Time for team celebrations.
Sunday 3rd July, 2011: TravelSIM Team Australia is on top of the surfing world after clinching the Team Gold medal at the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games today in glassy and consistent two-to-four feet waves at Panama’s Playa Venao.
Three years after their last victory in Portugal in 2008, the Australians put their country back on top as the premiere National Surfing Team in the world.
Team Australia included Mick Campbell (Port Macquarie), Drew Courtney (Umina), Thomas Woods (Coolangatta) and Nathan Hedge (Narrabeen) in the Men’s division; Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour) and Dane Pioli (Coolangatta) in the Longboards and Dimity Stoyle (Buderim) and Jessi Miley-Dyer (Bronte) in the Women’s. Five out of the twelve winners were from Australia.
The unflappable Mick Campbell.
Once again, the Aussies proved that the last day of the event is the moment when teams must step up and take risks. Their strategy was right on target, as it was in 2008, 2006, 2004 and 1998— the four years in which they won the Gold since the ISA World Surfing Games started in 1996.
Final Team Standings were as follows;
Gold: Australia – 15,000 points
Silver: Brazil – 12,132 points
Bronze: France – 11,816 points
Copper: Argentina – 11,312 points
“This year we brought a mixture of experienced surfers and young guys from the Pro Junior Series,” said Team Australia Coach Martin Dunn.
“This proves that Australia has great talent in every level; athletes who can perform under pressure.”
Former Open Men’s Gold Medallist Campbell fell agonisingly close to a second title in a tightly contested Men’s final.
Campbell finishing behind eventual winner Santiago Muñiz from Argentina – 17.00 to 16.77.
“Amazing feelings of emotion right now,” said Campbell.
“It’s been a long time since I have held gold as a team and it feels so sweet right now. I’m happy with my silver but a little bit annoyed because this will probably be my last year representing Australia – so a little bittersweet.”
The talented Thomas Woods.
Fellow Australian Woods finishing in third on 16.23 with Ian Gouveia (BRA) in fourth on 15.67
In the Women’s final, 2004 ISA and ASP World Champion Sofía Mulanovich (PER) led almost entirely until the recently crowned Women’s ISA World Junior Surfing Champion Cannelle Bulard (FRA) decided to put her backhand surfing to work.
Bulard taking the title from Mulanovich, with Australian’s Miley-Dyer and Stoyle in third and fourth respectively.
“The team has been awesome,” said Miley-Dyer.
“I’m so stoked we won the title. I more excited about the teams result than my third. If you add in the Aloha Cup I have got a full set of Gold, Silver and Bronze. These medals along with an Australia jersey means I have done everything I have wanted to do.”
Fifteen years after the last Team USA Longboard Gold Medal (Geoff Moysa in 1996), Tony Silvagni made history for his country today after taking victory over Australian Ingleby.
Silvagni started off with solid 8.17 and 8.73 scores, leading the heat from the beginning until the end.
With five minutes remaining, last year’s finalist Ingleby got busy, posting an 8.37, but it wasn’t enough to take the lead.
Once the surfing was over, the Closing Cermony got underway.ISA President Fernando Aguerre did not attend, as he is in California recovering from a surfing injury. From home in a recorded message, he stated, “The ISA is very proud of this event, and we hold our belief that Panama will invite us here again in the near future, because Panama has a very important role to play in the future of surfing. With thousands and thousands of miles of coastline, a beautiful landscape and an amazing amount of waves, most of which are still unexplored, Panama offers paradise in a world in which paradise seems to be lost at times.”
Aguerre finished his speech by saying, “I want to express my gratitude to the people of Playa Venao and to all the staff and all the volunteers in Panama who made this event possible. Panama is an example of a green country and beautiful jungles with a small population, but with a big heart. You will stay in the ISA heart forever.”
The Ceremony was honored by the presence of Ricardo Martinelli, President of Panama, who welcomed everybody and invited the world to come to Panama, to surf and enjoy its excellent waves.
Panama’s Tourism Minister, Salomón Shamah was also present at the Closing Ceremony, delivering medals to the winners, along with the President.
With another edition of the annual Billabong ISA World Surfing Games successfully compete, the ISA looks forward to announcing the location of the premiere world team surfing event for 2012.
Final Team Standings
1. Australia – 15000
2. Brazil – 12132
3. France – 11816
4. Argentina -11312
5. Peru – 10930
6. Venezuela-10342
7. South Africa – 10008
8. USA – 96796
9. New Zealand -7816
10-Ecuador – 7740
11. Costa Rica -7696
12. Tahiti- 7575
13. Mexico- 6618
14. Puerto Rico – 6606
15. Uruguay – 6466
16. Panama – 6126
17. El salvador – 5568
18. Switzerland – 5328
19. Guatemala – 459520. Japan-4080
21. Nicaragua – 3516
22. Chile – 2832
23. Israel – 2436
24. Colombia – 1920
25. Jamaica – 1440
26. Canada- 1296
27. Ireland – 540
