Red Bull 5X News, Surf Contest Results, Future RB5X Event Dates

[05.02.2005]
Fiji's Forbidden Islands
– In early 2005, the Red Bull surf team journeyed to a previously uncharted region of eastern Fiji for the latest installment of the RB5x project. The crew included nine of the world’s best surfers: 3x World Champion, Andy Irons; winner of 2005 Eddie Aikau big wave event, Bruce Irons; Jamie O’Brien, winner of the 2005 Pipeline Masters; red-hot Aussie, Mick Fanning; WCT veteran, Beau Emerton; top women's surfer, Keala Kennelly; big wave Maui charger, Ian Walsh; and young up-starts, Alex Grey and Ben Dunn. Check out the action from the trip and see who took the pot and who folded on this adventure into Fiji's forbidden Islands"

[01.07.2005]
Ben Bourgeois wins RB5X Tow At event at Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro
– January 5, 2005 (Melbourne Beach, Florida) - The iconic Sebastian Inlet came alive this week as Ben Bourgeois (Wrightsville Beach, NC) won the Red Bull 5X Tow At at this year's Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro. With the aid of a personal watercraft the five competing surfers of the RB5X were be sling-shot into waves at speeds up to twenty miles-per hour leading to dramatic aerial and carving maneuvers. Each surfer was allotted two, ten minute sessions behind the watercraft. This innovative session was featured at the Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro, an ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) three-star event.

The placement of the surfer on the wave by the ski driver is critical in tow-at surfing. For this purpose, tow-at specialist drivers were east coast tow-at pioneers, Matt Kechele and Jeremy Saukel. Their expertise ensured the towed surfers were perfectly poised for huge maneuvers.

The RB5X Tow-At was an invitation-only contest comprised of five surfers; Ben Bourgeois (Wrightsville Beach, NC), Ian Parnell (Virginia Beach, VA), Adam Wickwire (Satellite Beach, FL), Ola Eleogram (Hana, Maui) and Jeremy Johnston (New Smryna Beach, FL) . Judging the event were the surfers themselves as they utilize the RB5X format, a surfing pick-up game designed to integrate creativity and innovation in to the sport.

All the action was filmed from four camera locations and then played back the following day for the surfers to comment on, critique and deem who they thought won. Each surfer threw in $5 to the pot, the winner took all. For his high-flying surfing, Ben Bourgeois left with a whooping $25.

[10.18.2004]
KASSIA MEADOR WINS RED BULL 5X MALIBU
– Malibu, Calif. – (October 18, 2004) – After an illuminating evening of night surfing under 180,000 watts of light power at First Point Malibu, the five women surfers (Daize Shayne, Mary Osborne, Kassia Meador, Kim Hamrock and Schuyler McFerran) in the Red Bull 5X gathered the following morning to review the night's footage and vote on the winner.

All the girls we surfing incredibly well with long nose rides and elegant footwork in Malibu's long rights. After some good-hearted heckling and applauding for one another while watching the footage it was "sea princess" Kassia Meador who received the nod from her fellow surfers and the $25 pot.

"There weren’t judges, and it wasn’t a contest," said Kassia of the session. "The RB5X is a cool way to push each other and push our surfing to the next level. It's more about earning the respect of your peers and seeing who threw down, who's doing the craziest stuff and who was surfing the best."

[10.17.2004]
Red Bull 5X brings unique night surfing event to Malibu
– Malibu, Calif. – (October 16, 2004) – With 180,000 watts of light focused on the action, the Red Bull 5X made history as Malibu's first-ever night surfing event was held in reeling, shoulder-high waves at the famous First Point. Five of the sport's most talented female longboarders, including Daize Shayne, Mary Osborne, Kassia Meador, Kim Hamrock and Schuyler McFerran, battled it out in a 90-minute expression session.

Instead of the normal surf competition in which each surfer's performance is critiqued by judges on the beach, the RB5X allows the surfers to push the limits of performance without the constraints of typical contest formats. A full film crew recorded all the action in the water and the surfers themselves will determine the winner during a playback session to be held on Sunday, October 17, in Malibu.

"It was so rad with no judges. You're your own judge and you're everybody else's judge," says pro surfer Kassia Meador of Oceanside, Calif. "The RB5X is a cool way to push each other and push our surfing to the next level. It's more about earning the respect of your peers and seeing who threw down, who's doing the craziest stuff and who was surfing the best."

Despite the impossibly long noserides and graceful footwork on display, it was the unique night surfing format that caught the attention of the surfers. "It was so beautiful on the water," says veteran pro Kim Hamrock of Huntington Beach, Calif. "Actually it was kind of hard to surf at times because I was just mesmerized watching the bottom and the fish."

The complete session will air on the FUEL network later this year.

[09.16.2004]
RED BULL 5X TAKES ITS REVOLUTIONARY FORMAT TO MALIBU FOR A NIGHT SURF SESSION
– Santa Monica, Calif. – (September 15, 2004) – On October 16, 2004, five of the world’s best women longboarders will light up First Point at Malibu’s Surfrider Beach in the latest Red Bull 5X surf event. Instead of a normal daytime surf session, this event is taking place at night. “But how will the girls see?” No problem, the break will be lit up with 180,000 watts of power making it look like a bright summer day on a July weekend.

The session is being filmed for a show to be aired on the FUEL Network.

Malibu is reputable for its long, right peeling waves, its influence on surf culture and, of course, its notorious crowds. By lighting the break at night, the Red Bull 5X will retain Malibu’s good qualities, but drop the bad one: the congested lineup. The five women longboarders (consisting of Kassia Meador, Kim Hamrock, Daize Shayne, Mary Osborne and Schuyler McFerran) will have First Point all to themselves as they utilize the Red Bull 5X format to express the beauty and grace which is inherent to women’s surfing.

[07.26.2004]
Sam Hammer and Ian Parnell spread the word on RB5X East Coast Tour
– From July 19th - 26th, Red Bull Athletes, Sam Hammer and Ian Parnell, took a road trip up the East Coast stopping by surf shops in Virginia Beach to York, Maine for some friendly games of RB5X. Check out the RB5X EAST COAST TOUR section for the story and photos.

[06.09.2004]
PLAY RB5X WITH YOUR FRIENDS
– Play RB5X with you friends...

[11.13.2003]
WAITING PERIOD FOR RED BULL 5X HAWAII ENDS WITH NO SESSION
– Oahu, Hawaii - November 12, 2003 - The Red Bull 5X--Hawaii was scheduled to take place on the North Shore of Oahu between November 4th - 11th, but due to unfavorable wind conditions and lack of surf the event has been postponed. The RB5X hopes to shoot the third episode within the next year.
The RB5X Hawaii stop was the third and final installment of 2003 and was planned to be a high-performance tow-in project. Five tow-teams were chosen for this memorable session: Pipe terrors, Mark Healy and teammate, Jaime Sterling; innovative waterman, Rush Randle and partner Eric Pung, young North Shore heavy, Makua Rothman and Ryan Rawson; WCT tour veteran, Ross Williams and Pete Johnson: and Maui’s up-and-coming, Ian Walsh with his partner Ahanu “Hanu” Tson-Dru.

[11.09.2003]
November 7-8, 2003 - RB5X Hawaii
– A rarity this time of the year, the North Shore is currently wave-deprived. This has left surfers in such a state that they have turned to other outlets for some kicks. The crew decided a little skydiving and paintball would keep everyone on their toes. Check out some photos in the Action Section for new Hawaii photos.

[11.06.2003]
November 6, 2003 - RB5X Hawaii
– Today saw a slight drop in swell, but there were still fun waves to be had on the North Shore. The RB5X waiting period continues, but word is: A swell's on the way for the weekend. Pray for surf! Check out today's Hawaii photos in the Action Section.

[11.05.2003]
November 5, 2003 - RB5X Hawaii
– While some of the RB5X Hawaii surfers were still competing in the Xcel event at Sunset, the rest of the crew decided to tune up the skis and surf out front. Maui boy, Ian Walsh, pulled into a few and brushed up on his MOJO groove. Check out his afternoon delight in the Action Section for new Hawaii photos.

[10.17.2003]
RB5X Goes Aloha
– Oahu, Hawaii – October 17, 2003 – For the third and final installment of 2003, the Red Bull 5X has something new up its sleeve; a high-performance tow-in event in the fabled waves of the North Shore. A weather window from November 5th – 10th has been established to allow for the most optimal conditions. The five surfers chosen for this memorable session comprise an accomplished field of some of Hawaii’s best: Pipe terror, Mark Healy, innovative waterman, Rush Randle, Big Island free-spirit, Conan Hayes, WCT tour veteran, Ross Williams, and Maui’s up-and-coming, Ian Walsh. Each will choose their respective tow partners – in tow surfing, it’s a two man show.

This impressive group will utilize the RB5X format where each team will go head-to-head during a 90 minutes session. All of it will be filmed for review by the surfers who will judge each other on the RB5X criteria: torque, boost, push, mojo and combo.

[07.24.2003]
Watch the premiere of the Mexico RB5X this Monday August 4th at 4pm on FOX Sports
– It was a dusty, wave-filled journey throughout mainland Mexico as Adam Replogle, Peter Mel, Shawn “Barney” Barron, Darryl “Flea” Virostko and Anthony Ruffo took the reins of the progressive RB5X format. Who won the 90 minute session and the respect? Where was that secret spot the boys stumbled across? Who ate the worm? What road trip antics made the final cut? Find out August 4th at 4 pm when the Mexico RB5X premiers on FOX Sports Net.

[06.17.2003]
RED BULL 5X HEADS SOUTH, TO MEXICO A HEAVY CREW FROM SANTA CRUZ, CA. LEAVES ITS MARK IN THE FABLED BEACHBREAKS OF MAINLAND MEXICO
– Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – June 16, 2003 – The second stop of the Red Bull 5X ("five–by") wrapped up last week after a dusty, wave-filled journey throughout mainland Mexico as Adam Replogle, Peter Mel, Shawn "Barney" Barron, Darryl "Flea" Virostko and Anthony Ruffo took the reins of the progressive RB5X format. Several RB5X sessions were thrown down throughout the course of the trip, all of it was filmed for review by the surfers who judged each other on the RB5X criteria; torque, boost, push, mojo and combo. Who won the 90 minute session and the respect? Where was that secret spot the boys stumbled across? Who ate the worm? What road trip antics made the final cut? Find out August 4th at 4 p.m. when the Mexico RB5X premiers on FOX Sports Net.

[02.18.2003]
WATCH THE PREMIERE EPISODE OF RB5X MAY 26TH 4-5PM PST/EST ON FOX SPORTS
– Solana Beach, CA – The inaugural RB5X went down today in Oceanside, CA featuring an all-star cast of five California surfers. A break in the rain allowed for sunshine and fun surf as Brian Conley, Shane Beschen, Gavin Beschen, Mike Todd, and Brad Gerlach took ownership of the RB5X format and threw down a serious progressive session. Hosting the event will be the multi-talented Donovan Frankenreiter. The RB5X format, which rewards creative and innovative surfing in a 90-minute period, allowed all the participants to find their respective rhythms and push their surfing while drawing inspiration and motivation from each other.

“The vibe was great,” said Shane Beschen. “That would be the ideal vibe for all contests. We were just trying to push our surfing instead of trying to win.”

Find out who took the $25 pot and the glory on May 26th on FOX Sports at 4pm.