Surfers on TV, swimmers back in the pool and kiteboarder magazine spreads, Team H2O Audio has been busy, so lets get to it!

H2O Audio Ambassadors Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama were recently featured on ABC’s Nightline, highlighting what they do best, surfing big El Nino swell.  Also, the big wave surfing team recently announced their involvement in the Third Annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pipeline to a Cure event.  Hamilton and Kalama have been involved with this event since its inception and serve as honorary co-chairmen dedicated to spreading awareness of the benefits of surfing and saline for Cystic Fibrosis suffers.  This years event will be held on July 31st in Huntington Beach, California.

H2O Audio Swimmers Natalie Coughlin and Michael Phelps were both back in the competition pool this past weekend.  In Natalie’s first race since the Beijing Olympics, she finished 1st  in the 100 meter back at the Austin Grand Prix of Swimming.   A few states away, Michael set a personal best time in the 200 yard IM at the Maryland State Swimming Championships.  Both swimmers named these meets as an integral part of their training for the 2012 summer Olympics.

And finally, congratulations to Team H2O Audio kiteboarder Grant Hasselbach who grabbed a full page “Close Up” feature in The Kiteboarder Magazine.  Look for his article in newsstands now.

This Friday, the biggest news comes from the ocean and pool.

Surf: This El Nino season has brought no shortage of swell for big wave surfers.  Starting with The Eddie, then Mavericks and now massive surf for the Todos Santos big wave event in Mexico.  Hawaiian Mark Healey won the event by paddling into some of the biggest bombs this winter.  On to the ASP world tour, Taj Burrow defeated Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith to take home the first place prize at the Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast.  It was a tight final heat between Smith and Burrow, but Taj edged out a well deserved win.

Swim: Two of H2O Audio’s Ambassadors will be in the competition pool this weekend.  Natalie Coughlin already swam one of her qualifying events at the Austin Grand Prix of Swimming.  She finished first in the 100 fly, saying she was happy with her first competition swim since Beijing.  Michael Phelps will also be swimming for time this weekend at a local meet in Annapolis.  He is scheduled to swim the 400-meter individual medley, the 200 IM, the 200 butterfly and the 500 freestyle at the Maryland Swimming Championships.  Best of luck to them both!

Have you seen this bike?

Sad news!  Ironman and H2O Audio Ambassador Craig Alexander has had his race bike stolen during a string of break-in’s in his neighborhood.  Among other items the thieves took Crowies black 51cm Orbea Ordu bike (pictured at left).  The bike is one of only a handful in the world, and is the only one in Australia.  If you’re reading this from down under, keep an eye out for this bike and report any information you may have.

H2O Audio Ambassador Natalie Coughlin is scheduled to compete in the 2010 Austin Grand Prix Swim Meet that starts this Thursday in Texas.  This will be her first meet back in the competition pool since her record breaking performance in Beijing in 2008.  We know she’s been training hard and wish her the best of luck!

Also, married triathletes Greg and Laura Bennett will no longer be the only couple on the team H2O Audio roster, as long time  H2O Audio athletes and whitewater kayakers Samantha Brunner and Boyd Ruppelt recently got engaged!  Our congratulations goes out to them and we hope there’s at least one kayak involved in the wedding.

Chuck Patterson on dawn patrol.

Tuesday’s the day we check in on Team H2O Audio.  We’ve got so many great athletes we don’t have room to talk about everyone every week, but here are some highlights:

Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin were both named World Swimmers of the Decade for 2000-2009 by USA Swimming.  And they were more than just a part of the list, they were both ranked #1 for mens and womens swimming, respectively.

In more Natalie news,  Dancing with the Stars is over and Ms. Coughlin is back in the pool.  She’s also continuing to speak on  nutrition in sports and emphasized how it’s portions, not type of food that changes as she gets back to training.

Laird Hamilton is recovering from a minor shoulder injury, but should be feeling better just in time for more big swell in Hawaii.

And, Stand Up Paddler Chuck Patterson flew to the east coast for the 2nd annual Cold Strokes Classic and is still  stoked about all the El Nino swell he has to choose from.

We’ve got some great pictures of H2O Audio Ambassadors Natalie Coughlin and Michael Phelps swimming with the Interval Headphone System, but we want to see YOU rockin’ out and working out in the pool.

H2O Audio divers, kiteboarders, stand up paddlers, wakeboarders, kayakers and surfers send us pictures showing off their H2O Audio gear, but swimmers seem to be some of the least photographed folks out there…is it the bathing suits?  Not sure, but we’re looking for pictures of swimmers using their H2O Audio Interval Headphone System.  It can be the new rectangular 3G version or the original square Interval system.  Send us your pic or post it on our Facebook page.  Then, we’ll pick a few of the best and hook you up with an H2O Audio T-shirt and an autographed copy of Natalie Coughlin’s book, Golden Girl.  Ready, set, go!