Kelly has just won the Billabong Pro Tahiti, beating Owen Wright in clean overhead surf.
In his 61st final Slater held a nine and high eight to win by just over a point. Owen had a nine and a high seven. Slater took a couple of poundings including going over the falls backwards as he tried to hustle Owen towards the end of the heat.
With the rest of the top six losing early Kelly is back in the title race after missing J-Bay to stay in Fiji.
The next event is in New York starting later this week. The event infrastructure is being rebuilt after having to be taken down due to Hurrican Irene.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Peter McCallum at Aussies
Congratulations to Peter for making the WA team that has just contested the Australian Festival of Surfing at Port Macquarie.
Pete went out after the first re-qual heat in the over 35s going down to eventual winner and former ASP pro Jake Spooner. Unfortunately he suffered a similar fate in the over 40s.
Pete went out after the first re-qual heat in the over 35s going down to eventual winner and former ASP pro Jake Spooner. Unfortunately he suffered a similar fate in the over 40s.
Tow big !!!
Tahiti was too big for the third round of the Billabong Pro. A government "red alert" meant that there were restrictions on boat traffic and using the contest tower but didn't stop some tow crews.
The Billabong Pro website continued to webcast the action despite there being no contest and there were some massive and ugly waves. Even towing was very hit and miss.
Round two was run a few days ago and some big names went down. Taj, Parko and Bede all lost in round two and Julian Wilson in round three. In most heats the higher ranked surfer lost. Slater, Jordy and Fanning are still there.
Chopes isn't a very good contest venue. Despite what it looks like on video the waves don't pump constantly they come in very defined and staggered sets. Each heat will get a small number of these sets so if you blow a wave there isn't necessarily another around the corner. When waves do come through they will always barrel but not always let you get out. It is a place where you are either going to come out and get a 7+ or get pinched and get a 2. There is no in between and no building momentum. This is why there is often carnage amongst the seeds as they are just as likely to come on the bad side of this 50/50 shot as the good one.
Taj can pretty much write off his chances of winning the world title this year. I'm hoping that I will be eating these words in December but with two 25th finishes and a third round exit already he will have to hold the 17th. Not to many people have taken the lot with one of those left in their hands. On the plus side the waves at the next few contests should suit him and he will probably be re-seeded so he doesn't keep meeting Slater in the third round (especially with two events in the US to come)
The Billabong Pro website continued to webcast the action despite there being no contest and there were some massive and ugly waves. Even towing was very hit and miss.
Round two was run a few days ago and some big names went down. Taj, Parko and Bede all lost in round two and Julian Wilson in round three. In most heats the higher ranked surfer lost. Slater, Jordy and Fanning are still there.
Chopes isn't a very good contest venue. Despite what it looks like on video the waves don't pump constantly they come in very defined and staggered sets. Each heat will get a small number of these sets so if you blow a wave there isn't necessarily another around the corner. When waves do come through they will always barrel but not always let you get out. It is a place where you are either going to come out and get a 7+ or get pinched and get a 2. There is no in between and no building momentum. This is why there is often carnage amongst the seeds as they are just as likely to come on the bad side of this 50/50 shot as the good one.
Taj can pretty much write off his chances of winning the world title this year. I'm hoping that I will be eating these words in December but with two 25th finishes and a third round exit already he will have to hold the 17th. Not to many people have taken the lot with one of those left in their hands. On the plus side the waves at the next few contests should suit him and he will probably be re-seeded so he doesn't keep meeting Slater in the third round (especially with two events in the US to come)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Billabong Pro Tahiti
The Billabong Pro Tahiti has run round one in nice waves at Chopes. Waves were around the four foot plus size with nice open barrels and light winds.
Every heat bar one has had plent of waves coming through and some good scores have been dropped. Unfortunately Taj has continued his career long problem with round one heats losing his but he'll get another shot in round two.
The last heat of the day is in the water at the moment. FuelTV is broadcasting the event along with the usual webcast and iPad apps. However most days start about 4 am WA time.
The forecast is for a massive swell next weekend and the event organisers are worrying about there being too much swell. With another 11 days left in the waiting period it could become a classic event.
Every heat bar one has had plent of waves coming through and some good scores have been dropped. Unfortunately Taj has continued his career long problem with round one heats losing his but he'll get another shot in round two.
The last heat of the day is in the water at the moment. FuelTV is broadcasting the event along with the usual webcast and iPad apps. However most days start about 4 am WA time.
The forecast is for a massive swell next weekend and the event organisers are worrying about there being too much swell. With another 11 days left in the waiting period it could become a classic event.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Orange means go faster
The winter of swell doesn't seem to want to give up. The last three days had offshore full tide mornings and low tide glass offs in the afternoon and a front that should hit in the next few hours will bring another big red blob of swell next week.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Taj was robbed
Taj has been ripped off again. He clearly beat Slater but was underscored whilst Kelly was overscored.
Taj's first wave had a huge air but got a 6. Then he and Slater had identical waves where they both threw the same moves outside but TB did an extra in the shorie. However Slater gets a low seven when Taj gets a high six.
Slater gets a short barrel and a decent cutback for a high eight. Taj gets buried deep, so deep he was being written off by the commentators then burst out the doggy door for an 8.1. Twice as long, deeper, harder to control and obviously not worth the same !
Taj was not happy throughout the heat and the blatantly poor judging (and worse comments from one of the webcasters) totally ruined what should have been the heat of the day. There should have only been about half a point between them but the result should have been the other way around.
I suppose 100 000 yanks want to see Slater win not an Aussie. And we have to remember that this is the contest where in the 80's they rioted because someone saw some boobs. Maybe the judges wanted to be able to get to their cars after the event.
Taj's first wave had a huge air but got a 6. Then he and Slater had identical waves where they both threw the same moves outside but TB did an extra in the shorie. However Slater gets a low seven when Taj gets a high six.
Slater gets a short barrel and a decent cutback for a high eight. Taj gets buried deep, so deep he was being written off by the commentators then burst out the doggy door for an 8.1. Twice as long, deeper, harder to control and obviously not worth the same !
Taj was not happy throughout the heat and the blatantly poor judging (and worse comments from one of the webcasters) totally ruined what should have been the heat of the day. There should have only been about half a point between them but the result should have been the other way around.
I suppose 100 000 yanks want to see Slater win not an Aussie. And we have to remember that this is the contest where in the 80's they rioted because someone saw some boobs. Maybe the judges wanted to be able to get to their cars after the event.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
TB vs KS
It's Taj v Kelly in the second semi of the US Open starting in about 15 minutes.
The waves are ok and both guys have been going big all event. I think it will be a killer and my money would normally be on Taj but Slater always gets an extra fraction of a point for his rides here. Another hometown advantage.
Google US Open Surfing for the webcast if you are still awake.
The waves are ok and both guys have been going big all event. I think it will be a killer and my money would normally be on Taj but Slater always gets an extra fraction of a point for his rides here. Another hometown advantage.
Google US Open Surfing for the webcast if you are still awake.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Sun and southerlies
Finally some sun, even if it did make the morning freezing cold. The swell has dropped to around three metres and the wind have swung into the south
The trip across the hill to Yallingup revealed double overhead conditions with only a five guys out (and a whale). The wind was cross shore and there were some decent walls to carve if you caught the right one. One guy caught a long, long left and ended up coming in at Rabbits because that was closer than coming into the reef.
Smiths had some nice conditions and a few people dotted amongst the beach break. It looked like the people shooting the Tim Winton film were out at Supertubes. There were a couple of jet skis but not much action.
The trip across the hill to Yallingup revealed double overhead conditions with only a five guys out (and a whale). The wind was cross shore and there were some decent walls to carve if you caught the right one. One guy caught a long, long left and ended up coming in at Rabbits because that was closer than coming into the reef.
Smiths had some nice conditions and a few people dotted amongst the beach break. It looked like the people shooting the Tim Winton film were out at Supertubes. There were a couple of jet skis but not much action.
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