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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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 !!!!!
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 !!!!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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
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
Friday, August 21, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
New Swell Building
After dropping dramatically yesterday the swell is back on its way up. The south west is still onshore but the swell has heaps of west and a touch of north.
PK was bigger today but still breaking wide. The waves were close together and it was really hard work.
Some video and more photos will be uploaded to youTube and Picassa later today or tommorow.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Hopefully No Blood in the Water
Don't let this video put you off participating in the "Blood on the Water" event in Geraldton in September/October.
Remember it was a long way out !!!! Click the picture for the video.
Remember it was a long way out !!!! Click the picture for the video.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
North Shore (the Movie) Comes Alive
After being skunked for swell in the ocean, Quiksilver US moved the 2009 King of the Groms to Disneyland's Typhoon Lagoon !!!!
Reports are that the waves were okay and it pulled a good field of competitors (none appear to have never seen the ocean like "North Shore's" Rick Kane). The photos show the odd air and some nice looking reos, the things you would see on a crappy day anywhere.
Organiser Matt Kechle is no stranger to top level wave pool contests. Matt was a competitor in the 1985 ASP world tour event in Allentown (getting knocked out in round 1 by Richie Rudolph). Called the World Inland Championship, it was won by Tom Carroll, who used his massive thighs to overcome Derek Ho in the final. Interestingly there were 12 surfers in the event who either were or became ASP World Champ, including both TCs, Rabbit, Shaun, Barton Lynch, Kong and multiple women's world champ Frieda Zamba.
For those who weren't frothy groms in the '80s, North Shore was a super cheesy Hollywood movie about a wave pool surfer who wins his way to the Pipe Masters without ever seeing the ocean. Add in the love interest with the Hawaiian princess, trouble with "da boys", the sage shaper with personal demons dispensing advice and the worst acting by a group of pro surfers ever. Got 90 minutes to kill and want a good laugh its worth the weekly rental !
Reports are that the waves were okay and it pulled a good field of competitors (none appear to have never seen the ocean like "North Shore's" Rick Kane). The photos show the odd air and some nice looking reos, the things you would see on a crappy day anywhere.
Organiser Matt Kechle is no stranger to top level wave pool contests. Matt was a competitor in the 1985 ASP world tour event in Allentown (getting knocked out in round 1 by Richie Rudolph). Called the World Inland Championship, it was won by Tom Carroll, who used his massive thighs to overcome Derek Ho in the final. Interestingly there were 12 surfers in the event who either were or became ASP World Champ, including both TCs, Rabbit, Shaun, Barton Lynch, Kong and multiple women's world champ Frieda Zamba.
For those who weren't frothy groms in the '80s, North Shore was a super cheesy Hollywood movie about a wave pool surfer who wins his way to the Pipe Masters without ever seeing the ocean. Add in the love interest with the Hawaiian princess, trouble with "da boys", the sage shaper with personal demons dispensing advice and the worst acting by a group of pro surfers ever. Got 90 minutes to kill and want a good laugh its worth the weekly rental !
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
PK is OK
You know you're spoiled when you get out because a crowd of 5 is to many. PK this morning was up to chest high on the take off with long lefts for everyone (well for me !). There was even the odd short right.
It was breaking a little wide of the point but you could drive around the first section, speed run or nose ride the next suck up, cutback, stall and then race across the inside until you kicked out on the rocks.
The only problem with long rides is that you have a long paddle back - hardly a trial !
For most of my session there was me, either a kook way out on the shoulder or a standup paddler. By the time these people in the photos came out I was stuffed, scored a set wave way out the back and rode it to the death. Seemed a good time to come in.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Bit of Professional Down South Footage
Bit of down south eye candy courtesy of the Hopgood brothers and staring Yadin Nichol and Dino Adrian.
Yades&Dino May09 from Steve Dewell on Vimeo.
We're Third Best !!!
The ISA World Surfing Titles have just finished in Costa Rica with Australia coming in third behind the US in first and FRANCE ?? in second. The ISA World's is a team event and includes mens, womens and longboard. In the past there was a body board division that was always a thorn in the side of the Yanks and in the way distant past goat boaters and kneeboarders were included.
Australia only made one final with Harley Ingelby backing up his WLT win with a second in the longboards. France had three finalist with WCT surfer Jeremy Flores winning the open men, someone else winning the longboards and Pauline Ado getting the copper medal.
The US had five finalists with Courtney Conlouge backing up her recent win in the 6 star WQS US Open with a win.
We can't win everything
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1 - USA - 14910 points
2 - France - 13280 points
3 - Australia - 10996 points
4 - Hawaii - 10856 points
5 - South Africa - 10666 points
6 - Peru - 10180 points
7 - Costa Rica - 9650 points
8 - Venezuela - 9040 points
9 - Brazil - 9000 points
10 - Puerto Rico - 8820 points
11 - New Zealand - 8100 points
12 - Argentina - 7160 points
13 - Tahiti - 6688 points
14 - Ecuador - 6170 points
15 - Panama - 5952 points
16 - Italy - 5670 points
17 - Mexico - 5560 points
18 - Japan - 5324 points
19 - Chile - 5208 points
20 - El Salvador - 4784 points
21 - Ireland - 4568 points
22 - Austria - 4320 points
23 - Barbados - 4128 points
24 - Germany - 4024 points
25 - UK- 3810 points
26 - Guatemala - 3696 points
27 - Switzerland - 3440 points
28 - Jamaica - 2912 points
29 - Canada - 2784 points
30 - Nicaragua - 2656 points
31 - Colombia 2544 points
32 - Trinidad & Tobago - 2240 points
33 - Bahamas 2240 points
34 - Rep. Dominican - 1680 points
35 - Aruba- 384 points
Australia only made one final with Harley Ingelby backing up his WLT win with a second in the longboards. France had three finalist with WCT surfer Jeremy Flores winning the open men, someone else winning the longboards and Pauline Ado getting the copper medal.
The US had five finalists with Courtney Conlouge backing up her recent win in the 6 star WQS US Open with a win.
We can't win everything
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1 - USA - 14910 points
2 - France - 13280 points
3 - Australia - 10996 points
4 - Hawaii - 10856 points
5 - South Africa - 10666 points
6 - Peru - 10180 points
7 - Costa Rica - 9650 points
8 - Venezuela - 9040 points
9 - Brazil - 9000 points
10 - Puerto Rico - 8820 points
11 - New Zealand - 8100 points
12 - Argentina - 7160 points
13 - Tahiti - 6688 points
14 - Ecuador - 6170 points
15 - Panama - 5952 points
16 - Italy - 5670 points
17 - Mexico - 5560 points
18 - Japan - 5324 points
19 - Chile - 5208 points
20 - El Salvador - 4784 points
21 - Ireland - 4568 points
22 - Austria - 4320 points
23 - Barbados - 4128 points
24 - Germany - 4024 points
25 - UK- 3810 points
26 - Guatemala - 3696 points
27 - Switzerland - 3440 points
28 - Jamaica - 2912 points
29 - Canada - 2784 points
30 - Nicaragua - 2656 points
31 - Colombia 2544 points
32 - Trinidad & Tobago - 2240 points
33 - Bahamas 2240 points
34 - Rep. Dominican - 1680 points
35 - Aruba- 384 points
Winter Relief
Rainy again and the strong winds are on their way back after a decent sort of week.
However it's always sunny in Indo. Might be the theme of the next newsletter so members can email Dave Hurdle with your favourite Bali story.
However it's always sunny in Indo. Might be the theme of the next newsletter so members can email Dave Hurdle with your favourite Bali story.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Big Yalls
Well middle size Yalls anyway. Yallingup this morning was a consistent head height and a half with the usual 8 foot sneaker set cleaning everyone up.
The waves were hard to catch and the crowd kept building over the morning. Isn't it strange that as the waves get bigger the crowd gets older and balder ? More proof that testosterone and baldness are connected.
Smiths had swell but not much shape. Only one guy out and he was at Supers.
| From WAPSurfriders Today |
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Bustin' Down the Door
If you have Foxtel turn it to Movie Extra on 6, 12, 23 August for the documentary "Bustin' Down the Door'. If you have IQ it is part of this weeks "on demand" programs.
Made by Shaun Thomson it details the birth of professional surfing and the winter of '75 in Hawaii where a price was literally placed on the heads of Shaun, Rabbit and WA's own Ian Cairns. It is a very well made doco, with plenty to keep even the non-surfing people in the family interested.
It is obvious that even 30 years later the scars caused at that time still run deep and the participants, especially Cairns are very open and raw with their interviews.
Fuel TV is meant to be showing new episodes of "Fins" this month and the TV guide shows that all the WCT tour events held so far this year will be shown sometime this month. J-Bay will worth the wait till the last Sunday.
Also check out Home Grown Maniacs which is made by a WA based company. Its pretty low brow in its format but the footage is good. The story on the tow crew getting smashed at X-Box was just plain scary to watch.
Made by Shaun Thomson it details the birth of professional surfing and the winter of '75 in Hawaii where a price was literally placed on the heads of Shaun, Rabbit and WA's own Ian Cairns. It is a very well made doco, with plenty to keep even the non-surfing people in the family interested.
It is obvious that even 30 years later the scars caused at that time still run deep and the participants, especially Cairns are very open and raw with their interviews.
Fuel TV is meant to be showing new episodes of "Fins" this month and the TV guide shows that all the WCT tour events held so far this year will be shown sometime this month. J-Bay will worth the wait till the last Sunday.
Also check out Home Grown Maniacs which is made by a WA based company. Its pretty low brow in its format but the footage is good. The story on the tow crew getting smashed at X-Box was just plain scary to watch.
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