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Kirra claims Jim Beam Surftag Queensland event

Jim Beam Surftag QLD

Duranbah, Queensland Australia
15 January 2011
Kirra Boardriders on Top at Regional Queensland Qualifier

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 January, 2011 : - - Coolangatta -- One of the greatest days in Jim Beam Surftag history has seen Kirra Surfriders claim the regional Queensland qualifying title over arch rivals Snapper Rocks in epic surf on the Gold Coast.

While the ravaging floods one hour north are proving devastating for those affected, Tropical Cyclone Zelia spinning off the coast of Cairns sent a solid pulse of swell southwards, with the famous superbank stretch dishing out long tubes and open walls for over 20 boardriding clubs.

The entry list from clubs as far north as Noosa and as far south as Ballina read like a who’s who of Australian surfing with the likes of Mick Fanning, Dean Morrison, Mark Occhilupo, Adam Melling, Shaun Gossman and Jay Phillips all turning out for their respective teams.

With 6 places on offer for the national final in two weeks, the shock exit of Le Ba Boardriders in the Semi Final paved the way for Snapper Rocks, Byron Bay, Kirra and Cabarita to reach the final and take a shot at the regional title.

With Fanning surfing for Kirra and fellow Cooly kid Dean Morrison sparring against him for Snapper Rocks it was one of the most hi-fi finals in club surfing on record. Breakthrough Club Cabarita and the ever hot Byron Bay were hot on their heals thanks to strong surfing by Garret Parkes and Tim Charmers.

Fanning had the early spark for the Kirra team, putting the club in front early with a 22.37 out of 30.00 score. “I always like coming back and surfing for Kirra, I’ve been doing it since I was a grom,” said Fanning. “I really feel for all the people in Brisbane with what happened this week, it really hit home coming back to Australia from Hawaii yesterday.”

“I guess for us surfers this kind of weather brings waves, it’s unreal to see the bank alive again, been a slow few weeks around these parts.”

The consistency Corey Ziems and Asher Pacey had Snapper back in the lead toward the end of the one hour final until final Kirra’s Jesse Adam grabbed a last ditch wave and stole victory with less than a minute remaining.

“I had no idea how much time was left or what I needed,” said Allen post final. “I knew it was close, I missed three waves in a row and then pounced on a average one and managed to snap out a few turns.”

“It was an amazing day of surfing all round.” The final scores had Kirra 88.07, Snapper 78.54, Byron Bay 72.60 and Cabarita on 72.34.

Aussie Corey Ziems digs in with new Foilz fin design

Corey Ziems takes Foilz fins into some big barrels

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 November, 2010 :

I had a feeling a certain wave not so far from home was going to be pumping about a week or so ago, so I told my mate and we headed off with the jet ski to try our luck. After a bit of a drive in the car and another bit of a drive on the ski we arrived to perfect 6 foot barrels.

Left and rights. We decided to do jump offs on the ski. (for those who don’t know what that is you catch the wave with the jet ski at about the same speed as the wave and the guy on the back jumps off the ski straight onto the wave, thus cutting out any paddling and making for a lot more waves to be surfed). Also there's a few sharks around this area so it feels nice to be sitting on a ski not in the water!

Me and my mate both used the Foilz in our boards and they went amazing. I've always thought that barrelling waves would be the ideal wave for these fins but I didn’t expect it to work this well. Straight off the bottom you have your speed and while you're in the barrel it just wants to keep pushing you along.

It feels like you can get deeper and still have the control of your tail without it getting caught by the foam or sliding out in the barrel. I'll be taking a set of Foilz to every top to bottom barrelling wave I go from now on.

After a good 4 hours of getting shacked we called it a day and went in, but an awesome day to be a surfer........ a day I wont forget for a while.
Next swell take a set out, you'll be impressed I promise. Thanks for reading....CZ (Corey Ziems)

Foilz Review Smorgasboarder Magazine Jan/Feb 2011

View the whole mag at  www.smorgasboarder.com.au

Review is on page 80.

Foilz double page spread - launch edition Smorgasboarder magazine

October-December edition - available in surf stores FREE from Qld down the coast to Victoria.

To view the complete mag: 

www.smorgasboarder.com.au

Surfers Village Global Surf News 18 August 2010

Hydrofoil-style fin system the brainchild of long-time surfer and inventor Simon Francis

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 August, 2010 : - - Not since Cheyne Horan unveiled his Ben Lexcen-inspired ‘winged keel’ fin two decades ago has such a weird and wonderful-looking fin design been unleashed on an unsuspecting surfing world.

Called Foilz, the hydrofoil-style fin system is the brainchild of long-time surfer and inventor Simon Francis and has been given the thumbs-up by the likes of reigning Queensland Championship Circuit champ Corey Ziems. Francis grew up surfing in his native Tasmania but was forced to give up the sport he loved after a near-fatal car accident resulted in serious back problems.

He now devotes his time to developing new products including Foilz, which have just been released to the market after four years of research and development. The backyard inventor, who has patented his design, will take on the might of the world’s biggest fin manufacturer FCS (Fin Control Systems) in a bid to establish his Gold Coast-made product in the marketplace.

“Foilz are set to be the most radical fin design since Cheyne unveiled the winged keel,’’ Francis said. “Surfers and surfboard manufacturers are continually searching for the Next Big Thing in technology or design to improve performance and enhance enjoyment of the sport.

“We believe Foilz have the potential to be a revolution in surfboard evolution.’’ The concept for Foilz dawned on the former casino croupier as he was driving home from the cinema one night in 2006. “I saw this souped-up car with a spoiler and a surfboard on the roof,’’ he said. “The spoiler works upside down to create lift and reduce drag. I thought if you could tilt a fin five degrees like a spoiler, you could get a similar affect.

“Foilz are designed to create a hydrofoil affect, increasing lift and reducing drag to improve acceleration and control.’’ Francis developed a prototype and had it tested by friends who gave the design big wraps.

After some fine-tuning, it was tested by expert surfers including former world championship tour competitor and Channel 9 Gold Coast surf -reporter Glen ‘Rocky’ Rawlings, aerial surfing specialist Dru Adler and reigning Queensland Championship Circuit champion Corey Ziems.

Ziems, who also competes on the WQS, was so stoked on the fins he agreed to come on board as Foilz’s first team rider. “I’m really impressed with the Foilz in all conditions,’’ he said. “In fast, sucky down-the-line waves, they hold in incredibly well in the barrel. The speed they generate is like no fin I’ve used before.

“They give extra lift in the tail but seem to hold in well through turns, but (also) give you that extra pop out of your top turns … all-round really fun performance fins.’’ Francis said because of their unique design, Foilz also had the potential to reduce dangerous fin chops like that suffered recently by Joel Parkinson who sliced his heel to the bone in a wipeout.

“Because of the planular section, they make the board more stable, so they’re ideal for beginners,’’ Francis said. “As far as the pros are concerned, Foilz are great for doing big airs because of the extra lift, drive and flex they give. The feedback we’re getting from guys like Corey about the Foilz is that they really allow you to combine surfing and skating manouevres.

Made from fully recyclable polycarb nylon, Foilz are also friendly on the environment. And they’re tough. “It took us four or five goes with a sledgehammer at the factory to break them,’’ Francis said.

Foilz will come in a range of angles – 90 degree, 45 degree and 33 degree – for varying surf conditions and performance standards. They are compatible with FCS fin box set-ups used on most modern surfboards or can be glassed in.

Foilz retail for $120 a set and are available through the website foilzfins.com. Francis is also in the process of appointing offshore agents. “They haven’t even hit the market but we’ve already sold quite a few sets to guys on the beach who have seen us testing them,’’ he said “All the feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive.’’