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Oxbow Soul & Style

And so it remained until the last century, when the introduction of new synthetic materials and design concepts gave birth to the Short Board Revolution and in the '60s and '70s surfing exploded into a global sports phenomenon. Those old, clunky 9 to 10-foot boards morphed into the 5 to 6-footers in common usage today.

Short boards are faster and more maneuverable; Longboards are best suited to small waves and for old geezers. Or so the common wisdom would have it. But the longboard has refused to die. On the contrary, the longboard has seen a major resurgence with a new generation of surfers rising to the challenges of longboarding the most difficult waves.

Oxbow, the French sportswear manufacturer, has done as much as anyone to promote longboarding. Oxbow has sponsored the World Longboard Tour for the last 12 years. And this month (August 3 to 11) Oxbow brings the top longboard surfers in the world to Puerto Escondido with the inauguration of a Oxbow Soul & Style, an invitational longboarding event that will feature 15 surfers in a session competition based on personal style and pizazz!

Oxbow felt it was time to go over to something else and push longboarding to new limits of competition, explains Frank Heissat, Oxbow director of marketing. Lots of talking with the competitors and a real belief in the art form that longboarding represents gave birth to the Soul & Style. The contest format will be quite free; nothing too strict, no contest atmosphere, something more like a great session. With this great gathering, Oxbow's will is to stray from the judging criteria that has been ruling professional longboarding so far. Soul & Style is an attempt to push pro longboarding to new limits, in a brotherly atmosphere. Good people, good vibes, good surf!

By the end of this exceptional meeting, the title of Soul & Style Master will crown the most stylish and radical surfer after a long week of great sessions on the powerful beach break of Playa Zicatela as well as several point breaks around the area.

Oxbow invited the chosen fifteen to decide amongst themselves, before the event, who they would like as referees from a list of legends, shapers or key figures in the world of longboarding.

A new system of judging criteria has also been proposed, where the important points will be based around style. Soul & Style will include The Main Game with longboards of a minimum 9 feet in a tournament of 3 rounds, Quarter Finals, Semis and Final. Rounds 1, 2 and 3 are tournament format; 1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points, 3rd place = 3 points. 8 surfers with less points are qualified for 1/4 finals.

And, because the board is only a tool which allows the surfer to express himself, Oxbow will also organise a Super Session where each rider will be able to perform on the board of their choice (anything between 5 and 12 feet).

Rules: - Referees were nominated by the participating surfers. 30 minute heats; as many waves as the surfers want - overall appreciation of the heat - no wave per wave notation - at the end of the heat, referees determine together and unanimously of a ranking 1-2-3.-Refereeing criteria: choice of wave, guts, style, soul, future of longboarding.

The sport has greatly evolved and the level of skill and moves has risen considerably, says Oxbow's Frank Hiessat. The surfers have demonstrated that longboarding has a key role in modern surfing and can be used on all types of waves, using artistic maneuvers , knowing how to mix style and radical moves.To reflect the Oxbow spirit, the new type of competition was created to encourage the utmost expression of style, and the purest form of contest with nature.

It should be quite a show.

THE SURFERS

Style's not dead, he contends. It's still out there. Just put some time into it and you'll find it. It's the soul of surfing.

Bonga Perkins
The veteran among the group, the Hawaiian pro is a natural leader. Bonga has been to Puerto many times and is unintimidated by Zicatela's massive beach break. He has won the respect of his peers and won the hearts of the local surf community.

Beau Young
A two-time ASP World Champion, Beau, the son of the great Nat Young, has surfing in his blood. But far from being a one-dimensional surfer, he is equally passionate about playing music.

Beau is rhythm guitarist and vocalist for the Beau Young Band, formed in 2001. The music is a mix of folk, rock, reggae and African rhythms. Having won critical success, Beau is hoping to release his first album at the end of this year.

Rusty Keaulana
Rusty for years was the epitome of professional longboarding in the '90s. The contest would not be complete without him. He was world champ three consecutive years.

Dino Miranda
Pro surfing's ultimate nice guy, his love for the sport and his aloha spirit makes him a natural ambassador who generously shares his talent with young people wherever he competes.

Duane De Soto
Duane began surfing in Oahu at age 4 and he credits his Hawaiian ancestors for his natural understanding and respect for the ocean. He also drew inspiration from the great Hawaiian surfers such as Rusty Keaulana, Sunny Garcia and Johnny Boy Gomes. A member of the Oxbow team since 1993, he is considered an extremely versatile surfer.

Taylor Jensen
Taylor has only been a pro for 2 years, but he won last year's tournament in Biarritz and is well on his way to achieving his ambition to Become a well known surfer throughout the world and be known not only for my surfing but my good sportsmanship as well.

Zack Howard
The Youngest competitor, he discovered longboard at the age of 4, when his father let him ride on the front of his board. At 13, he started real surfing and took part in his first competition which he won). He is especially fond of riding at home in Malibu, California. When Oxbow organized the world longboard championships there in 1994, Zach was offered a spot among the Oxbow People. Since then, he has qualified for all the world championships and discovered a new love for longboard tube-riding

Jye Byrnes
A major surfing force in his native Australia, Jye is not a familiar name in North America. A pro for 6 years he surfs for Quicksilver, Byrnes Surfboards and The Surf Factory.

Alexandre Salazar
With his 15 years as a pro, Alexandre is the best-known surfer in Brazil.

Colin McPhillips
This is the first time Colin will have challenged the Puerto breaks. A three-time world champion, he has won under every condition, except the kind of barrels that can be expected here.

Mathew Moir
Representing South Africa, Mathew has been on the tour for 7 years. He surfs for Quicksilver Dragon Optical, and Stubbs Surfboards..

Josh Baxter
The San Clemente native, son of the legendary pipe charger Jackie Baxter, Josh is a fierce competitor and wants to win this one in the worst possible way.

Angel Salinas
Representing the host nation at S&S, Puerto Escondido's Angel Salinas has been competing on the international longboard circuit for years. He is a tireless promoter of surfing for México and is known around the world as the masked surfer.

He is well-liked and respected by his colleagues and is in no small way responsible for Oxbow selecting Puerto to inaugurate this event.

Phil Rajzman
Phil beat out 63 of the world's best to take this year's Oxbow Longboard Pro in Maresias in his native Brazil.

- - Warren Sharpe