We’re finally back from Mex, where the Zicatela Pro went down in primo contest conditions. More than 100 competitors made the trek down to the Mexican state of Oaxaca to partake in either the Women’s, Dropknee, or Men’s division. Seven days of competition culminated in an action packed finale at the infamous Mexican Pipeline. Our very own James Murdock ended a valiant campaign in the semis to take an equal 5th placing amongst a heavy international talent pool. All this despite dislocating his shoulder a second time only a couple days prior to competition while attempting a massive roll at Zicatela. Congrats to Dave Hubbard who took out both the DK and Open Men’s divisions and Karla Costa who won the Women’s. More results are copied below with full heat breakdowns available on the Zicatela Pro website.

Men’s
1st - Dave Hubbard
2nd - Hermano Pereira
=3rd - Magno Oliviera
=3rd - Cesar Bauer
=5th - James Murdock
=5th - Gregory Wouters
=5th - Edwin Morales
=5th - Jesus Silva

Dropknee
1st - Dave Hubbard
2nd - Cesar Bauer
=3rd - Kim Feast
=3rd - Micah McMullin

Women’s
1st - Karla Costa
2nd - Eunate Aguirre
=3rd - Ruth Parra
=3rd - Maira Viana

We were able to scrap a decent amount of photos and video from the event and behind the scenes as well. Our first installment below shows the bulk of our photos from our two week stint in Mex. Check back for more framegrabs and a full writeup by Murdock. Click pics for full size.

Hotel Acuario, Bodyboarding chicks, Latin heavy hitters

Sopes in Centro, Centro puppies, Midday Centro mission

Homemade tortillas, CheDubb, Super Che shopping

More sopes, Manny on the mic, Nissan Hardbody

Macho Murder, Grom support, Pantalones de Agua

Bikini contest, The Champs, Gatorade ad

Late night fix, $2 taco plate, Centro assemblage

Backseat Petroni Specials, Brothers, Instant DVD Guy

Parking lot toast, Pancho y Dubb, Anthony Pilgrim Feasty

Ladies night, Crowd surfing, Sprayed Che

Sol party leftovers, Aruba taxi, Chicken BBQ

Motor y Murdock, Warren Anderson y Giovanni Greco, Dubb victory

Ardiel/Murdock/Grodzen, Shots of Petroni, SOL

Links of the Week: Surge Online Mag coming soon. Look for a Cale Moore interview in issue #1. Secondly, if you’re in the Orange County area then go support fellow sponger Matt Hamilton tonight at Hennesseys in Dana Point.

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve been lagging with updates of late and a little spring cleaning is definitely in order with summer now officially upon us. First off some random news from the Pizzy. BGA has returned from Espana, reeking of sour tapas and waiving a stupid little Spanish flag from his summer job somewhere atop an Avila Beach lifeguard tower. Delmore also arrived home on familiar soil after an extended trip to Australia that somehow gave rise to even purpler hands, purpler teeth, and a scragglier beard. That didn’t prevent the posh crew at Native Lounge from booking him for a show tonight in DTSLO. Louie is still in recovery mode after undergoing back surgery but should be back in the water by summers end. In the meantime, he has been shooting up a digital storm which will be unveiled in a forthcoming etcetera. Murdock is on his way back to Cali next week from the North Shore. He’ll be cruising the 805 for a week before heading down to Mexico for a month for the Zicatela Pro. Chaney popped the cork and successfully asked for the hand in marriage of longtime girlfriend Sara. Alex is squeezing out all last minute surfs up in the bay with fatherhood looming at the end of August. Lastly, Ralphy has been riding horses.

Babby’s premiere of Flowing Like Water went down without a hitch back in April. Willie set up the venue at Hoagies in Avila Beach, where a nice little crew of area spongers gathered for the viewing. You can check Manny Vargas’ photos from the event here. Red Dog was luckily on hand with the digi for the afterparty as well. Ralph took over the reigns at that point and showed the visitors a good time out and about in San Luis:

Roldy also sent in a few randoms frames a while back: a new, promising righthander sprinkled between some random lifestyle shots while checking waves up north.

Recently Manager Schloonis took a break from his vigorous schedule of booking shows and online poker to get some time behind the lens as well with some quality results below:

Link of the Week: We’re splitting it with the two Australian megastars: TheLackeyProject.com and MitchRawlins.com. Good shit.

Now almost a year past, here are some final pics from last September’s Mexico expedition. This should be enough eye candy to get you pumped for your upcoming summer adventures.

Camel’s second set of eyelids sure came in handy.

Before the knee popped, Louie was feeling no pain.

Two shady options to choose from.

Wonka poised and ready to pounce.

That ski in the corner could mean that there’s one very lucky Hop-Up-Harry deep inside that dark green pit.

Somebody order a pizza?

Rummy & Modelo afternoon interlude.

Willie helicoptering through a clean green machine.

Braving the midday heat offered great rewards.

The water temps may differ between SF and Mex, but the barrel stays the same. Camel knowing right where to be.

Table for two, anyone?

Richerson standing tall in the morning light.

Local grom in an envious situation.

Robles stylin’ under the curtain.

A little patience can go a long way at this Mexican beachbreak.

Not a bad place to be. Wonka setting up.

The half-thumb made him do it.

Alex punching through a frothy end section.

The man, the myth, and our ride to Glass. Edgar.

Another empty churning down the line.

Down syndrome elephant seal pup stretching one out on the knee.

Willie bringing the energy.