By Martin Grose –Surfing Australia www.surfingaustralia.com

Champion effort by Team Australia at WSG
A true team effort by the Aussie surfers secured a great win in Portugal. Sally Fitzgibbons was a standout, winning every heat she contested to take out the Open Women’s. Sally is a prodigious talent winning the ISA World Junior Girls title in 2007, named the Rising Star at the 2008 Australian Surfing Awards and in 2009 will be contesting the ASP Women’s World Tour.

Our men’s team crowded out the final, but the combined efforts of Kai Otton, Dayyan Neve and Heath Joske were still unable to take the honours from CJ Hobgood. Harley Ingleby and Lilly Pollard contested the finals in the Longboard and Women’s Bodyboard respectively with Ben Gohl and Davis Crowley unable to make the final of the Men’s Bodyboard.

The Aussie support team included former World Tour surfer Jake Paterson in his first international coaching role, Mark Lane as Manager and Physio Matt Butel.

Strong showing by the Aussies for the 2009 World Tour
Australia will look to have a strong contingent in the 2009 ASP World Tour with Chris Davidson, Josh Kerr, Drew Courtney and Phil MacDonald certain to qualify through their WQS ranking. Also in contention is Nic Muscroft who currently looks strong,but moving forward will depend on the outcome of the remaining 4 events on this years schedule.

Vale Surfing Adventurer Peter Troy
Surfing lost one of its true travelling surfers with the sudden passing of Peter Hemsworth Troy last month. Peter was recognized worldwide as probably the original travelling surfer visiting 140 countries in his travels. Survived by his wife Libby, he was remembered at a memorial service attended by fellow international traveller Randy Rarrick. Peter will be honoured at Bells Beach on November 15 with a paddle-out tribute at the place he helped establish as a surfing reserve and the annual Bells Beach contest which is now the longest running professional surfing event in the world.

About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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