(April 29, 2002)                                                                                              Hot News Main Page 

Competition Postponed; Jet Ski Assist Practice Session

TAVARUA ISLAND, FIJI (April 29, 2002) The Roxy Pro Fiji was again postponed this morning due to a continued lack of surf. Following this, the first official Jet Ski assist theory and practical session was conducted off Tavarua Island with the world's top rated female surfers.

Since the advent of Jet Ski rescues in Hawaiian competition during the late 1980's, the technique has evolved and now become commonplace among the World Championship Tour (WCT) events with added danger, such as 'Cloudbreak' and
other reef locations. More recently, they have also been adopted to further assist surfers back into the lineup after rides at point break venues to help speed up proceedings and ensure all good waves are utilized.

ASP Head Judge Perry Hatchett (Aus) began the morning's session by outlining
the use of the Jet Ski's here during the Roxy Pro Fiji, as well as fielding questions from some of the competitors. Daryl Stant and Craig Davidson, members of the Hawaiian Water Patrol team on-site at Tavarua Island, then took over by explaining how the rescue procedure works in theory, before conducting the practical session in the water.

With competitors taking turn, Daryl and Craig went through mock drills whereby they extended their left arm from the Ski and locked onto the surfers raised left arm, before swinging them onto the back of the Ski's sled. All seriousness aside, they also raced the women around the flat sea for some added excitement.

Roxy Pro Fiji trials hopeful Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), who first experienced Jet Ski assist during the recent Roxy Pro in Australia last month where she reached the quarterfinals, credited the system for alleviating much of the pressure in heats.

"It took me a while to get used to it," admitted Mulanovich, of her first attempt. "I was pretty slow then, and I've never tried the rescues like today before.

"For sure you get more waves," she added of the assist. "There's less pressure to paddle, so you don't get as tired and can focus on your surfing."

After the practice session, life on Tavarua and Namotu Islands returned to its normal slow pace, with competitors taking advantage of the fishing, diving, and other sea activities on offer.

Roxy Pro Fiji contest director Rod Brooks will make a decision each morning by 6:30am (local time) as to the day's schedule. A swell increase is expected later in the week.

Further Information and Surfer Profiles: www.aspworldtour.com & www.quiksilver.com  Media numbers onsite: +679-65-11-(125), or (126) and (127).

Kirk Willcox - Media/Marketing Manager, Quiksilver International kirk.willcox@quiksilver.com.au, Ph (Aus): +61-(0)-2-9973-5555

Complimentary digital images will be available to all newspapers, websites, and magazines. Contact Pierre Tostee/ASP World Tour Photographer: tostee@aspworldtour.com

[Source: Jesse Faen, Media Director, ASP Int'l, jesse@aspworldtour.com, www.aspworldtour.com, Mobile (Aus): +61-(0)-407-189-289, ASP Office (Aus): +61-(0)-755-991-550]