Queen of Sports

Surfer Breaks Record For Biggest Wave Ever Surfed

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

Hawaiian big wave rider Garrett McNamara broke a world record, surfing a wave estimated to be about 90 feet in Portugal. The previous record for the largest wave surfed was held Mike Parsons, who surfed a 77-foot wave in 2008.

McNamara was towed in to the wave during the ZON North Canyon Project, a big wave competition to promote the region off the coast of Nazare, Portugal. The spot is “home to one of the only deep water canyons that runs all the way to shore,” which is related to the abnormally large waves, according to Drift magazine.

Amazing.

Kelly Slater Wins 11th ASP World Title

Kelly Slater became the first surfer to win 11 ASP World Titles yesterday at the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco.

Slater, 39, has dominated the sport of surfing, first as the youngest ASP World Champion and now as the oldest.

Slater said a statement, “…people always talk about my age and you know I’m 39, almost 40, and to me that’s literally just a number. You can prove people wrong and stay super healthy.  I don’t see why at 50 I can’t be in better shape than I am now. If anything I’d like to try to represent that to people. I eat well and I talk about it and I walk the walk and it shows in my ability physically.”

Quiksilver, who has sponsored Slater since 1990, released this congratulations to Slater via CEO Bob McKnight, “Kelly’s incredible drive and determination as a competitive athlete is phenomenal to witness. After two decades of watching him conquer so many milestones in professional surfing, we are once again proud and amazed to be here to watch him win an 11th World Title. Congratulations Kelly!”

Photos: PR Newswire and Quiksilver

For The Guys: Quiksilver Re-Stocks NFL Boardshorts

Quiksilver teamed up with the NFL this summer to launch a line of limited edition boardshorts.

Just in time for football season, they’ve re-stocked the collection of boardshorts featuring the surf brand’s Diamond Dobby DLX technology, which promises to create a rash-free surf experience.

The shorts are offered for fans of the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, and New York Giants.

You can find them online here.

Check out the fun video from the campaign:

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

ESPN’s Third Annual “Body Issue” Hitting Newsstands Soon

ESPN The Magazine will once again be celebrating athlete bodies in their third annual “Body Issue” hitting newsstands Oct. 7.

Athletes who will be posing nude or semi-nude for the best-selling issue include gymnast Alicia Sacramone, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, soccer goalie Hope Solo, NBA star Blake Griffin, MLB star Jose Reyes, and the NFL’s Steven Jackson.

Other female athletes who will be featured: the WNBA’s Sylvia Fowles; LPGA rookie Belen Mozo; track and field star Natasha Hastings; hockey player Julie Chu; tennis player Vera Zvonareva; surfer Steph Gilmore; roller derby player Suzy Hotrod and bowler Kelly Kulick.

And some more men who will be posing include speedskater Apolo Ohno; NHL player Ryan Kesler; UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; IndyCar racer Helio Castroneves; boxer Sergio Martinez; marathoner Ryan Hall and paralympian Jeremy Campbell.

Over 20 athletes will be featured in the “Bodies We Want” section of the issue that is an “exploration and celebration of athletic form.”

Photo: ESPN the Magazine’s second annual “Body Issue”

Bethany Hamilton Meets With Fans

Such an inspiring story! Surfer Bethany Hamilton was at ESPN Zone signing autographs for fans with Soul Surfer actors AnnaSophia Robb (who plays Bethany) and Kevin Sorbo.

The movie is being released on DVD on August 2nd and tells the inspiring story of young Bethany who overcame a shark attack that left her without one arm. In addition to AnnaSophia and Kevin the film also stars Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid and Carrie Underwood. Stellar cast!

Fans began lining up 5 hours before the signing commenced and were thrilled to take pictures with and talk to the surfer. Bethany was one of the nicest and most genuine athletes we have met, the smiles she brought to the young girls face were priceless!

* Big thanks to Jeff Freedman for the invite!

Athlete Sighting: Kelly Slater

Check out surf legend Kelly Slater hanging out at Tavarua Island in Fiji. Look at those awesome waves!

A friend of ours told us about Nike’s involvement in the surf community. We were super impressed to discover the Nike 6.0 Surf Teams. We stumbled upon this really cool video of their Girls Team visit to  Mexico. Check it out:

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

For all you surf fans out there in Southern California, mark your calendars for July 30th, the start of the 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

Photos: Splash News

The Ladies Of The ESPY’s!

Check out these sexy female athletes that walked the red carpet before heading into the Nokia Theater for the ESPY awards last night! We were lucky enough to attend the best sports award show in the business for our third year in a row! Here are some pictures of the female athletes in attendance.

Tennis pro Maria Sharapova:

Former WNBA star Lisa Leslie:

Gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn:

Boxer Laila Ali:

Tennis player Serena Williams:

Gold medal track and field athlete Allyson Felix:

Surfer Bethany Hamilton:

NASCAR driver Danica Patrick:

Photos: PR Photos

Andy Irons’ Family Releases Autopsy Results

Pro surfer Andy Irons‘ death back in November shocked not only the surfing community but most of Hawaii where he lived and was born. At only 32 years old, Irons was found dead in his hotel room at the Dallas/Forth Worth airport, en route from a contest in Puerto Rico he pulled out of and headed home to Kauai. It was originally believed by Irons’ family he died of complications from dengue fever. However, pills found in his hotel room suggested a possible overdose. A judge delayed the release of the autopsy results until now which list the main cause of death as heart attack. Still, drugs were found in his system including a generic form of the drug Xanax and methadone. A forensic toxicologist and a forensic pathologist hired by the Irons family agreed the drugs found in Irons’ system were “consistent with a common therapeutic regimen.”

Irons is survived by his wife, Lyndie, who gave birth to the couple’s first child, Andy Axel Irons, a month after Andy’s death.

Photo: Source

Olympic Snowboarding Champion Teams Up With Children International

Olympic snowboarding champion Hannah Teter has teamed up with other professional athletes to fight child poverty through humanitarian organization Children International. Two-time medalist Teter, along with Burton Team snowboarder Gabi Viteri and Nike sponsored surfer Monycka Byrne-Wickey visited the organization’s agency in Guadalajara, Mexico to learn more about how the sponsorship program helps impoverished children. While in Guadalajara, the athletes participated in the organizations sports program, which offers impoverished children the chance to participate in organized sports leagues, while teaching them leadership and life skills. The program helps to create a positive outlet in their lives.

Teter currently sponsors seven children, who are able to have access to important medical, dental, nutritional, and educational support thanks to her support. Teter has also committed to donating 40% of the proceeds from the sale of her clothing line, Sweet Cheeks Panties, to Children International’s nutrition program.

Photo: PR Newswire

Inspiring Movie About Surfer Bethany Hamilton Coming Soon To Theaters

You’ve probably heard the amazing story about surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and went back to competing not long after. A movie based on her story and how she gained the courage to get back in the water is being released in theaters next month. The all-star cast includes Dennis Quaid as Hamilton’s father, Helen Hunt as her mother, and Carrie Underwood as her friend. Jack Nicholson‘s daughter, Lorraine Nicholson, plays surfer Alana Blanchard. Directed by Sean McNamara and based on the book Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton, the movie will be in theaters starting April 8.

Check out the trailer for the movie. Part of it was filmed in beautiful Tahiti:

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt