Check Out Our New Back Wall!

This is the impressive new artwork we have on the back wall of our new shop!!! Check it out! Its our good mate and team rider Jared Houston at the Devil's Horn in South Africa. Sorry about the dodgy photography... its from my iPhone as I don't have a camera in the shop.. Thanks to Glenn Smith for doing the painting!

Congratulations JERRY!!! 3rd 2011 IBA Pipeline Pro

Emerald would like to extend a massive Congratulations to Jared Houston for his efforts at the 2011 IBA Pipeline Pro in Hawaii. Last year in his first ever attempt, Jerry placed 3rd in the final of the Pipeline Pro. It was his first ever crack at a World Tour event, and his performance set him up for a whirlwind year of travelling and good tour results.

Jerry en-route to the Pipeline Final

If last year is any type of guide, then this year should be a cracker for Jerry, as this year he managed again to get to the final of the Pipeline Pro, and again managed to snare 3rd spot! He missed out due to an early onslaught from Tom Rigby, who took a commanding lead early in the final, then with less than 5 minutes to go, Jeff Hubbard, from last place, took off on a wave which ended up getting him a 9.75 out of 10, to move him out of last place, then quickly followed that up with another near perfect 9.5 to not only put him in the lead, but put him far enough out front that the other riders were combo'd (needed 2 wave scores higher than their current ones).

For more info on what Jerry has been up to, check his blog www.jaredhouston.tumblr.com

Emerald would like to also extend a big congratulations to Emerald team riders Ryan Hardy (equal 9th) and Mark McCarthy (equal 5th). Also Mark Watts did very well, and local boys Sam Strachan, Glen Sullivan and Andrew Lester who exited the comp in earlier heats.

It was a great event to watch, with the final day being webcast on both www.ibaworldtour.com and www.redbull.tv, as well as being telecast on Fuel TV in Australia, and Oceanic Chanel in Hawaii. It was also watched by many via the free Redbull TV iPhone app.

Keep an eye out for Jerry, Hardy and the rest of the boys in the upcoming Box Event in West Australia from April 14-20.

2011 Pipeline Pro Photos

Here are a bunch of photos of all the action that went down over the final day of the 2011 Turbo Pipeline Pro. Images courtesy of Ray Collins and Sasha Specker.

Day 4 and the final day of the 2011 Pipeline Pro is under way in 

clean 1-2 meter barreling surf. A Pipe Champ will be crowned today.

2011 Turbo Pipeline Pro

Tuesday, February 22^nd (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): Jeff Hubbard, 35, Hawaii, has won the first event of the 2011 International Bodyboard Association World Tour, the IBA Pipeline Pro, which culminated today in one-to-two metre waves at Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii.

It was the third win at the break for Hubbard, who today earned 2000 valuable GSS ratings points, US$6000 and the all-important lead in the race for the 2011 IBA World Title.
Hubbard previously claimed the event in 2006 and 2002 and is considered a Pipe specialist and one of the greatest aerialists in the game. His win today was an incredible come-from-behind effort that saw him snatch the title in the dying moments from a host of hungry rookies - Tom Rigby (Gold Coast, AUS), 2011 IBA World Tour Rookie of the Year, Jared Houston (Capetown, ZAF) and Dallas Singer (Newcastle, NSW, AUS).

With seven minutes remaining in the 35-minute decider, Hubbard’s chances looked dashed. In fourth place and requiring two waves to have a hope of winning, it looked like debutant and upstart, Rigby, would have his first-ever taste of victory.

Then Hubbard did the unthinkable, pulling a near-perfect 9.75 ride out of a possible 10, for a huge ARS (air, reverse spin) followed by two rolls, to push himself into third place and contention.

Two minutes later, Hubbard was again up and riding, pulling into a deep Backdoor cave before launching to the heavens, to pull the ultimate Houdini act, earning a 9.5 from the judges and victory.
“I felt like I was surfing form behind all day … I finally got in a rhythm in the finals at the very last minute. But I was in combo-land for 17 minutes. I thought to myself, ‘what’s happened?’. I just felt totally out of rhythm again. I thought I have to dig deep, it’s my local spot, it’s the final – no one was giving an inch. So I just tried harder and it all fell together,” said Hubbard.

“It’s probably the most exciting final I’ve ever had out here. I’m over the moon! To come from so far behind and then take first place, I’m really feeling it right now … wow!”

Rookie Rigby was on the verge of history, the 18 year-old putting in a career changing performance on the final day, consistently hitting big backflips over the shallow Backdoor reef to the delight of the strong Aussie contingent who cheered him from shore.

Rigby earned his spot via his local Australian qualifying series and surfed his way through nine rounds qualify for his first ever Grand Slam final.

“I’m living in a dream world right now. I really had no expectations of making the final. To beat Hardy (Ryan Hardy, WA, AUS) in the quarters, he has always been a hero of mine, was awesome. And Amaury, the world champ ... it’s been an amazing day. Congratulations to Hubb (Jeff Hubbard), I’m just stoked to be able to surf a final against all these guys, It’s pretty surreal.” said Rigby.

Jared Houston (ZAF) finished third at Pipeline last year during his debut appearance at elite level and matched that effort again today.

“So stoked to make another final. It’s only my third event here at Pipeline so it feels good to make back-to-back finals. It’s good to compete against these guys. Rigby, he’s come so far in the last year, and to compete against Jeff, he’s one of my idols – it’s fun to a part of it,” said Houston.

Fourth place went to Australian Dallas Singer.

Hawaiian Action

As well as a bunch of our team riders heading to Hawaii, this year Mitch Pearson, one of our local photogs headed for his first trip to the famed North Shore. He has sent us through a few of his shots to show you guys and girls, and he should have a bunch more top shots coming from the rest of his trip as well.
Thanks heaps to Mitch for sending us through these shots!

Jared Houston

Ben Player

Drew Innocend

Amaury Laverhne

WE'RE IN!!!

WE HAVE MOVED!!!! After months of waiting, we are finally in the new shop! Come in and grab a bargain before the end of February, as we are having a massive Grand Opening Sale.
Here are a couple of shots I took of the new shop on my phone, there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are open for business!

Emerald Is Moving Again!!!

Yes. Emerald is moving again!!! We are moving to our brand new, fully renovated shop on Monday. Yes, Monday the 14th Feb, we are doing the big move, and from then on, that is our permanent shop! The new address will be 7/2 Surf Rd, Cronulla, NSW. The phone number will remain the same (02) 9527 4149 and the email and shop website's remain unchanged as well.
We will be having a massive GRAND OPENING SALE as well, with some amazing deals on boards and wetsuits to be had by everyone. More details on the sale to follow soon.

See you all soon in the brand new shop!

Jard Houston Podcast!!

Check out Jerry's new podcast from his time in the Canary Islands!! The kid has been firing on all cylinders, and is now in Hawaii getting ready to make an assault on the all new 2011 Global Super Series World Tour. Jerry got a big double page sequence run in the brand new Riptide, of a massive invert to backflip, which is in this clip from water and land angles! He has also recently scored the cover of Surge Bodyboard Mag in Hawaii. Keep your eyes peeled for more crazy images from Jerry in the near future!
Enjoy his Canary Islands Podcast below.

TURBO PRESENTS - JARED HOUSTON IN THE CANARY ISLANDS from phluidphilms on Vimeo.

Jerry Gettin Covers!

We'd like to extend our congratulations to Jared Houston for getting the cover shot on the new Surge Bodyboard Mag in Hawaii. From all reports Jerry has been doing some serious work in the water since he arrived in Hawaii, and this is the first of many shots of him that will be run in the next couple of mags to come out!
See his cover shot below.