCHES 2012 IBA DKWT TITLE

  South African Sacha Specker is the new IBA Drop Knee World Champion for 2012! "Spex," as he is called, clinch his first ever world title with a 2nd place finish at the 2012 Bodyboard Pro Festival in Venezuela (more info on BPF below).  Visit www.ibaworldtour.com for all the latest news and updates.



ISABELA SOUSA BECOMES 2X IBA WOMENS WORLD CHAMPION

  Coming off of back-to-back wins in Brasil and Venezuala (more information below), Brazilian Isabela Sousa has secured the 2012 IBA WWT title to become 2x World Champion. This is Isabela's second title in three years, having won the WWT in 2010 and finishing 2nd in 2011. Be sure to visit www.ibaworldtour.com for all of the latest news and updates.



EDER LUCIANO WINS 6-STAR GQS AT BODYBOARD PRO FESTIVAL IN VENEZUELA

  ISLA DE MARGERITA, VENEZUELA-  Brasil's Eder Luciano was able to fend off Adnane Benslimane (Morocco) to win the 6-Star Mens GQS final at Bodyboard Pro Festival 2012, and collect the 2000 points to put towards his overall 2012 season ranking on the IBA Global Qualifier Series.  Also, coming away with wins at BPF 2012 were Isabela Sousa (Brasil) and Dave Hubbard (Hawaii).  Isabela won her second consecutive WWT Grand Slam Series event, and clinched the 2012 WWT title in the process.

5x DKWT champion Dave Hubbard came away with the Drop Knee Grand Slam Series win in Venezuela, but watched Sacha Specker (South Africa) take the 2012 DKWT title with his 2nd place finish at Bodyboard Pro Festival.

Be sure to visit www.bodyboardprofestival.com as well as www.ibaworldtour.com for all the latest news and updates.


BRAHIM IDDOUCH WINS 6-STAR GQS AT RIO BODYBOARDING INTERNATIONAL 2012

  RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL-  Morocco's Brahim Iddouch beat out Reunion Island's Yoan Florentin to win the 6-Star GQS at Rio Bodyboarding International 2012 and collect the $9,000USD winners check along with the valuable 2000pts to help improve his overal ranking on the 2012 IBA Global Qualifier Series. Also, in the process of winning, Brahim became the first Moroccan bodyboarder to win a major IBA world tour event.  As if that were not impresive enough, Brahim (who entered this event without a board sponsor) signed on with Pride Bodyboards during the course of the competition.

Also, coming away with a victory in the WWT Grand Slam Series portion of the event was 2010 world champion Isabela Sousa (Brasil) who held off defending 2011 world champion Eunate Aguirre in the final to claim the $6000USD winner's check and points towards the WWT rankings.

Be sure to check out www.riobodyboarding.com.br and www.ibaworldtour.com for all of the latest news, updates, and highlights.



JEFF HUBBARD SETS NEW MARK IN US BODYBOARDING HISTORY

In clinching the 2012 USBA Mens Pro National Title, Hawaii's Jeff Hubbard has become 9x US National Champion surpassing the previous mark set my bodyboarding legend Mike Stewart (Hawaii) for most national titles in US bodyboarding history.



KAHEKILI LABATTE WINS 2012 USBA SCION JENKS PRO

  PT. PLEASANT, NEW JERSEY, USA-  Maui young gun Kahekile Labatte claimed his first ever Pro division win at the 2012 USBA Scion Jenks Pro (Sept. 1st-10th), the season finale for the US national tour.  Kahekili used big backflips in solid surf provided by Hurricane Leslie to put up some big scores...including a 9 in the early portion of the Mens Pro Final.  Labatte, also, won the Open Amateur division at this year's competition.  Here's a look at all of the 2012 USBA Scion Jenks Pro/Am winners...

Mens Pro- Kahekili Labatte (Hawaii)
Womens Pro- Izamar Vivas (Venezuela)
DK Pro- Dave Hubbard (Hawaii)

Open Amateur- Kahekili Labatte (Hawaii)
14-18 Amateur- Patrick Orr (Hawaii)
13 & Under Amateur- Tanner McDaniel (Hawaii)

...and here are the 2012 USBA National Champions...

Mens Pro- Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii)
Womens Pro- Roberta Bitzer (Brasil)
DK Pro- Dave Hubbard (Hawaii)

Open Amateur- Sammy Morretino (Hawaii)
14-18 Amateur- Sammy Morretino (Hawaii)
13 & Under Amateur- Tanner McDaniel (Hawaii)

Visit www.usbatour.com for all of the latest news, updates, and highlights.