UK – Newquay is set for Europe’s biggest surf, skate and extreme sports bonanza: the Rip Curl Boardmasters surf and music festival. Set in Watergate Bay, as the crowning jewel to the week-long surf, skate and extreme sports bonanza, this is the music festival combining the best in indie, rock and dance music with up and coming live acts and bands.Topping the bill are Groove Armada, The Pigeon Detectives, Reverend and the Makers, The Zutons, Audio Bullys, Morcheeba and Glasvegas. Dates: 4-10 August USA – Roller derby is one of the fastest-growing extreme sports in the U.S. and is characterized by spectacular full-body blocks, multi-body pile-ups, and thrilling speed skating. A game is called a “bout,” and it is comprised of two 30-minute periods. During each period, ten women (five from each team) arm themselves with quad skates, countless months of training, and BAD attitudes to line up for consecutive two-minute ‘jams,” during which time skaters race and block each other to victory—or defeat. USA – Snowmass to debut new mountain bike race – the inaugural 12 Hours of Snowmass will be at Snowmass Village on Sept. 14. The 7-mile course at Snowmass will feature 1600 feet of vertical gain. Riders can choose to ride solo, in teams of two or three, or on an open team of up to eight riders. Categories also include a ski patrol team, a bike shop team and a chance to race for the title of “Clydesdale 12 Hour Solo World Champion.” The proceeds from the new race benefit the Aspen Youth Center and Extreme Sports Camp, both non-profits that help adolescents. The drop-in youth center is a refuge for local youth throughout the school year and during the summer, offering a variety of games and activities as well as outreach programs for grades 4-12. Extreme Sports Camp provides summer camp experiences for children with autism. Surfing Lipke Ends up 5th in Billabong Yumeya Pro in Japan and Goes No. 17 on Ratings Marlon Lipke (DEU), 23, the only touring German surfer among the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS), secured the best European result in the ASP WQS 6-Star Yumeya Billabong Pro Tahara after losing to Brazilian Jadson Andre (BRA) in Quarterfinal No. 4 for an equal 5th finish. Lipke, who was just coming back from the Honda US Open of Surfing where he already reached the Quarterfinals, was in top form all week and managed to secure a second consecutive excellent result that will definitely be a keeper on his 2009 ASP World Tour qualification quest. Gaining eleven ranks on the overall ASP WQS ratings, Lipke now leads the European contingent rated No. 17 and is well in position to keep any Dream Tour hopes alive. Veminardi and Arnaud Take Island Style Men’s and Nikita Women’s Pro Junior Crowns Medi Veminardi (REU) and Alizee Arnaud (Hossegor, FRA) respectively won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Men’s and Grade-1 Women’s Pro Junior events Sunday at Sopelana in the Basque Counrty, after a four-day long event that saw big upsets and major ratings’ points taken for the regional title race. Medi Veminardi (REU), 18, won the Island Style Men’s Pro Junior after defeating local Basque surfer Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) in a Man-on-Man 30-minute final posting a good 14.00 point heat score (out of a possible 20). Veminardi, who got through three heats yesterday with victories over underdog Thomas Fok Cheong (REU) in Semifinals and Justin Delanne (FRA) in the Quarters, built his confidence with consistency and heat tactics en route to the final where he waited for a last minute 7.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) to catch his maiden ASP Pro Junior title. Veminardi, who moves up from No. 4 to No. 3 on the regional ratings, remains well in contention for the crown and 384 points away only from fellow Reunion Island born surfer and current leader Maxime Huscenot (REU). The ASP Grade-1 Nikita Women’s Pro Junior saw Alizee Arnaud (FRA) secure her first win this season after defeating Johanne Defay (FRA), Ravi Bailleux (FRA) and Fanny Brice (FRA) in an all-French final. Arnaud, who was injured for a couple of months this year, put on an exceptionnal performance in the final posting an impressive 19.20 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to clinch the crown and move up in the ratings. {mosimage} Bruce Irons Wins 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search ‘Somewhere’ in Indonesia Bruce Irons (HAW) beat Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) to claim the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search in rifling four-foot (1.5 metre) lefthanders ‘somewhere’ in Indonesia. Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search saw a marathon day of action capped off by a stunning barrel shootout finale between the young Hawaiians. Irons, who took down reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and Dream Tour sophomore Ben Dunn (AUS) en route to his Finals berth, came from behind in last 10 minutes of the event, grabbing an 8.33 and a 9.33 to scalp his first ASP World Tour victory. Irons keeps the family monopoly of Rip Curl Pro Search events, joining older brother Andy, who has two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006, 2007) under his belt already. Want to win a custom built surfboard? Get your entries in to win your brand new “Gold Coast Surfboards ” surfboard, custom made for this competition – the surfboard will be delivered to the winner, anywhere in the world.