Mele Kalikimaka

A day late but it was busy yesterday with work and family things. Plus I sat out in the water for 3 hours waiting for the Christmas swell !!!!!!!!!!

2010 ASP World Tours

With the end of the 2009 WCT the seeded surfers for next year have been released. Lots of the bottom rung of WCT surfers have disappeared after failing to back up on the 'QS and there are some exciting rippers taking up rookie spots next year. Owen Wright made the WCT and Andy Irons was given the ASP wildcard he was promised before taking a break in 2009.

Taj finished fifth ater his win at Pipe and a reasonable year. Four of the top five were Australian but the rest of the top ten were Yanks and Adriano DeSouza.

On the womens side Steph Gilmore ended up winning easy. WA's Clare Bevilacqa made it back to the 'CT with a strong WQS season. Jessie Miley-Dyer back up on the QS to keep her spot and will be joined by super-grom Carissa Moore and Tom's little girl, Lee-Ann Curren. Unfortunately Alana Blanchard is out.

Next year both a new seeding system and the number of surfers in each event will change after Tahiti. Eventually there will be a single rating system but that will be fully implemented in 2011. After Chopes the number of surfers will drop from 45 on the 'CT to 32 plus wildcards. Anyone on the WCT in that bottom 13 will be back on the WQS. From then on the events will have 36 surfers (top 32, 2 ASP wildcards and 2 event wildcards) basically cutting a day off the running time.

Mundaka has been cut with the licence moving from Billabong to Rip Curl but remaining in Europe.

The Mens and Womens WCT surfers are -

ASP Top 27 (ASP World Tour)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Taj Burrow (AUS)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Kelly Slater (USA)
C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Bobby Martinez (USA)
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Dane Reynolds (USA)
Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Taylor Knox (USA)
Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Dean Morrison (AUS)
Kai Otton (AUS)
Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Mick Campbell (AUS)
Chris Davidson (AUS)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Ben Dunn (AUS)
Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Tiago Pires (PRT)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Roy Powers (HAW)
Drew Courtney (AUS)

Top 15 (ASP WQS)
Dan Ross (AUS)
Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Jadson Andre (BRA)
Adam Melling (AUS)
Owen Wright (AUS)
Luke Munro (AUS)
Jay Thompson (AUS)
Nathan Yeomans (USA)
Dusty Payne (HAW)
Brett Simpson (USA)
Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Travis Logie (ZAF)
Marco Polo (BRA)
Blake Thornton (AUS)

ASP Wildcards:
Andy Irons (HAW)
Luke Stedman (AUS)
Neco Padaratz (BRA)

The national breakdown for the 2010 ASP World Tour is:

Australian: 46.7%
American: 22.2%
Hawaiian: 11.1%
Brazilian: 8.9%
South African: 4.4%
French: 2.2%
Tahitian: 2.2%
Portuguese: 2.2%

Top 10 (ASP Women’s World Tour)
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
Coco Ho (HAW)
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

Top 6 (ASP WQS)
Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Nikita Robb (ZAF)

ASP Wildcard
Amee Donohoe (AUS)

The national breakdown for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour is:

Australian: 41.2%
Hawaiian: 17.7%
Brazilian: 11.8%
South African: 11.8%
Peruvian: 5.9%
New Zealand: 5.9%
French: 5.9%

Some XXL nominations from this month

Small wave and low tide

There are a few waves down south but with a little bit of southerly on them. The tide is super low. There was a dog running around on the reef at Marges where it would normally be waist deep !

Locals would call today 2 - 3 max, everyone else would claim 4 - 6. There were a couple of over head and a half take offs at Main Break and a couple of head height plus at Southside.

Not looking good for a while unless we get some cyclone swell !

Taj is Pipe Master

Taj has just beaten Slater in the Pipe Master final and scored another $US 90 000 for his bank account.

I'm late for work now !!!!!!!!!

Taj and Slater in Pipe final

Taj and Slater have just hit the water in the Pipe Masters final. The waves are onshore and it looks like an air-fest rather than tube-fest.

Parko has won his second Triple Crown in a row, despite not making a heat in this contest.

The final is live now on Fuel TV and the net.

Mick Fanning is world champ

Parko has just been eliminated in round three making Mick Fanning the new World Champ.

Round four is on in decent waves. Fuel TV is showing it live

Round 2 over

The Pipe Masters run the rest of round two last night and hopefully tonight the higher seeds, especially Parko and Mick, will surf for the first time in round three. Both are up against Hawaiian wildcards. Mick will surf against Torey Meister who only made the contest when Sunny Garcia turned up late for his round one heat. If Torey wins this heat he will challenge for the Triple Crown, which Parko has a grip on. Parko takes on Gavin Gillette in the second last heat. Gillette flogged Mick Campbell in round two.

Taj has a horror draw coming up against Bruce Irons. Bruce pulled into one of the biggest and deepest Backdoor pits on day one. His brother Andy was all over Backdoor today, riding deeper and longer than anyone else and having a round two score of 18.40 out of 20. One wave where he stalled through a long barrel and then came out for a power figure 8 cutback re-entry was topped off with a little 360 in the foam. Worth watching on the heat on demand.

Fuel TV are showing the contest live for those with Foxel and it is webcast. With the dual heat format and hopefully good waves, it will be good viewing

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Torrey Meister (HAW)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Flynn Novak (HAW)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Hank Gaskell (HAW)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Liam McNamara (HAW)
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 11: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Shane Dorian (HAW)
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW)
Heat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

Nice day at Pipe

Plenty of high scoring and broken boards for rounds one and two of the Pipe Masters. Nothing dramatic in the results and the big boys are yet to surf.

There is rumours of a kick in swell in a couple of days.

If you have 10 minutes to spare click on the video and watch today's highlight package.

Pipeline Masters has started

The Billabong Pipeline Masters has started in some great looking waves. Pipeline is breaking both ways at 6 - 8 foot and offshore. Its sunny and blue and looks like classic Hawaii.

They are running the dual heat, basically two seperate two man heat running at the same time, which means there are plenty of waves being ridden. Scores are consistently in the high sevens and early eights and the high seeds don't surf till round three.

The webcast is top quality as you expect from a WCT event and worth watching.

Greg Long wins the Eddie

Well known big wave charger Greg Long has won the Eddie is some nice big waves at Waimea Bay. The last few Eddie's have been held on brown stormy days but today's conditions were nearly perfect and for a change the water was blue and so was the sky

What was interesting this year is how 25 + feet doesn't seem big or dangerous any more. Many of the surfers seemed to be playing with the conditions like it was a 2 foot beachie, being goaded by the crowd into trying to link up to the inside and pull into a dry suck death pit in the shorebreak. Having said that there was something extra to this event compared top watching endless tow ins.

Check out the heats on demand at the Eddie website.




RESULTS: Listed in order of 1st through 28th
Greg Long (California)
Kelly Slater (Florida)
Sunny Garcia (Hawaii)
Bruce Irons (Hawaii)
Ramon Navarro (Chile) * Monster Drop Award
Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia)
Jamie O'Brien (Hawaii)
Mark Healey (Hawaii)
Garret McNamara (Hawaii)
Noah Johnson (Hawaii)
Shane Dorian (Hawaii)
Makuakai Rothman (Hawaii)
Reef McIntosh (Hawaii)
Andy Irons (Hawaii)
Grant Baker (Hawaii)
Carlos Burle (Brazil)
Kohl Chrtistensen (Hawaii)
Kala Alexander (Hawaii)
Peter Mel (USA)
Takayuki Wakita (Japan)
Ibon Amatriain (Spain)
Clyde Aikau (Hawaii)
Keone Downing (Hawaii)
Mike Ho (Hawaii)
Darryl 'Flea' Virostko (USA)
Brian Keaulana (Hawaii)
Rusty Keaulana (Hawaii)
Pancho Sullivan (Hawaii)

The Eddie is go

As predicted a big swell has hit Waimea and the Eddie is on. Slater is currently leading from Andy Irons and Ross Clarke Jones.

The waves are big and clean, the weather is fine and the surfing unbelievable. These guys are surfing like it is 3 foot mush burgers. Andy, Kelly and Jamie O'Brien have all linked to the shore break and tried to get tubed on the massive dumpers.

Its live on the net with a couple more heats left here.

WQS Finishes

With the O'Neill World Cup over the fat lady has sung on the men's WQS. The top 15 will now be on the WCT next year, at least for the first few events before the new ratings system kicks in.

The final 15 ASP WQS qualifiers are:
Ross, Daniel AUS
Gudauskas, Patrick USA
Andre, Jadson BRA
Melling, Adam AUS
Wright, Owen AUS
Munro, Luke AUS
Thompson, Jay AUS
Yeomans, Nathan USA
Payne, Dusty HAW
Simpson, Brett USA
Wilkinson, Matt AUS
Gudauskas, Tanner USA
Logie, Travis ZAF
Polo, Marco BRA
Thornton, Blake AUS

Jay Thompson may re-qualify with a good result at Pipe and then no. 16 will take his place. There are a couple of gumbies there who seem to do the tour yo-yo each year, being just good enough to re-qualify via the 'QS but struggling to make it out of a 'CT round one.

Interestingly the current bottom 15 of the WCT haven't bothered to cross qualify and will drop out after the last event.

Parko wins in big Sunset

After a layday where it was too big for Sunset but too small for the Eddie, Parko has won the WQS O'Neill World Cup on the last day of the waiting period.

He beat world title nemesis Mick Fanning, old hand Sunny Garcia and Hawaiian Dusty Payne. With his good result in the first event a finals berth at Pipe could give him both his second Triple Crown and his first world title. The last news was that Pipe was full of sand and just a close out so it will be interesting to see if the recent swell has moved stuff around. The waiting period starts tomorrow night our time.

The waves were big and pretty clean at Sunset, with tubes and huge hacks off the top scoring well. The sort of day you think you could almost handle it ..... until a clean up set comes through !!!

Rumour is that a massive swell will hit tomorrow and the Eddie might go !!!!

Just like puppy dogs

This video from Shark Bay shows you don't have to be smart to be a researcher. How many hands would be left if the Tigers were full up on whale blubber ?

Click on the picture to see the video.

Big waves in Hawaii

The O'Neil Cup is on at Sunset in some clean solid surf. World champion contenders Mick and Parko are both through to the Round of 32. Parko has a very winnable heat with Mick's slightly harder.

The webcast is at http://www.triplecrownofsurfing.com/oneill/live.php

Gilmore is world champ

Steph Gilmore is the 2009 ASP Womens World Champ for the third year in a row.

She now has to paddle out for the final against Sally Fitzgibbons, youngster Carissa Moore and Alana Balchard.

Gidget Pro is on

The Womens WCT Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach will finish in a heat and a half. The waves are ok but a little inconsistent.

Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons is ripping hard and just scored the first 10 for a series big turns. She has been on fire in all her heats today. Alana Blanchard is backing up her win in the first of the Triple Crown events with some strong surfing.

Steph Gilmore could be less than six minutes from being World Champ. If Coco Ho, who needs a combo 12+, doesn't progress out of the current semi Steph wins with one event left.

A week in Dunsborough

Normally you would be over the moon if someone offered to pay you to go to Dunsborough for a week, put you up in a fancy holiday unit with plasma TV and Foxtel and fed you dinner from a fancy resturant. But its Leavers Weeks (don't call them schoolies) so the shine is a little tainted.

Arrived Monday and finished at midnight. Tuesday I was up bright and early and headed for Yalls. The swell was small and the wind picking up so I went to Shallows. The wind was swinging and was a howling northerly sideshore and the tide was super low. What looked alright at the lookout was just a line of closeouts breaking on a wierd bank rather than reef.

Wednesday - onshore howlers. Thrusday - see Wednesday. Today has more south in the wind. It rained last night and is freezing cold now but the wind change has made Inji and Smiths surfable. Tide is still low, Smiths is packed and Inji is only just breaking. Needless to say it was back to the room via Yahoo surfboards for a chin wag with Mark Ogram and Hillzeez, to watch the cricket on the plasma.

Last night tonight. So glad it is only for a week !

Parko's little red

Nice video of Parko just in Hawaii with his two and a half boxes of boards. Despite having at least 22 new boards he explains why he loves his 5'8" red board and surfs it in some little crumblers outside the Billabong house.

Little Red Welcome Back from Billabong on Vimeo.

Alana Blanchard first WCT win

Unlike sports cover girl Anna Kornakova, surfing pin up Hawaiian Alana Blanchard can win ! The Womens Van Pro was done and dusted in a single day thanks to the four and five surfer heat format.

Blanchard just beat Steph Gilmore, with 1.12 points between then. The waves were similar to yesterday and the girls surfed fast and hard with a bit of power behind them.

FINAL: Alana Blanchard (HAW), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rebecca Woods (AUS)

SF1: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
SF2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Carissa Moore (HAW)

QF1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
QF2: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Lee Ann Curren (FRA), Bruna Schmitz (BRA), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
QF3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
QF4: Coco Ho (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW)

Round 1:
H1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Lee Ann Curren (FRA), Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
H2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Bruna Schimtz (BRA), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Gabi Cope (HAW)
H3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Megan Abubo (HAW), Leila Hurst (HAW)
H4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Carissa Moore (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Nicola Atherton (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZ)

Are you an Eddie invitee ????

The list of invitees for the In Memory of Eddie Aikau contest has just been released. The event, which hasn't run since 2004/5, has a window between December and February.

Check and see if you made the cut. WA's Paul "Antman" Patterson make the alternatives list again. You probably don't want to be in the honorary list as it means your dead !

INVITEES
Andy Irons, Hawaii
Brian Keaulana, Hawaii
Brock Little, Hawaii
Bruce Irons, Hawaii
Carlos Burle, Brazil
Clyde Aikau, Hawaii
Darryl Virostko, California
Greg Long, California
Jamie O'Brien, Hawaii
Jamie Sterling, Hawaii
Kelly Slater, Florida
Keone Downing, Hawaii
Makuakai Rothman, Hawaii
Mark Healey, Hawaii
Michael Ho, Hawaii
Noah Johnson, Hawaii
Peter Mel, California
Reef McIntosh, Hawaii
Ross Clarke-Jones, Australia
Rusty Keaulana, Hawaii
Shane Dorian, Hawaii
Sunny Garcia, Hawaii
Titus Kinimaka, Hawaii
Tom Carroll, Australia
Grant Baker, South Africa
Ibon Amatriain, Euskadi
Ramon Navarro, Chile
Takayuki Wakita, Japan

ALTERNATES
Kala Alexander, Hawaii - Aikau Family Pick
Pancho Sullivan, Hawaii
Garrett McNamara, Hawaii
Kohl Christensen, Hawaii
Dave Wassel, Hawaii
Keoni Watson, Hawaii
Nathan Fletcher, Hawaii
Ian Walsh, Hawaii
Danny Fuller, Hawaii
Kalani Chapman, Hawaii
Taylor Knox, California
Chava Greenlee, Hawaii
Jamie Mitchell, Australia
Myles Padaca, Hawaii
Tony Moniz, Hawaii
Darrick Doerner, Hawaii
Ken "Skin Dog" Collins, California
Ross Williams, Hawaii
Derek Ho, Hawaii
Paul Paterson, Australia
Anthony Tashnick, California
Koby Abberton, Australia
Laurent Pujol, France
Laurie Towner, Australia

HONORARY INVITEES
Mark Foo, Hawaii
Todd Chesser, Hawaii
Tiger Espere, Hawaii
Jay Moriarty, California
Peter Davi, California
Lester Falatea, Tahiti

Reef Pro back underway

The first contest of the Triple Crown has finally re-started after a three lay days for no swell. Today was in the couple of feet range and with a strong sideshore wind. The brown water made it look a bit like winter in Bunbury, just with some walls and power.

The event is still in the round of 96, with the WCT surfers coming in during the next round. Parko is entered to try and defend his Triple Crown title from last year. He has a difficult heat up against Pancho Sullivan and Tanner Gudaskis, who needs a good result to make next years WCT. Mick Fanning has pulled out to concentrate on Pipe.

The Irons brothers are through as is Sunny Garcia who won his heat with the highest combined total of the round.

Everyone will be hoping for some swell, especially the women whose WCT event is on hold pending good surf.

News, heats on demand and the webcast can be accessed from the Triple Crown website.

Waves for the South West Crew

To celebrate Khngy leaving Bunbury for Perth, a small crew headed down south for an overnighter yesterday. A small onshore shake out surf was had at onshore Smiths on arrival after work, followed by dinner with the Dunsborough boys.

Waking up this morning brought apprehension as it was pouring with rain, overcast and windy. A run from Bunkers to Inji wasn't very fruitful so on a hunch we checked Rocky Point.

The waves were good and up to overhead and a bit on the sets. Khngy dominated as usual but Lewie held his own, getting some long lefts on his Yahoo.

There was some hope for an afternoon at PK but the tide came up and the swell didn't.

Movember Classic wrap up

The Movember Classic has been done and won. Waves were in the one to two foot range with the onshore in pretty early but light. Crowds were moderate for Secret Harbour, which is very crowded for anywhere else.

The crappy board collection was a trip down memory lane. Thrusters from Sunova, Surfwest and West Action mixed with an Odyssey twin fin flyer and a couple of no namers. A few pictures have been uploaded to the WAPSurfriders Picasa web album. More will follow there and in the next newsletter (December).

The final result were -

1. Peter MacCallum

2. Justin Browne

3. Marty Lobo

4. Mark Tweeddale

5. Matt Cole

6. Ian Lewis

7. Mark Neates.

Peter walked away with the Movember Classic trophy, March Tracks mag, a Rip Curl watch ..... box, WAPSurfriders wax and a wax comb/fin key combo found on the beach. Justin scored the runner up trophy, a 2007 Waves mag, Sex Wax and a FCS key, Marty a wax comb from a pair of boardies and a 2005 Surfer mag and Tweeds clean up with a 2004 Surfer and a very used FCS fin key. All prizes came from Dave Hurdle's diminishing collection of useless crap !!

The event raised at total of $220 for Movember with $140 going direct to the team and the rest in donations to individual mo-bros. If you haven't donated yet please do so by clicking here.

Next adventure is a trip down south for Khngy's send off next week.

How would you react

Imagine your surfing crap onshore waves in the late arvo with only your brother and a couple of friends. You didn't really want to go out but they shamed you into it so your not really happy anyway. Suddenly a Great White Shark comes up from below you, hits you board, tosses you in the air and breaks your board in half ! Not sure how you would react ? Well watch as WQS sufer Eric Gieselman has that happen to him.

Eric Geiselman's Shark Encounter from Cavin Brothers on Vimeo.

Hawaiian contest season starts

The first event of the Triple Crown had its first lay day due to small surf. Day one was in waist height dribble, not very Hawaiian but very WQS.

Should be waves for the Movember Classic

The local on-the-spot surf report from Newie is that a solid swell is hitting Secret Harbour. Looks like there will be waves tomorrow and hopefully the morning offshores will appear.

As Newie said" Time to nut up !!!"

Interview with Len Dibben

Mesurf.com.au has just posted an interview with WA shaping legend Len Dibben. Len has been shaping since forever and if you started surfing in the 60s, 70s or 80s you would have almost certainly ridden one of his boards.

I had a 1960s mal with a huge dork fin. It cost me $100, was brown and full of air bubbles. Two of us were needed to carry it down the beach but you could catch the ripples from a fish fart. Traded it for a Westsuits steamer - worst decision of my life but there are only so many boards you can hold on too.

Click on the link for the interview MeSurf - LIFE AS LEN or go to his website

Movember Classic is a goer

It's all go for the Movember Crappy Board Classic on Sunday. Currently there is about a dozen entered and a few more spectator.

The boards have been sourced and waxed (with Margaret River Wax Company and Squid wax of course) and are ready to have their second life. Heat draw should be emailed to entrants on Friday.

Meet up at the Surf Club at 7.30 am for a briefing, with the aim to get heat one in the water no later than 8.00.

The weather in the lead up is a bit iffy but Sunday should be fine. A front on Friday should mean that there will be some swell and maybe a bank or two. The wind is currently expected to be variable so we may need to bash through the heats to beat the onshore.

Sofia wins home event

Sofia Mulanovich has won the Womens WCT event in Peru beating Stephanie Gilmore. The waves were ok, longish racy lefts.

Sofia moves to third on the ratings and Steph puts a few more points between her and Silvana Lima, who was beaten in the Quarters.

The next event is at Sunset Beach starting on 24th.

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.00
2 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.74

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.60 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.17
SF 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.27 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.20

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.74 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.16
QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.27 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 6.60
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.16 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 6.83
QF 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.67 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 10.17

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After Movistar Peru Classic):
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 4765 pts
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 4188 pts
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 3891 pts
4 – Coco Ho (HAW) 3679 pts
5 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3043 pts

Slater and Quikie Crew hit Mexico

Surfline has a great feature on its site showing a promotional trip by Kelly, Dane, Julian Wilson and Jeremy Flores. It is a mix of great photos, audio from Aaron Chang, the main photographer, video and a super slow mo section which is great to watch. You can see all the little things that great surfers do that others can't.

Click here to access the feature.

Women in Peru

The womens WCT is in Peru and after a few on and off days they have made it through to the quarters. Both title contenders are through, as is last contest winner Coco Ho. Home town hero Sofia Mulanovich is up against another former world champ Chelsea Hedges.

The waves look fun, nothing to testing but contestable at about three feet.

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.50 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.50
Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.25 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.25
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.60 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 9.40
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.00 def. Anali Gomez (PER) 8.75
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.35 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 12.35
Heat 6: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.85 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.75
Heat 7: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.65 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.00
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.50 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.50

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
QF 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
QF 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
QF 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)

Unclutter your shed

or where ever you put your boards and things.

One of our menbers, Jason, is the WA Distributor for the ZRAX Board Racking System.
The surf racks are like a soft rack and hold 4 boards -mals, short boards, kite boards, skis, clubby skis etc….what ever combo you want and are totally transportable – to take away on holidays, house to house, whereever.

If your interested contact Jason on 0410 080 101.

Coco Ho wins Search

A few days ago Coco Ho beat former World Champ Chelsea Hedges to win the Search. The waves were small but very contestable. In fact they were probably better than anything the blokes got.

The two women currently fighting out the World Title race Steph Gilmore and Silvana Lima finished 9th and 3rd respectively. Steph just holds the top spot with three events (Peru and two in Hawaii) to go.

Contests everywhere

The Womens Search is on at one of the backup venues. The waves look really nice - clean, offshore and around chest height. They are in to round three with Steph Gilmore through. Her current competition for the world title, Silvana Lima just beating Aussie Jessie Miley-Dyer by less than 0.3 with a wave in the final minute.

Over in the Maldives Harley Ingelby has scored his first World Championship in the WLT with a second. Hawaiian Kai Sallas won.

Hopefully the details for the Movember Classic will be nailed down this weekend and members will get the details on Monday.

Who will be World Champ ?

According to Mick Fanning's blog this is how the World Title race can unfold at Pipe.

Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.

Fanning wins the Search

Mick Fanning has beaten Bede Durbridge in the final of the Search in Portugal. Fanning only had to surf once after Owen Wright pulled out of the semi due to a burst ear drum sustained the day before.

Durbridge took out Parko in the other semi. Parko was not happy after his loss however on adjusted points Mick will still need finish higher at Pipe to win the World Title. Bede's loss means that he is out of the running leaving on the two Coolie Kids.

The WLT is into round 2 at the Maldives. The webcast is on and the waves look fun. Last years world champ Bonga Perkins is out but current tour leader Harley Ingelby is easily through to the next round.

Search hits the semis

The Search ran through round three and the quarters.

Taj was knocked out in round three in the last two minutes. Fanning smashed Freddie P in the same round and Tim Reyes in the quarters. Two quarter finals were close with Bede Durbridge beating Jordy Smith by less than half a point and wildcard Owen Wright beating Damo Hopgood by 0.33.

Both semis should be great if the waves cooperate.

Fuel TV will be showing the rest of the contest live and it will be streaming on the net.

Supertubos is on

The Search has finally ended up at the primary venue and the waves are big. Six to eight foot sets are smashing through the beachie and a few some barrels but plenty of smashing closeouts. Wave selection is the key.

Local knowledge is that the waves will get better when the swell and tide starts to drop. Contest director Dooma Hardman is hoping to run at least all of round three and possibly the quarters today and finish tomorrow.

Fuel TV is showing the contest live in Australia and streaming it in HD from their US site. The tv is the same as the webcast so lack some of the refinement of some other sports but it is live and from the beach somewhere. I'm just happy I get to watch on a proper sized screen.

Taj is in the next heat and this will remind him of Rabbit Hill. Parko just won his heat with a tube and an air. Owen Wright continues his good run in 'CT events by just beating Dane Reynolds with a killer backhand tube late in his heat.

Meanwhile in the Maldives it was a lay day for the WLT Oxbow Pro.

Is the Search jinxed ????

After the primary location was smashed and flooded by a storm the Search is now on hold due to thick fog.

Apparently the waves are really good but the judges can't see them.

In other contest news the second and final leg of the WLT is being held at Pasta Point in the Maldives. Round 1 is done with 2008 champ Bonga Perkins, current ratings leader Harley Ingelby and former no 1 Josh Constable all through. With only two events for the whole tour it is still any ones world title.

Round Two Finshed but Thats It

The waves hung around long enough for round two to be completed and for Fuel TV to change its electronic program guide before it was called off.

The expression session was held after a delay but the waves weren't frequent enough to keep going. Owen Wright and Dane Reynolds will be a good heat to watch. Winners are easy to predict as you can make a case for everyone. Now they just need decent waves.

It will be nice to watch it on TV rather than the sometimes grainy webcast.

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 6: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

Search Almost Finishes Round Two

Round two of the Search was held in decent waves. There are still a three heats to go.

The only upset was Slater being beaten by wildcard Owen Wright. Wright, who has qualified for next years WCT, beat Slater by just over 0.4. Both pulled into some clean little tubes and knocked down a few hacks. This has knocked Slater out of the world title race, not that he had much chance anyway.



Taj got through easily and threw a huge air on his way to the highest score of the round and contest so far.

Fuel TV will broadcast live from round three, which could be tonight. However the womens waiting period kicks in today so they might jump in ahead of the guys.

Round 2 is go

Round two has started in decent waves. Unlike round one only one lower ranked surfer has been successful in a heat and that was one of those where both were pretty evenly matched.

Parko is in the water and leading his heat. If he wins then the title race goes to Pipe regardless. The next heat could be a killer with Aussie wildcard Owen Wright up against Kelly Slater. Dane Reynolds is in the heat after and Taj following that.

The conditions first up were clean, glassy and offshore with clean barrels on the lefts. The wind has swung a little and the tide is starting to affect it. Every other day has been split halfway through but this is another beach, so who knows what they will do ?

Low Tide in Portugal

The on and off first round is on for the second time today. This time it is at another of the back up venues.

After running a couple of heats earlier they have started again after the tide bottomed out. The waves look ok and offshore but a bit slow. At least today's heats were won with scores around 14.

The webcast is on but the stats tab shows you what happened at Bells !!!!!!!!

Portugal Sucks

The first 8 heats of round one of the Search are done with the wildcards doing well in poor surf. It was pretty much the most boring surfing of the European leg, which is saying something as there hadn't been much to write home about.

Three of the heats were won with two waves totals under 10 and 15 was the best. Generally anything under 12 means your been given a whipping.

With the bottom half of the 'CT trying to re-qualify but only getting one chance there are a couple of guys who may be wishing they backed up on the WQS. Nathaniel Curran and Portuguese German Marlon Lipke both finally won heats but need huge results here and at Pipe if they are to avoid heading back to the "grind".

Parko must be worried. His mentor Luke Egan finally admitted that the ankle injury he sustained in Bali was still troubling him and that he re-injured it on his first wave at Munduka. The junky small waves just seem to make it an issues whereas if it was bigger and he could set a line rather than wiggle he might have been able to compensate. He would have been hoping for some size at Supertubos but may be forced into a mush fight.

Fanning can win the title here if Parko goes out early and a few other things happen. If things fall his way he doesn't even need to win. Hopefully he won't and it will go down to a duel at Pipe. CJ Hopgood can't be counted out and has yet to get lower than ninth. Technically everyone in the top ten can still win it all but in reality it is probably only the top three with Artiz the outsider.

Search Starts

The Rip Curl Search has just started. After the storm that destroyed the event infrastructure yesterday was the third lay day. The surf was huge but not contestable.

Today the swell has dropped off and the wind is bad for the primary site, Supertubos. Instead round 1 has started at the back up beachie. The forecast obviously isn't looking that great because they have moved to the elimination first round.

The waves don't look great and the tide kills it. The last heat was won with a highest score of a four and a combine total of 8 and a bit.

Lay Day 2 in Portugal

The Rip Curl Search WCT event has landed in Portugal this year. Apparently the wave is Europe's version of Pipeline. This year's event includes both men and women.

Yesterday was flat and a huge storm has hit today. Apparently there is a 6 metre plus swell on the way and they have had to reinforce the beach.

As usual there is a webcast and being a Rip Curl event it should be good.

Blood on the Water Makes The News

The Blood on the Water contest made Monday nights GWN News. The surfing was so hot that it was difficult to pick it from a WCT tour event. Andrew Plunkett looked a bit like a young Damien Hardman ! Even the District Super headed down to check out the action.

For all the metro guys and those who missed it GWN has placed the story on their news website. Click on the following link to get there.

Country cops swap the blue uniforms for wetsuits (video) - iGWN Bunbury

But it was not just GWN, the ABC also gave it coverage with the folowing appearing on the local radio website -

Police officers from around Western Australia descended on Geraldton at the weekend to compete in the inaugural WA police surfing competition.

Gusty north-easterly winds and a solid two-metre swell greeted competitors who travelled from stations in the south-west and north-west of the state.

Rockingham's Justin Browne was crowned overall winner in the open short board titles followed by Carnarvon's Bruce McDonald and Dongara's Ben Tomasini in third spot.

Mid-west District Superintendent Ross Tomasini says there was friendly rivalry between a number of police districts.

"I think it's very serious fun, they're out there and they're having a go," he said.

"When they've got their uniforms off, they're just the same as everyone else. They like to surf and fish and do all those sorts of things.

"Camaraderie is very strong in the police service and when you get them together it's great - the camaraderie, the banter, the competition, it's all really, really positive."

Great Waves for Gero Contest

Quick SMS from Newie confirmed that the waves were great. Didn't get much else as he was heading out for another session.

Geraldton Daily Surf Report
Updated: Sat Oct 17th, 5:11am
Surf: clean 3-4ft
Wind: strong ENE
Weather: fine and sunny
Dawn Patrol: Wind is strong from the ENE around 20 knots predicted to be NW by mid-day. With 38 forecast you could expect the offshore to maybe hang in until early arvo. Swell is 1.25 metres and there are plenty of waves on offer. Beach breaks are a lot cleaner with chest high waves and the medium reefs have good sets with 14 second peak periods. Tide will reach .6m by 10am then out to .45m by 2pm. Ocean is 20.5. Plenty of annoying flies on the beaches so be warned. Cops vs Cops contest is on at Glennies today. 7am start. WNW winds for Sunday with a similar swell.

All Go For Gero

The southerners will be hitting the road soon and heading north for sunny Geraldton.

The contest details are set with the Flat Rocks being the main venue with Back Beach as a back up. The Geraldton Boardriders are helping out with some equipment and judging.

Tommorrow night will see some "fellowship" and then a hangover cure surf on Sunday before the trek back.

Conditions are still looking good for some clean, fun surf.

DeSouza wins Billabong Pro

The Billabong Pro in Spain has been won by Brazillian Andriano DeSouza beating Aussie Chris Davidson. This is DeSouza's first WCT win and moves him into third on the ratings with two second placings.

Slater and CJ finished third and Taj was taken out by Slater in the Quarters.

Mick has move above Parko in the unadjusted ratings. Slater is now 6th and Taj 7th. Both have a mathematical chance of winning it all but basically would rely on the top five to lose in the first round of the next two events and they win both.

If you adjust the ratings now Parko is 186 points in front of Fanning with DeSouza just over 300 points behind. CJ, the only surfer in the top five without a 17th, is less than 1000 behind first.

The next event is the Rip Curl Search in Portugal next week.

2 - 3 feet, SSE Today

Swellnet is still calling Friday and Saturday as the pick of the days.

Billabong Pro Back On

After one heat at Munduka its back to the beachie. The waves are better, light winds and some clean face on the lefts.

Mick Fanning has failed to capitalize on Parko's loss, losing in round three. Bobbie Martinez wouldn't be impressed with the move from Mundaka losing the second heat at the beachie. He was probably the best surfer yesterday finding long lefts and flying.

Slater is in the water right now and the waves have gone fat on the high tide.

Contest Director Mike Parsons has just indicated that they probably won't get back to Munduka in the rest of the waiting period and they may try to crown a winner today.

With both Mick and Fanning out the title race can close up if Slater, Taj and one of the Hopgoods can get through a few more heats.

Round 2 Over

And Parko is out again. With his round 2 win Mick Fanning has taken over the lead in the World Title race.

Even though it was a bit wonky and badly onshore the waves at Mundaka were very contestable and the early heats were an air-fest. It was a bit condusing to watch as they were running overlapping heats but at least there was lots of action.

Slater got through despite not surfing since France and having a dodgy knee (from golf at St Andrews). Taj snuck through by 0.3 much to the disgust of Artiz Aranburu who thought he had done enough.

Who knows what they will do today. The have at least one full day left in the contest. The wave is so tide affected that the window is pretty small but at least the days are long.

Weekend is looking good

Swellnet has a pretty positive forecast for Geraldton this weekend -

Weekend Outlook
Very good clean surf on Saturday morning with a solid new SW swell and offshore winds from the NE ahead of a shift to the SW in the afternoon. Decent surf early on Sunday with light winds. Conditions will probably then deteriorate through the day as the swell starts to ease and winds tend onshore.

Spain on

But not at Munduka but some grovelly onshore beach break. Its got a bit of size but you wouldn't normally surf it. And its raining.

The latest call is that it will move to Mundaka this afternoon with over lapping heats. Not much help to those in the first round who will get eliminated in the crap surf.

There may be a break in the webcast as they dismantle the truck and head back for heat 1 of round 2. But the missed heats aren't much chop anyway.

Another Lay Day

Spent the last few hours checking in for each call for the Billabong Pro. Contest Director Mike Parsons must be getting a bit concerned as they packed up the infrastructure and moved to the back up beach break.

Only problem is that there isn't even a ripple there (despite the web-site claiming two feet). Bunbury was about three times the size today than Spain.

They will have to run soon otherwise they will run out of days.

Hopefully the crew heading to Geraldton this weekend won't have the same problems 'cause there's no waiting period there !!!

Lay Day in Spain

Yet another lay day at the Billabong Pro Munduka. Looking at the webcam it will take more than a change in tide to get the event going as it is even flater than yesterday when it stuggled to be a foot.

Munduka was in danger of being dropped after last year. Apparently some dredging had wrecked the bank but the main problem is that there isn't a decent back up wave if the rivermouth isn't firing. This year the bank is great but there just isn't any swell.

There a still a few days left in the waiting period and by using the elimination round one format they bought themselves another day. They keep posting the rumour of a decent swell to come soon. Lets hope it is true.

Think Your '80s Photos are Bad

Watch this video and you'll never feel bad about those fluro boardshorts again !



Members - Remember to send your grommet photos to Dave for the next newsletter.

Mundaka has started

The Billabong Pro in Mundaka has started a couple of days ago with about 8 heats in the elimination round one run during the low tide window.

Apparently the bank is all time (Luke Egan claims it as the best in 20 years) but the swell isn't helping. The last two days have been flat and it is likely that today will be the same. Contest Director, Mike Parsons, thinks there will be a decent swell late in the contest waiting period.

Mundaka has been a bit of a bust in the last few years with only three or four heats of last year actually run there. The back up beach is crappy but apparently has a bank if they are forced there.

Webcasts from Billabong are always good and you can expect Luke Egan and Occy to commentate sometime. The video highlights and heats on demand are always top class.

Lima Wins

So we can expect a tattoo of her trophy on her other side !

Gilmore still has the number 1 spot with a first and two seconds but Lima has narrowed the points gap to just over 300. Sophia Millanovic has also stayed in the race with her third taking her over 2000 points.

Next WWCT event is the Search later this month.

Gilmore v Lima

In a repeat of Bells, Steph Gilmore will take on Silva Lima in the next few minutes in the final of the Beachley Classic. Lima has just left the water and only wants a 10 minute break.

Waves are still pretty poor but they need to finish it off today.

Hopefully Lima won't win and force the world to endure another terrible tattoo like she got to commemorate her Bells win !

Beachley On but Beachley Out

Layne is out, getting beaten in round 3.

The waves are pretty big and onshore. Its the type of you generally wouldn't bother but every now and then a bit of face comes through.

The webcast is pretty poor, especially as some bloke keeps standing up in front of the camera. The commentators are trying but it is very hard to talk up such poor conditions.

The celebrity challenge is on later.

Want a Free Surf Movie ?????

Rip Curl is providing a free download of Rubber Soul II. The movie stars the best of the Rip Curl riders like Mick Fanning and Steph Gilmore.

You can watch it in parts on-line or download all 186 megs in MP4 format. MP4 works on Ipods and Iphones but also on your computer if you have Itunes or one of the million different media players. (I suggest VLC player as it is free and plays just about every format you will find)

Proof

Last Friday Khngy and Tweeds went south and hit South Point. They claimed North Point was big, crowded and lookin' good.

Photographer Hugh Davis has posted some photos from that day on his blog "Weekend Warrior" that show they were telling the truth.

Women's WCT Starts Again

The women's WCT has finally started again with the Beachley Classic. The last event was Bells way back in April.

The web-cast wasn't working properly this morning but the waves at Dee Why looked pretty crappy.

Layne came last in the first heat but it was non elimination. She is now into the first of two three surfer round two heats.

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.45, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.15, Layne Beachley (AUS) 8.25
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 15.25, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.05, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.85
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.00, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.40, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.05
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.60, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 8.60, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 4.70
Heat 5: Coco Ho (HAW) 10.65, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.35, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.25
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.55, Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.85, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 6.40

Upcoming Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 2 Heats:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Layne Beachley (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)

Newsletter Tuesday

The next newsletter will be out on Tuesday. No theme this time, just a collection of bits and pieces.

Its all drafted, just need to check a name and my very poor grammar and it will be emailed out.

Mick wins again

Fanning has made it two in a row beating Bede Durbige in the final.

He had two good waves in his first three putting Bede in combo-land for most of the heat. Bede used up his full 15 waves but couldn't get more than a six.

Fanning has moved within a couple of hundred points of Parko. Parko will need to find some form to keep his lead as every result (other than a 33rd) will be a keeper while Mick is currently holding a 17th and 9th as his two lowest results.

With a few days left in the waiting period for this comp and the next in Spain not until the 5th October, Fanning be able to rest up his injured ankle.

Taj and Slater should move up but will need things to fall their way to win it all with three events left (all in left handers).

Quarters On

They are running all the way to the end in France.

Bede Durbige is ahead of Ben Dunn in quarter one. Wildcard Patrick Bevan continues to ride the local support and despite knocking out a fin when he hit a floating piece of wood beat Dean Morrison in his round 4 heat. He is up against Bobby Martinez in a few minutes.

Slater takes on Tiago Pires and then in a blockbuster Taj take on Mick Fanning.

Round 4 Underway

Round four has started with Dane Reynolds losing in the first heat and CJ Hopgood joining his brother on the side lines.

The Hopgoods have lost their chance to gain on Parko but Taj and Mick Fanning are still in it. Fanning knocked out Queensland grom Julian Wilson and will come up against Jordy Smith in a killer heat. Taj has Kieren Perrow and should have the advantage in the small waves. However the waves are only waist height again and currently clean. Wave selection will be the key as will a bit of luck.

There is some talk that they will try to finish the contest today, which means that the forecast is dismal.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Parko out again

Another upset for Parko going down to the French wildcard with the very un-French name of Patrick Bevan.

Slater is in the water against another Frenchman. Both have cranked airs on the their first waves. Slater got underscored at a 7.83 for a couple of big backhand snaps, a couple of floaters and a big air in the shorie. Joan Duru was overscored, with a great fins out reo and the speed drive for a big grab rail air reverse earning a 9.1.

The crowd is going mental.

Round 3 On

France looks like Triggs but the contest is on anyway.

Round three has hit the water after some heats of a grom contest first thing. The waves are maybe two feet (waist height) and nothing special. Apparently the forecast isn't good and they are going to get through at least round 3 and leave them with only a day's worth of surfing to finish.

However all the heats so far have had a score over 14 for the win with Dane Reynolds scoring 18.27 and Bobby Martinez having a 9 and 7 in his heat. Dane was riding some wide thing with big side fins and a little centre trailer. The commentator didn't want to call Bobby's board a fish but still think it is.

Round three looks like this -
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) def. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) def. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) lost to Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) comboed Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)

Offshore !!!!!!!!

Just in case you have forgotten, the wind occasionally blows off the land and makes the waves smooth and pretty.

An all day offshore today and Khngy and Tweeds headed south to take advantage of the swell. After deciding against Inji and P-Break as the sand build up was making it wonky they pushed further south.

North Point was firing but packed with about 40 out enjoying waves that were offering two tubes each. Even if it was completely empty they wouldn't have gone out.

They chose South Point, one of Khngy's favourite spots. The waves 3 to 6' but not really hitting well. Khngy took a while to find the sweet spot and it was about 45 minutes before he grabbed one from out the back. Tweeds sat further inside the point and took a few drops and drove a few faces on the Superfish quad.

After a pie while watching North Point and the tow crew at Cow Bombie, they headed back towards home. Wanting a second surf they checked out Smiths. Again the sand wasn't right but the point was breaking. Yallingup was big but was still Yallingup and while the whitewater up the coast indicated that Bears would be good it takes too long to get to.

On a whim they went to the Farm and suited up without checking it. The waves were three to four foot and with a small crowd. The waves were mainly a speed run but towards the end Khngy paddled way out the back and a little wide to score a bomb. He pulled of a couple of turns in the pocket and kicked off on the beach.

That's why you work arvos !!!!

Short Day in France

Just a few heats of round two run today before it was called off. No great surprises so far.

The judging has been a bit strange at times with lots of waves seeming to be under scored. It looks like big floaters are being preferred to big, fins out, vertical snaps. Jake Patterson called one wave the "best wave of the day" but the score was so low it didn't make it into the surfers final two.

Check out the heats on demand

Le Round Uno is on

Round one has started in the Quiksilver Pro, France.

Waves are ok, a little onshore and a little close out-ish. Some great floaters going down but only one real section for a lip smack.

Taj has won as has Mick, Parko and Slater. Slater chose the inside reforms and pulled into a great backhand barrel. As usual he was above everyone else.

Dane Reynolds has just beaten Nathaniel Curran in the final minute with a high eight. Have to feel sorry for Curran who held the lead easily for the rest of the heat and would have won most others.

The webcast is good is a little choppy at times but worth watching.

Taj Drops, Slater Jumps

There has been a bit of a shakeup in the top 10 after the Hurley Pro.

Taj has dropped to 8th after collecting a "dirty turd" (33rd)and he will have to carry at least one 17th into his final total. Slater has bounced back to jump to 6th. He to will have to carry a 17th but with a first, 9th and 3rd in his last three events and a good record in both France and Mundaca he may still be in with a chance.

Mick Fanning has jumped into 2nd and leads the prize money total this year thanks to the $US 105 000 from Hurley. This pushed him over the million in career earnings, one of only four (Slater with nearly 2 mill, Taj and Parko) currently on tour.

Brazil's De Souza is having his best year ever and is third. Drop his worst two scores at the moment and he has nothing less than a 5th. The Hopgoood twins round out the top five.

The next event is in France, starting Wednesday. Personally I hate this leg. The waves are usually massive close outs and stop working when the tide changes. Winning often comes down to luck rather than skill. Being a Quiksilver event expect another good webcast and if you get bored watch it in French !!!!! At least it will be on at a decent hour.


CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 RATINGS:
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5486 points
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 4550 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4348 points
4 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4272 points
5 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 3974 points
6 – Kelly Slater (USA) 3906 points
7 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3760 points
8 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 3685 points
9 – Taylor Knox (USA) 3616 points
10 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 3582 points

Mick Wins Trestles

Mick Fanning has just won the Hurley Pro at Trestles, beating Dane Reynolds by a combo score.

Mick was on fire starting with a 6+ before dropping in two 8s when the waves returned late in the heat. Dane went big on every wave but just couldn't stick enough to win.

It was a big day with the contest running from Round 4 all the way to the final. The waves were pretty good but a bit inconsistent. Some heat suffered from long lulls with others full of waves.

Mick should head up the ratings with most of those around him falling early. Brazilian Adriano De'Souza has pushed into second and continues his stellar year. Slater made the semis so should move well into the top 10.

No Surprises in Surfer Poll

Surfer Magazine presented their annual Surfer poll awards yesterday (which is probably why the Hurley Pro had a lay day last night !). Surfer Poll awards are voted for by readers. In the past is was by posting in your votes but now it is on the net.

No surprises with Kelly Slater taking home another first prize. Womens World Champ Steph Gilmore won the womens prize. Taj won best move in the video awards for an air in the Still Filthy film that has just been released.

The top surfers were -

MEN
1. Kelly Slater
2. Joel Parkinson
3. Dane Reynolds
4. Mick Fanning
5. Taj Burrow
6. Rob Machado
7. Andy Irons
8. CJ Hobgood
9. Jordy Smit
10. Bruce Irons

WOMEN
1. Stephanie Gilmore
2. Sofia Mulanovich
3. Carissa Moore
4. Coco Ho
5. Alana Blanchard

The Moment You Realise !!!!

When you do something that seems like a good idea at the time but isn't there comes a point when you realise your mistake and hope it doesn't hurt to much.

Watch the embedded video and see if you can pick this moment for Damien Wills as he body surfs Shipsterns.

(If video doesn't work - click HERE )

Round 3 Over

Round three is done and the big casualty was Parko, beaten by Machado. Both surfed well but maybe Rob's hair flicks got him the extra one and a bit points to win.

Slater continues on his winning way beating Brett Simpson and scoring the highest heat score for the round. Slater is riding his little fat board and this trend is being followed by Dane Reynolds. Dane's board was 5'9" and wider than normal.

Parko's loss shouldn't make a lot of difference in the world title race. Unless he cracks in the next few events it will probably be one of his two throw aways. He is recovering from an ankle injury and looked a bit propy in his first heat so maybe this is part of the problem.

The annual Surfer Poll is on today (Tuesday night in US)so it will be interesting to see if this effects any of those still in the contest. Slater must be the favourite for another award. The women could throw up a roughie, possibly Coco Ho but if you had money it would have to go on Steph Gilmore.

HURLEY PRO TERSTLES ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Day 3 - Round 3

Day three is underway and so are the remaining round three heats.

Dane Reynolds and Ben Dunn are in the water now and both have thrown down a massive turn. Dane has chucked a two hand grab rail air reverse and Dunny smashed a reo so hard the finds were out and he was upside down.

Conditions are smaller but clean and really glassy. Makes you want to go surfing, especially with the local surfing conditions being so bad.

The first three heats are killer. No real surprises so far in this round, probably because they happened in round 2.

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Terrible Day for Taj

Round one of the Hurley Pro is done as are the first two heats of round two. The bad news is that Taj has been eliminated after being beaten by two wildcards in a day. In round one he lost to US Open winner Brett Simpson and in round two, former number 2 and Hurley team rider Rob Machado. Taj will now have to keep a 17th for the rest of the year and with Parko through to round three has probably missed out again this year.

Watching the first and second last heats of the day (sleeping in between) the waves changed a little. Apparently the swell is from the wrong direction, throwing up more lefts than the usual rights and it was onshore. Early heats were very low scoring.

Mid days heats seem to have got the best waves. Not surprisingly Kelly Slater ripped it on his mini board. Somehow he was able to get 18+ when everyone else was struggling to get double figures. Watch his first turn on the heats on demand and you'll have to make an appropriate amazed noise.

The last few heats were at high tide slowing down the number of waves. However the waves were still okay. Prediction is for a smaller day today (tonight) and a little pulse from a better direction after that. But with a fairly short contest window there might be a lay day today but expect it to be a single.

Hurley Pro Trestles Remaining Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 9: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (AUS)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 13: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)

Hurley Pro Starts Tonight

The next stop on the WCT Dream Tour is at Lower Trestles in the USA for the Hurley Pro. This is billed as the high performance leg of the tour, probably because it is usually a soft crumbly wave.

The advantage is that it evens the playing field a bit and gives a few more guys the chance to win. All the usuals are a chance with Taj, Mick and the Hopgoods needing a good result to keep up with Parko. Slater loves this place and can win with his eyes closed. Dane and Jordy do well here and Jordy has started to work out how to compete. Last year's run away WQS winner, Nathaniel Curran needs some results to avoid dropping off the tour and this may be his chance.

Just like their WQS event at Huntington, Hurley have increased the first prize to $100 000, making it the richest event on the tour.

Unlike the last few events this will revert to the old non-elimination round one format. This is probably good for the fans on the beach as they will have two chances to see Greg Emslie lose.

The first day is scheduled to start just after midnight our time and if your up or coming home from arvos you can watch the webcast.


HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA), Dustin Barca (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Kai Barger (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tim Boal (FRA), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Huge Swell

Probably the biggest swell of the year is hitting the coast, thanks to a very strong low and front.

Swellnet has it being off their chart at Marges over the next couple of days with it peaking around 20 feet.

The Naturaliste swell buoy hit seven metres and Rotto is over six. Even Bunbury and Cottesloe have their bouys showing over two metres, which is almost unheard of.

With followup fronts the big waves should be around for a few more days but so will the strong onshores. The only possible surf window looks like Monday but its murky and small.

Still it may be good to go to your favourite beach and watch it get washed away.

Closest You'll Ever Get to Surfing Shipsterns

GoPro @ Shipstern Bluff from jug head on Vimeo.

Geraldton Dates Set

The Batavia Challenge will be held on the 17th and 18th October in Geraldton.

If your going please email Brett Newson ASAP so he can nail down some numbers. The Geraldton crew promise a full social calendar and perfect waves.

Like the Aussie Cricket Team

No Australian's made it into the semi of the Azoures Pro. In the end it was two Brazilians in the final.

However the results caused very little movement on the ratings. Yadin dropped to 20th and really needs at couple more results to make it on next year's WCT.

Hurley Pro in September is the next WCT and the next thing worth watching. With five contests down Parko is in a very strong position with three firsts and a worst result of 9th. But as the worst two results are dropped he really is currently holding three 1s.

Taj is fourth and has a mixed relationship with Trestles, a wave that should suit him. Rumours from the tour observers is that Taj isn't physically training hard enough. Seems a bit unfair as he has never been a huge muscle guy anyway and his style is about being light and fast. For a guy who has been in the top ten for years and was one of the few people to take it up to Slater at his peak, the critisism seems unfair. Just because Mick and a few others have gone the personal training route doesn't mean that is the only way to get results.

Slater is 8th and will have to take one 17th in his final results. But Trestles is his place and you wouldn't place a bet against him. The final results will have a lot to do with the draw.

Look for a preview post closer to the start.

Mixed Results for the Aussies

The strong Aussie contingent have taken a bit of a battering in the Azores today. In round three, 15 became 10 and in Round four 10 has become 5.

Round five is the first of the man on man rounds. Australia is guaranteed to get one through to the quarters due to an all Aussie heat between Jayke Sharpe and Jarrad Howse. There are no easy heats with everyone being high on the 'QS and chasing either qualification or a safety net for a poor WCT year.

Yadin Nichol was knocked out in a very strong, all Australian round 4 heat. He had a shocker only getting just over six for two rides. This result won't alter his total points but shouldn't knock his position around too much. He will now head to his sponsor WCT event at Trestles which starts in the middle of September.

The conditions are still contestable. Waves are overhead but being a beachie wave selection has been critical. There was a 10 in the last heat for a nice backhand barrel but it was probably a bit over scored. The ASP has really encouraged the judges to give 10s to the best use of the conditions, which is why you see them in most contests and why you can't really compare 10s in one event or even on one day with another.

Have to remember to remind the judges before my heat if we ever get organised enough to hold a contest !!!!!

Azores is Pumping

Some nice waves for round 3 of the WQS in the Azores Islands. Its still overhead (just) but finally sunny and almost offshore. Definitely fairer for everyone.

The Aussies are doing well with plenty through to round 4. Yadin Nichol's round 3 heat is coming up soon. He's in a heat with WCT surfer Nic Muscroft. Nate Yoemans (an experience QS surfer from the US) and the required Brazillian.

There have been a few upsets with Sunny Garcia out in round 2 as was last year WQS winner Nathanial Curran. Corey Lopez was out in round 3.

WQS Update

Been a few contests over the last week or so but none really captured the imagination.

There was a one star at "Mexican Pipe". The waves for most of the event were nothing better than dribbly beach breaks and definitely not the massive grinding barrels that were hoped for. The field was pretty light on but the winner, Hawaiian wonder kid Clay Marzo, did surf well enough to win most places.

The European leg of the 'QS started in France. Again pretty poor beachie waves brought the quality of surfing down. It was a good field and a couple of people, like WA's Yadin Nichol were able to firm up a shot at next years WCT.

There was a WLT qualifying event in Japan that was won by Harley Ingelby and a WQS that no one cares about. There was also a one star at Ala Moana in Hawaii which was basically a locals 'bro fest and had little bearing on the standings.

Right now there is a 6 star in the Azores Islands. They are on day two and still in the first round (of 144). The waves are onshore and crappy as well and it doesn't like too inviting. The seeded QS surfers come in next round. A good showing here will help Yadin Nichol firm up a spot but he needs to dump some relatively high scores. The webcast is okay.

There are four more events in September including a 6 star in Brazil.

The next WCT is the Hurley Pro at Trestles for September 13. The Women are still on a break

Not good in south but cranking up north

A very short offshore, glassy window this morning was a red herring as the onshore only stayed away for a very short period.

Bunkers Bay seemed to be the only place with surfable waves today. The Farm had a crew but the waves were infrequent and had very little shape. Makes you pine for the days before houses when the creek mixed with the reef and it broke about twice as far out and for twice as far.

There were a few out at Boneyards which seemed better but it is a long haul for a not many waves.

The Cape still hasn't recovered from last summer's bush fire. What used to be thick bush now looks like the moon with no green and the sand encroaching up the hill.

Rocky Point looked to be affected by the wind and no one out.

There is a possibly of a few clearer days next week but the weekend doesn't look that great with two more small fronts due in the south west. Expect Wednesday to be a disaster as the Bunbury boys have tentatively planned a trip.

However CoastalWatch has another of those Desert Dreaming video of the north west cranking last week. Click the photo for the video.

Geraldton Contest Details Firming Up

The "Blood on the Water" contest details are firming up. Brett Newson has enlisted the help of the Geraldton Boardriders and pumped their local knowledge.

They guarantee good waves that will be ideal for all levels. The contest format will be designed so that you don't need to be a ripper to enter and have fun.

Geraldton has a huge group of surfers now, probably the biggest concentration in the state, and they are super keen to see you up there. They are planning a social calendar around the event making the trip worth it even if you don't get the outside wet.

The date is firming as October. Let Brett Newson know if your interested as there may be a way to share transport.

Looking at the Geraldton surf-cams can be a demoralising action in mid-winter.

Right now they have blue skies, light variable offshore winds, blue water and a nice wack of swell.