Olympic hero Michael Phelps will be out for revenge against Germany’s Paul Biedermann when the pair clash in Berlin in the short-course World Cup meeting on November 14-15, it was announced on Tuesday.

Phelps, 24, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, suffered the first defeat in four years to Biedermann, 23, in the 200m freestyle final at Rome’s World Aquatic Championships last July.

The German also broke Phelps’ world record and the pair are expected to meet again at Berlin’s Landsberger Allee pool.

“He pounded me into the dust in the summer,” said Phelps who will compete in the 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle and the 200m butterfly, as well as the 100m and 200m individual medley relay.

[Via AFP]

The first annual Bullhead City Riverfest kicked off earlier this month. A jam-packed lineup of wakeboarding, wakeskating, skateboarding and bmx contests filled the schedule along with plenty of live bands and vendors to keep everyone entertained.

Large prizes and charitable spirits enticed pro riders from all over the country including Randall Harris, Ricky Gonzalez, Jeff Weatherall, Jacob Valdez, AJ Racinelli and just about our entire Arizona crew including Jimmy Wolf, Ben Christensen, Matt Coldren, Derek Borum, Tyler Nichols and more. Proceeds from the event went towards the local Boys and Girls Club and to put lights up at the Bullhead City skate park.

[Via WakeWorld]

Phelps swim against Shaq!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/95800/shaq-vs-season-finale

ahtlete Natalie Coughlin on Dancing with the Stars!

athlete Natalie Coughlin tonight on Dancing with the Stars! 9/21/09

There’s been a ton between then and now, but the most recent was one of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me and hopefully ever will. It was two years ago, on December 3. A friend and I were out in surf that was over 100 feet—well over a 100 feet—and I had dived off on a wave that might as well have been 100 or 200. I don’t know—at that point I didn’t have my tape measure—but it demanded every bit of my experience and strength. I came up to the back of it, and my friend who was on the back of the wave grabbed me with the jet ski.

We proceeded to try to run away from the next wave and got run down from behind by one of the biggest waves that I have ever seen. It was definitely the biggest wave to ever run me down from behind.

More to read at Gizmodo…

Our very own Laird Hamilton was interviewed by the Gizmodo crew, talking about surfing, music and H2O Audio:

Laird Hamilton is as tech savvy as surfers get, using jet skis, kites and hydrofoils to have more fun on the waves. Here are his first experiences with waterproof music, and his discovery of H2O Audio earphones and iPod cases:

The thing about the water is that a lot of times you have other people out so having music to listen to is a way to block out people’s questions. Kidding aside, it’s one way to be in your own little world.

I use music in my regimen when it involves anything with long distances—if I’m doing a really long crossing, or something that’s going to take me a while, music is a good distraction. It’s a way to kinda let time go by.

]Gizmodo]

Yes, Dave Kalama will be up at Surf Monkey this Saturday and for a killer photo of Dave doing his SUP thing, check out this article in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Congrat Michael and team…  A great way to end the World Championship meet in Rome…

Michael Phelps and the U.S. 400-meter medley relay team closed the fastest meet in swimming history with an appropriate finish Sunday night – the 43rd world record.

Phelps earned his fifth gold medal of a world championships that showed he’s still got plenty of motivation, even after winning a record eight times at the Beijing Olympics.

Swimming the butterfly leg, Phelps helped the U.S. pull away from Germany and Australia to win in 3 minutes, 27.28 seconds. That easily broke the mark set by the Americans at last summer’s Olympics, 3:29.34.

[UniversalSports.com]

On Saturday, August 8th, H2O Audio will be hosting it’s first ever “Surf Monkey” event -  one day Run, Swim, Paddle event at Oceanside pier in Oceanside California.

Top athletes from all over, including our own Natalie Coughlin and waterman extraordinaire Dave Kalama will participate in a 5 kilometer beach run followed by a 1 mile open water swim topped off with an 8 mile paddleboard race to the finish.

All participants will receive a race t-shirt and sponsor goodies, post race refreshments, & entry into a drawing to win all kinds of great prizes.

Participants can choose to do any of the events as a single discipline or enter in the 3 event stage race to compete for the coveted King & Queen Monkey title.

For details and registration please visit http://multisports.com/surfmonkey