Introduction
Heublien Inc (Smirnoff) Articles and photographs

---

Page 64

For immediate release: Heublien Inc (Smirnoff) Smirnoff Pro Contest Professional surfing is wearing a "new look" That was the consensus of contestants and officials involved in the first Smirnoff World Pro-Am surfing championships at Hawaii. Winner Nat Young, a former world champion from Australia, identified the difference as professional attitude. "I had the feeling we were all men out there for the first time." Young was referring to the conduct of the competition by the new International Professional Surfers Association and the combination of elements that existed for the Smirnoff-sponsored event. Among them were:

Smirnoff Lady

Waves ranging in sets from 8 to 18 feet in height which were called the biggest and best ever seen for a modern contest.
A record purse for the sport of $4,600 with S2,000 going to Young, who also received an expense-free invitation to the Peruvian International in February.
Introduction of instant scoring.
For the first time, contestants and spectators knew what was happening as judges flashed their scores following each ride of a wave.
A strong field with representatives from Peru, South Africa, Japan, Florida, California, Hawaii and Australia.
A world-famous surfing location- Makaha Beach on the island of Oahu.
Most important, these things combined with a final 1 1/2 hour heat Tuesday, Nov. 24, that was so tightly contested, four of the six contestants were virtually tied after 80 minutes of battling big waves.

In fact, at the finish, the two world champions- Young and Felipe Pomar of Peru- were deadlocked based on points accumulated by five judges on their five best rides of the day. In an unprecedented situation, it was necessary tor the judges to carry their scoring through four extra waves—nine rides in all—to establish a point of separation between the rivals. Pomar received $1,000 for second place. He was followed by Jim Blears of Hawaii. $700. Peter Drouyn of Australia, $500, Gerry Lopez of Hawaii, $300: and Mike Halley of Hawaii, $100. "The sport of professional surfing grew ten years in two days." commented Ronald Sorrell, commissioner of the IPSA and Honolulu stockbroker. Fred Hammings Jr,, 1968 world champion and contest director, lamented: "This is the most exciting contest I've ever seen. What am I doing on the beach?" Eduardo Arena, president of the World Surfing Federation, who had flown from Lima, Peru, to serve as chief judge, said the contest offered the best conditions and competition of any in his memory.

Page 65 Nat Young ... winning again.

Arena's crew kept the participants aware of their positions by relaying scoring information to them from the rescue boat.
Surfers hailed the new system.
"It was an incentive.
If you were trailing, you knew you had to take many chances to make up ground," Drouyn said.
Joseph McGarry. vice president of Heublein, Inc. presented the checks to the finalists, praising them for courage in face of such big waves.
"Exciting?" remarked McGarry, "it left me breathless."

Pages 64-65 Peter Drouyn drops through the Makaha bowl. Photo: Brewer.

---

Page 1

Hobie Positive Force IV Series P.F. IV Twin Fin: The wide tail allows for a SHORTER hoard, greater PLANING AREA, and excellent FLOTATION. Shortness means more MANOEUVRABILITY and better weight distribution. TWIN FINS on the rails mean NO SPIN-OUTS giving you fantastic HOLDING POWER with LITTLE DRAG. Other features are 180 (degree) DIRECTION CHANGES with no loss of altitude, meaning POSITIVE TURNS. The Hobie PF IV Twin Fin can be made to fit your conditions; East, West, Gulf Coast, and Hawaii. P.F. IV Single fin: For those who prefer single-fin board riding characteristics, we offer the P. F. IV Beach Break, Speed, and Gun concepts, all designed to fit your needs. The P.F. IV Series are designed in the East by Gary Propper and in the West and Hawaii by Mickey Munoz. Hobie Surfboards / PO Box 216 / Dana Point  California 92629

Gary Propper digging deep on his twin-fin P.F. IV at Sebastian Inlet. / Photo: Jana Frye.

---

Page 4

1971 Fins Unlimited: Vari-glass Channel and Twin-fin Channels Glass fins and other good things from the people who make Bahne Surfboards.