Source: Surfing Australia – www.surfingaustralia.com

Surfing Australia Announces TravelSIM Team Australia for the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games

July 14, 2009 – Surfing Australia today announced its powerful  TravelSIM Team Australia which departs in the final week of July  for Costa Rica to represent Australia at the 2009  Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games .

The eight surfer team consists of four current Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour surfers along with the two open Longboard surfers who are experienced  ASP World Tour Longboard surfers.

Open Men:
Mick Campbell (ASP World Tour rating 13/Port Macquarie NSW ),
Dayan Neve (ASP World Tour Rating 24/ Manly),
Dane Atcheson (Current Country Energy  Australian Champion/Central Coast/Copacabanna NSW),
Matt Bemrose (2007 Country Energy Australian Champion and 2008 runner up/Manly).

Open Women
Samantha Cornish (ASP World Tour rated 9/Crescent Head NSW),
Amee Donohoe (ASP World Tour rated 13/Central Coast NSW )

Open Longboard
Harley Ingelby (ASP World Tour rated 3/Coff’s Harbour NSW)
Dane Pioli (2008 ASP Australasian Longboard Qualifying Series Champion/Wollongong NSW)

Head Coach
Barton Lynch

Assistant Coach (first reserve open team)
Beau Mitchell

Team Manager
Andrew Stark

Medical Manager
Matt Butel

Team Coach and World Surfing Champion Barton Lynch was enthusiastic with the team announcement saying, “We are stoked with the team we have been able to put together. This team is a great well balanced with a solid combination of experience and youth. Importantly we have excellent friendships in place among team members that will ensure a cohesive and spirited team to defend our title”.

Surfing Australia CEO and Team manager Andrew Stark commented on the team today saying, “This is  a very high quality and experienced  team and we are looking forward to the challenge of defending the ISA Billabong World Surfing Games title.

Being a part of TravelSim Team Australia and representing Australia is a proud achievement for all of the team and we’ll head to Costa Rica fully prepared for the challenges ahead”.

The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games are to be held at Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, August 1 to 8.

Surfing Australia announces Barton Lynch as Head Coach of Travel SIM Team Australia

Surfing Australia is proud to announce Barton Lynch as Head Coach of the TravelSIM Team Australia. The team consists of eight surfers heading to Costa Rica for the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games.

As a former elite Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) surfer and 1988 ASP World Champion, Lynch is certain to bring his Australian passion and  outstanding competitive knowledge to the team.

A brief overview of Barton Lynch’s career includes – 1988 ASP World Surfing Champion, 1988 ASP Billabong Pipeline Masters Champion along with 17 ASP World Championship Tour wins.

Lynch managed to remain competitive well into his 30s. His consistency and drive kept him near the top of the ratings until 1995. During that time, he was ranked in the Top Ten a total of 12 times, the most of any male surfer. When he won the Rio Surf Pro in Brazil at age 32, he was the oldest surfer to ever win an ASP World Tour event.      
                                   
"Being asked to be Head Coach for Surfing Australia and my country at the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games is a real compliment and a responsibility I take very seriously. “I am confident that I can handle the role and get the very best out of the team and I appreciate that Surfing Australia believes the same.
“Over the last seven years I have been actively coaching surfers of all levels and have previously been the NSW State Of Origin Coach.

“I have never been to Costa Rica and have only surfed in the World Surfing Games once at Huntington Beach at least 15 years ago so there will be a lot that is new and it is a very exciting opportunity."

Barton is working closely with Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre at Casuarina on the far northern NSW coast putting together an exciting team ready to travel to Costa Rica in early August aiming to defend the title as ISA World Surfing Games Champions.
The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games begin on July 31st and run through August 8th. The soon-to-be announced Australian Team will consist of a total of 8 surfers with four in the Open Men division, two in the Open Women division and two in the Open Longboard division.

Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark commented on the appointment of Lynch saying, “We are thrilled to have such a dynamic and iconic coach as world champ Barton Lynch. Barton is passionate and has a solid history in coaching surfers to great results. He will be a crucial part of our campaign to defend our World Title status.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. 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 La Jolla, 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), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karín Sierralta (Peru).

BACK TO HOME