Day Seven - 31/12/10

Last day of the year.

I wS so disgusted this morning to find the swell had dropped to 0…11 that I didn't even bother looking. Imagine my surprise at about 3 when I found that the swell had jumped to 0.4 and was rising. The wind was even sse.

As I got my first glimps of Juniors a set was closing out across the reef and the beach. What was left was a mass of boils and sand clouds. Juts off shore the southerly change was marching in.

As I had a board still in the car I rushed out to see if I could snag something. The swell was very inconsistent but seems to be building. The wind is messing it up and most waves are close outs but every now and then there was something that made the effort worthy. And it is the last chance to surf in 2010.

Friday 31/12/10 (3.30PM)
Waves - 2'+
Wind - Southerly
Quality - 4.5 out of 10 (size but no shape)

Day Six - Part Two

Little ripples this afternoon. The wind swung south west but the moved back southerly leaving small but pretty clean waves.

However the size dropped away very quickly and in the ten minutes it took me to get a board and suit up it changed drastically. I ended up sitting for a long time for a handful of takeover.

30/12/10 PM (5.00)
Waves - 1 foot
Wind - SSW
Quality - 4.5 out of 10 (would have been better if I went with my first instinct and rode a mal)
Fun factor - 3

Day Six - 30/12/10

The swell "event" was pretty short lived. The harbour buoy has dropped to below 0.2 and is on the slide. No waves down the beach with a southerly drift.

Looks like the wind is starting to move onshore.

30/12/10 AM (10.00)
Waves - none
Wind - southerly and swinging
Quality - 0.0001 out of 10

Day Five - 29/12/10

Swell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The harbour buoy was registering a swell just over 0.3 metres this morning but with a very long period. A check of the beach found little lines rolling in but they were that frustrating size that looked like they could break but didn't. If there was another 10 centimetres of swell I could have been reporting on a surf.

The wind swung into the south and then south west about lunch time and strengthened. By four there was a wind wave at BP and Juniors. Didn't look great but when your desperate you'll try just about anything. Juniors was all over the shop and a paddle battle to try to find a take off spot. Giving it up as a bad joke I caught a couple of quick ones at BP. Nothing much more than a take off, bottom turn or a wiggle but better than nothing.



Morning (9.00 am)
Waves - 1 foot
Wind - offshore
Quality - potentially a 5 instead a 1.5 out of 10

Arvo (4.00 pm)
Waves - 2 foot
Wind - onshore
Quality - 4 out of 10
Fun factor - 4 because I'm desperate otherwise it would have been lower due to the difficulty in finding take offs

Day Four - 28/12/10

Southerly winds early but a swell still in single figures. It looked like a chance of a wind wave in the afternoon but the wind stayed in the south. There was a little ripple to give the ocean some motion but not much.

The afternoon was no better. Very flat with a southerly cross shore drift but no waves.

Tuesday 28/12/10 AM
Waves - 3 inches
Wind - strong southerly
Quality - 0.3 out of 10

PM
Waves - none
Wind - still southerly
Quality - 0.01 out of 10

Day 3 - 27th December 2010

Unbelievably flat. The harbour buoy was showing six centimetres and the Naturaliste buoy was only 0.6. I can't remember it ever being that flat. The wind was lighter with a touch of north in the east.

I had to work and drive to Augusta and back. It was flat everywhere, including the easy to get to swell magnets. The only waves I saw were in Augusta. They were onshore, dribbly and about gut height but after the last few weeks I was spewing I didn't have a mal with me.

Marges was dead flat. I have never been there when there have been no waves at all. The river mouth looked like Bunbury, Smith light Diamond pool and Yallingup suitable for water skiing only.

This afternoon the wind was a  little onshore southerly but it hasn't brought up the swell.

7 Waves in 7 Days 2010

For the last few years I have copied an idea from Australian Surfing Life where they recorded the same spot every day for a month. My documentary isn't as comprehensive but it does give a bit of a snap shot.

Today is day two. Yesterday was flat and today is even flatter. At the time of taking the photos the swell buoy was showing 0.12 and the wind was a howling easterly at 52 kmh. Koombana Bay is a sea of chop and whitecaps.

Day One - Christmas Day
Waves - flat. Biggest ripple is about calf height
Wind - strong offshore
Quality - 0.1 out of 10

Day Two - Boxing Day (morning 10.00 am)
Waves - nil
Wind - howling offshore easterly
Quality - 0 out of 10

Last years post
Intro
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
New Years Eve


2008 Video Diary

Merry Christmas Everyone

Hope you all got something fun for Chrissie.

As usual a decent swell was not in Father Christmas' sack again. The harbour buoy has returned to 0.15 and under levels.

I did go to the beach for a swim and was excited to get two body surfing waves. Both were scratching to be calf height and rolled for about 20 metres. Sad !

Over it

The harbor buoy has hit 20 centimetres,it's highest reading in the last two weeks. Hopefully this is the start of an increase to a surf able size but with strong off shores scheduled for the next few days I'm not confident that I'll be getting wet on Chrissie Day or in the days afterwards.

Hope you all have a good Christmas and that a new surf craft is under your tree.

Waves

The wind is so strong the biggest waves are in the inlet !!!!!!

The harbor buoy is around 0.15, which is as close to completely flat as you can get. The biggest issue is that it has been around that level for about a week.

Maybe a swell for Christmas ?

Pipe Masters is over

The Pipe Masters and the ASP Championship Tour for 2010 is over. Jeremy Flores won in small (by Hawaiian standards anyway) and inconsistent Backdoor.

Flores beat a red hot Slater in the semis by point something as both got a nine and a seven.

Parko won the Triple Crown for the third time despite losing in the mid event rounds. Taj made yet another finals round before going down to Flores.

The 2011 season sees the full implementation of the new world ranking and the change over of surfers a couple of times during the year. It will be interesting to see who can keep their spots for the whole year and which gumbbies will find themselves yo yoing between the two tours. It is likely that the top surfers will do more prime events making it harder for Braziliians to use their butt wiggling styles in their local QS events to make the dream tour.

Interestingly it appears that lots of pros are rushing to the airport to leave the islands. Not that long ago everyone stayed well into January with February still crowded and turning it on. Maybe Hawaii isn't big enough anymore.

Ironing board

Flatness is contagious. It has been flat for what feels like forever. The closest I have gotten is a fun onshore bash on Monday arvo.

The wind is howling every night but from the wrong direction. It will be interesting to see if there is any swell spun off the tropical low up north. It seems to have dropped a lot of rain but not much mention of the wind.

Hard

It's hard to find the energy to blog about surfing when it is so flat. Today the harbour buoy was reading a massive 12 centimetres, that not even half a primary school ruler!

The Pipe Master has started. They run this weird double heat format with two heats in the water at once. On one hand it is good because heaps of waves get ridden but it can be a confusing.

The top half of the 'CT surf in the next round. Even though Slater has already one the world title there is still plenty of interest as people scramble to make next years tour.

The waves were ok today. No real Pipe bombs, more Backdoor rights. The rip and the wind made it difficult but there were still plenty of decent waves.

Fuel TV are broadcasting live or you can catch a webcast via either the Triple Crown, Billabong or ASP website or on you IPhone or IPad using the ASP or Vans apps. I set my iPad up next to my work computer and watched a few heats this morning.

Cool summer

Been summer like this week. It's totally flat today with almost no swell but an onshore wind.

There has been a few wind waves in the afternoons but not many takers.

It's meant to have been raining for the last few days and isn't so who knows what it will be like next week.

Back

Back in Bunbury after a week in Dunsborough. Unfortunately for me the only day it wasn't howling onshore was the one where I started work and drove straight home. Always the way.

Nothing doing locally no matter how long I stare at the ocean and wish. Doesn't look that promising on the long range forecast but we might get some rain.

Psyche

I'm way for a few days working down south. Here's a few videos to get you going in case the swell comes up.

January Issue 2011 Surfing Magazine Trailer from Surfing Magazine on Vimeo.

France: Freesurfing 2 from Mick Fanning on Vimeo.

Still no surf

No surf around and the wind is turning more onshore every minute.

Parko is back

After getting a 10 on his first competition wave since his massive fin chop, Parko has blazed through the first contest of the Hawaiian season, the Reef Pro winning easily a few minutes ago.

The waves have been big, small, offshore and crumbly over the contest period. Steph Gilmore won the womens event a few days ago with WA's Felicity Parmenteer doing really well to reach the final rounds.

The legends heat was one of the best. Surfed on the best day in the biggest waves, Tom Curren won from Occy, Sunny Garcia and Tom Carroll. They will be surfing at each event. Can't wait for Pipe !

Hot, humid and flat

Bit of north in the wind and no swell. It is meant to be another scorcher but rain this afternoon.

Looks like a good day to whack on the air con and read the new Surfing World hardback book "Badlands". The book is a follow up of sorts from the original desert classic "Surfing Wild Australia" released in the 80s. Both books detail trips to the north of WA and have great photos and good writing. And at just under $15 it's pretty good value.

Nearly

Nearly waves again this arvo. Still offshore but with a fair bit of south and BP Reef was so close to being surfable that its not funny any more. Little waves were breaking inside the inside suck up but rolling nicely with backlit lips and transparent blue faces. Only problems were all the fin loving rocks along the line.

The Weather Bureau are forecasting a heat wave in Perth this week. Apparently that means three days in a row over 35 degrees. If it happens it will be only the fourth time since they started counting. We won't be that hot but might hit 30.

Surfalert is forecasting a couple of kicks in the swell for the Yallingup area, one tomorrow and one on Thursday. The harbour buoy is already showing a quick rise since lunchtime and Naturaliste has climbed to over two metres. With offshore it would be a good day to call in sick and head south.

Fine

The swell has continued to drop and is barely lapping on the shore. There are three body boarder and one surfer at BP reef. Surprisingly the surfer is making silk purses out of the mini dribbles. That's the value of having been a local forever and having a place wired.

Spring

Another near perfect spring day. Offshores, super clear water and a temp that allowed the shedding of wetsuits for boardies. The only thing missing was a bank or two.

Yesterday's swell disappeared as quick as it appeared and we were down to around 0.4. There was still some lines showing but the lack of summer sand build up meant that it was mostly closeouts.

There were a few waves on the inside suck up at BP reef and a couple of guys out. But it was really inconsistent and most sets run away to fast. I went for another hand plane session at Barnacles.

Nothing much changed this afternoon. The swell hasn't dropped much bit hasn't picked up either. Took out the board and tried to get into a few off the reef but it wasn't letting me in.

The Leewin was sailing on the horizon and the water and air temp we ideal. But not the waves.

Despite what Meatloaf might say "two out of three is bad !"

Raw

A rawish new swell has hit and looks like it hasn't quite peaked yet. The harbour buoy is over 0.7 and Naturaliste is above 4 metros.

Locally the swell is hitting everywhere and there is the odd wave in between the close out sets. There are a few going for the Friday after work session at Juniors and BP Reef. One guy was getting some decent rides on his forehand off the reef and I saw a set a Juniors which looked like it was going to allow the surfer to get a deep pit but it just ran a little quick for him. Worth a hoot anyway.

I chose the hand board again because I'm a bit over dodging closeouts. A couple of nice quick ones at Barnacles before the battle against the rip and the drift made it not worth the effort.

Looks good for the weekend, especially if you can get away from town.

Dry

Rain has stopped but the onshore had come in. Not looking like a surf day today.

Wet

The rain is nice but a little bit of swell wouldn't go a stray.

Nice light winds for most of today and a few body boarders were out at side wash for the after school bonding session. Just like last week I was trying to will the waves at Juniors to break on the reef but even my desperation couldn't overcome nature.

There is a rumor of a little pulse over the next couple of days but the winds might not be great for it. You'll just have to look for yourselves.

This weekend

Nothing much surf-wise so far this weekend locally.

Next week doesn't doesn't look great with a bit of rain around.

Ten

Kelly Slater has won his tenth world title overnight. Not happy with that he went on to win the whole event and score a perfect ten in the final.

Slater is the best surfer ever not just in contests but everywhere. Expect the next few months to be about whether he retires or goes for 11. Considering how many events he has won this year he could probably do it easily.

Another rumor is that he will enter (and win) the flegling big wave world tour.

Taj made the semis and had the only other ten of the contest with what has been described as the longest tube at Middles ever.

Andy Irons has died

Former world champ Andy Irons has died in the US on his way home from Puerto Rico. Andy missed his round one heat and then pulled out of the event due to illness. Billabong are reporting that he was suffering a re-occurrence of dengie fever and at this stage this is suspected as being the cause of his death.

Andy came back to the tour this year after a year off to deal with some personal problems. He won in Tahiti and had mixed results elsewhere.

His wife is pregnant, which makes the loss just a little sadder.

Steph's fourth

Stephanie Gilmore has just won her fourth world title by making the semis (just).

The waves are onshore but contestable. The women should finish today with the men possibly starting later.

Search

Round one of the men and rounds one and two for the women were completed last night in the Rip Curl Search. Both round ones were non-elimination and no real surprises.

From a WA view point, Taj lost a close heat and will have to front in round two. Clare Bevo continued her recent good form winning her three surfer heat and going through to round three.

Slater had the best round one score in winning his heat. Jordy is also into round three.

The other possible world champ Steph Gilmore is on her way to a hat trick with yet another round win.

The call for today should be soon (they are 12 hours behind) but the long range forecast isn't great.

Sad

Yesterday I desperately looked at the surf for something rideable. Today I convinced myself that the calf height dribble at Juniors was surfable on my log. Turns out is wasn't !

Nice in the water but not exactly a surf.

Searching

The Rip Curl search event has started in Puerto Rico has started in nice waves. The men have been thrown out on the first day of the waiting period.

Heat three starring Taj is in the water at the moment and is leading the heat early. The waves are getting cleaner as the morning sickness starts to wobble away.

Everyone is looking at Slater to win his tenth title sometime during this event. Jordy must make the finals to have any chance to take it to Pipeline but would still need KS to lose early. An interesting stat - over his long career Slater has won an event every four events !

Usual places to watch the event - webcast and FuelTV (or the ASPtogo iPad/iPhone app)

Desperate

Been lacking in the blog area the last few weeks. I've been busy, the surf locally hasn't been great and I have a new iPad so haven't touched the computer for a while !

Today is nice but there isn't much swell. The wind is fairly strong and offshore and the water is nice and clear. For a change you can see the start of a bank or two at BP but they are still close to the shore and straight.

There are about half a dozen body boarders at the northern end of the Bay taking on little wedges of dubious quality.

Having said how bad it is I was looking for anything that even remotely looks surf-able. After a long awaited taste last week, including my first summer sea breeze session on Sunday, I'm hanging to get wet again but can't go far from home. Sad

Home and away

Quick note as I'm at work. Too a trip with some work mate south today to match up with the predicted three metre swell.

Yalls was clean but not that big. There were a couple out at the Bubble including a mal. Scoot around to Smiths and it doesn't look that nice although it is offshore with a bit of swell.

Decide to check Inji. There is a wave but the tide is a bit high. Three guys out but with others waxing up in the carpark. The Point was just too far away !

Back to Smiths and the reef was an almost exclusively lay down area. A group of body boarders were sharing some super clean suck pits. They were all very polite and shared it amongst everyone (including one of us). A couple of shortboarders went out here and there but couldn't take off deep enough to really get full benefit from the waves.

It was too sucky for me so I chose a little hand plane session on the beachie.

Sausage roll and a doughnut from Tass Bakery in Dunsborough, a check of the free boards at Yahoo and it was home for lunch and work. Well that was the plan until we stopped at Capel Cut just in case.

With a couple of guys packing up in the carpark and the odd little runner coming through the two of us who didn't go out at Smith hit it on a fishy shapes. It was a little inconsistent and hard work but both of us go a few little fun one on the inside reef.

Then it was work time but I'm not super enthused !

Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaater

Freeze it and go ice skating. The ocean would be so smooth you could go curling.

The wind is starting to head into the south/south west already.

Flaaaaaaaaaaat

and getting flatter.

The harbour buoy is now under 0.2 or about 17 centimetres !!!!!!

There is a forecast of a little sw pulse next week but it dependent on a couple of other unlikely things. There is a forecast for some rain Wednesday and Thursday. Can you guess which day I have time off to go down south ?????

Slater wins

Number ten must be around the corner after KS won the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal, beating the only one with a realistic chance of beating him Jordy Smith.

Jordy nailed a huge Superman air but it wasn't enough to overcome Slater's vertical but fairly conservative approach. However his huge floater was pretty amazing and showed Jordy, who had done one earlier, that he was able to match anything he could muster and make it just a little more critical.

Next event is the Rip Curl Search in Puerto Rico, starting on the 30th. This is a new venue so could throw up some challenges.

Finals Day at Supertubos

Finals day for the Rip Curl Pro back at the primary location. The world title race is basically down to two now that Fanning bombed in round three. Kelly is in the water against Damo Hopgood in the quarters at the moment and the other title contender Jordy Smith has Pat Guduskas in quarter four. Next heat could be a killer if Owen Wright and Jeremy Flores bring their new school game.

Yesterday's round four non-elimination round was held in pretty standard beach breaks. Today is back at Supertubos but its not the classic conditions of the early rounds. Doesn't look like many tubes and if the few heats of round five I watched are the mark, the judges have lost the plot. They scored Damo Hopgood for high for two boring stock standard reos but Matty Wilkinson low for a couple of whacks and a big air because he "didn't ride out of it", despite it being on the last section of the wave, him clearly landing it and standing up in the soup.

The winner will be awarded later tonight. Coverage on the webcast and FuelTV

Little runners

Just got out of the water after a late afternoon bash at BP Reef. The tide is very low still but the strong offshores have buttoned off and there were some little left way inside.

The take off rocks were basically dry sucking but if you could get one close enough to break but not on the rock there was a little hip height face for a couple of turns.

Can you tell that I haven't really been able to get any decent waves in the last month or so !!!!!!!!!!

Taj robbed again

Round three has hit the water at the back up beachie. Taj scored the guinea pig first heat in okay onshore waves.

It seems again that Taj's opponent was over scored on his best two waves. Variety is meant to be part of the criteria but Matt Wilkinson's three decent backhand reos were all the same but he got an eight. His single move air reverse was a six ! Taj surfered big and smooth with big hacks and held the lead for most of the heat with fives but struggled to find a wave in the back end of the heat. He did get a square up with a wave with three massive smacks getting a nine but he needed a 9.1. That wave was probably overscored to make up but it wasn't enough. It looks like another year without a title for TB. Interestingly he wasn't riding a Firewire but a normal (and dented) board.

With the "swell of the century" not arriving the forecast isn't great and the current word from the contest is for the rest of round three today (six more hours) and then small beachies for the rest of the contest.

Round One has finished

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal ran the non-elimination round one in some pretty marginal waves at Supertubos. Taj continued his habit of winning round one heat this year (the opposite of last year) and Slater continued his habit of losing.

Round two is on at the moment in nice waves. Its probably around four foot and offshore, although the size has dropped with the tide. There are some nice long barrels and enough waves to make it fair for everyone.

So far in round two Slater won easily and Jordy is through to the next round. Dane Reynolds and Adriano DeSouza have pretty much fallen out of the race by losing their round two heats. Adriano was beaten by Dean Morrison who was the injury replacement for Bede Durbridge, who just had a baby last week.

The sun is meant to stay up until after 8 their time which will be after midnight here provided the conditions stay nice.

FuelTV are showing the event live and there is a webcast (if you can stand Jodie Cooper's commentary)

Perfect weather

Couldn't ask for better weather than today. Not because I'm surfed out from a week of swell and offshores (I'm not, the best I got was six inch Juniors late Friday) but because it is Bathurst.

I started watching Bathurst before I started surfing so it is always a bonus when the race and poor waves coincide. I don't need to make a choice between the two.

Go Skaife and Lowndes. If they can't win, any Holden will do.

New guard wins in Portugal

Carissa Moore has won the Rip Curl Pro by beating Steph Gilmore. Between them they have won all bar one event this year. Gilmore is set for another World Title but Moore may be the competition she needs in the next few years.

The final were held at a backup venue in waves that were decent and with good size. Although she is small, WA's Clare Bevilaqua, who had a great event finishing third, was taking waves in he quarter final that was easily double overhead. Although the size was there they were a bit fat and sectioning and not giving much room for big vertical whacks. It was a bit like a brown version of the left at Marge's.

The big storm predicted has apparently hit and the swell has jacked. One of those European news programs on SBS had footage of big waves bashing the coast but who knows what they were saying ! The men are set to run today at Supertubos if the wind backs off.

Portugal for men and women

The Rip Curl Pro is on in Portugal  with the women in the water. WA's Claire Bevilacqua is currently in heat four of round one.

The waves look ok, decent size and offshore but they don't seem to allow huge moves.

The swell forecasts show a massive blob in the swell window and they are starting to talk it up as storm of the century !

Rip Curl have a decent webcast and the men will be shown on FuelTV.

Even bigger

Massive 5 metres swell hit down south yesterday morning. Coastalwatch is reporting 12' + at Yallingup and bigger at Marges.

There was an bit of motion locally and I suspect that Capel and Binningup might have had some clean waves with offshore winds.

The swell is dropping but is near three at Naturaliste and 0.5 locally. Wind should have a touch of north but still be offshore most of the morning. Would be a nice day for a sickie if it wasn't school holidays.

Big Swell

Huge jump in swell yesterday. Naturaliste hit just over 4 metres around six last night and is still at 3.6. Albany was even bigger.

Coastalwatch had photos of people hitting Cow Bombie.

Bunbury didn't really see much. There is a little blip up to about 0.7 and it is a 0.6 now. But the wind will be onshore all day.

Mick wins

Mick Fanning has just beaten Kelly Slater by a combo score in the final of the Quiksilver Pro in France. The swell had jacked with the tide and it was a solid double overhead breaking onto a shallow bank. Looking at the waves you can see how the French invented the guilotine !!!

Slater pulled off wave of the event in the semis. After taking off under the lip and his board sliding tail first down the face the olny people that thought he had made it were Kelly and the cameraman. Ten points and no claim.






Mick lucked into two surfable waves but took a massive wave on the head and broke his legrope. He deserved the scores he got, especially his last wave but I have two complaints, Mick claims like a Brazillian and has the worst poo stance on the CT.

Mick will go to third, Kelly will stay at number one but with a larger buffer over Jordy. However when you consider that the worst two events are dropped (and there are three left) Kelly pulls away. On my adjusted scores he is 42500 (with his worst two results a 9th and 17th leaving nothing lower than 3rd), Jordy 33750 (drops a 17th and a 5th leaving three 5th, a second and a win), Mick 32000 (dropping 9ths but keeping two 9th in his score), Taj 30000 (having to hold a 17th in his score line) and Dane 28500 (dropping 17th and a 9th but having nothing higher than third). Kelly and Jordy can both afford to have another bad day, especially Jordy whose second lowest score is a 9th but Taj must make finals and hope the others bomb.

Next event is the Rip Curl in Portugal on Thursday. Current rumour is that there will be swell from week one. Supertubes is much like France - closeouts with the odd epic tube, expect plenty of claims. This is the replacement event for Mundacca which has failed to deliver for the last few years.

Slater does it again

Five scored above five to end with an eight and a nine and Michel Bourez comboed.

Clean long tubes and a couple of doggy door exits that would have killed lesser people. If you watch his nine you can see the red singlet look like its about to get thrown over the falls but he comes out.

Its very un-Australian but I hope he gets his tenth world title this year.

Ace vs Perrow in an all Aussie quarter final. Ace is the last goofy left in the event.

Too much choice

There is too much live sport right now. I'm flicking between the test match in India, the AFL Grand Final and the finals day at the Quikie.

Swell is big and clean but still thumping. Paddling out is hard but the jet ski is struggling even more. It looks like a crazy beach break version of Pipe and Backdoor

Slater v Bourez just hitting the water at the moment.

Changes

Woke up to winter again.

A grey morning with strengthening south/south west winds. Strangely the onshore slop has more shape than the clean conditions of the last week or so. With a bit of angle to the waves there are a few corners at BP and Juniors if you need a weekend fix before the footy.

Finals Day

Just the finals to run in France. Slater has Michel Bourez, who should have beaten him in round four. If he wins he will get another heat on one of his rivals as Fanning and Jordy battle each other in quarter four.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Daniel Ross (AUS) 16.40 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.33
Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA) 8.77 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 7.23
Heat 3: Brett Simpson (USA) 11.34 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.30
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.27 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 6.23
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.00 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 8.83
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.53 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.60
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.84 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 2.60
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) 15.83 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.60
Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.67 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.77
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 8.90 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 7.10
Heat 11: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.50 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.66
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.27 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 5.50

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.67, Daniel Ross (AUS) 10.53, Taylor Knox (USA) 6.40
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.20, Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.63, Owen Wright (AUS) 9.26
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.40, Jadson Andre (BRA) 8.37, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 6.73
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.93, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.10, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 2.83

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dan Ross (AUS) 15.07 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 10.50
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.30 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 6.50
Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.23 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.86
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.50 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 2.97

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
QF 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Kelly Houdini !!!

Slater has pulled another classic escape act in round four. Michel Bourez was on fire early with some big turns and a bazza or two. Slater was comboed and with a total just over one with the heat half done. Owen Wright was never in it as he wasn't getting any decent waves.

Then Slater picks up a full stand up tube followed by a massive floater where he spent more time free falling than in the lip. The 8.5 put him back into the game.

Michel took an impossible dumper which was so powerful it snapped his Firewire, a task most trucks can't do. While he was trying to get in against a rip that looked like a river, Slater locked in another barrel, came through the curtain and the threw an air reverse for a high seven and the heat. He might have been just a little overscored but he has done enough to deserve it.

Slater to the quarters, Owen and Michel to round five.

Jordy Smith has just free fell into a deep pit but was whacked when he tried to sneak through another section.

The waves are still good but the rips are massive and moving through the lineup. With the "small"  9 metre tide running out the good waves are moving around between banks and the paddle out is getting difficult.

Claims

Everyone is claiming at the Quiksilver Pro in France. Round three is into the last heat. The waves are nice when they aren't closing out. It is still one of those day where only one in twenty are surfable but at least its sort of offshore.

Taj lost in the first heat as did the higher seed in the first three heats. You compare Taj and Dan's second wave and see if you think Dan deserved a nine. I don't and think that once again Taj was ripped off. Just like Cheyne Horan before him the judges seem to want to score his competitors higher for smaller moves.






Slater beat Julian Wilson slipping one in under his priority. Jordy is through as is Owen Wright.




Taj's loss just about kills his world title hopes, especially with Slater and Jordy still there. This is part of the unfairness of the current format. Slater loses in round one but is still in the event. He can lose again in round four and win. Taj wins big in his round one heat but is out.

The event is going to blaze on for as much of today as they can. The swell is meant to be up tomorrow but the wind is going to be bad.

Still live

Another high seed bites the dust with Bobby not getting anything decent.

Tommy Whitaker has just opened his heat quickly with a long clean tube and a big layback rebound off the foam. 8.83. Tiago Pires hasn't stood up yet.

Nearly time for bed as there are no real blockbuster heats left this round and I don't know how many more times I can bare looking at beach commentator Jake Patterson's crap sunglasses !!!!!

More live

Luke Munro has beaten AI after his high 9 and then a toss up between two long clean tubes. As is typical of France it seems that lucking into the rare one that stays open is the only way to win.

AI's remote push for the title has now taken a kicking and his elimination is good for the front runners as they won't have to battle him in waves where his claiming would be worth an extra point.

Bobby Martinez and Dan Ross in the water now. Bobby is higher rated but it will be difficult to thread the barrel backhand.

Live Blogging

Luke Munro has just been spat out of a massively deep tube at the Quikie Pro in France for a 9.77. Twice it looked like he was done but came out clean.

This is the second heat of the day as they try to get the contest back on track after a number of lay days due to little surf. Currently its 4 - 6 foot but messy. Most waves are smashing close outs but every now and then there is a gem.

The contest is live on the net and FuelTV.

Summer ???????

Flat enough today to be summer. Add in an all day offshore and a bush fire anf only the cold water would have you thinking otherwise.

A little bit of sand has moved and some of the models are showing an increasing swell over the next few days.

Fingers crossed

France is crap

Three heats of round two were run in pussy little waves last night before it was give up as a joke. After a day of massive close outs the next day was small close outs.

If this is what a "Dream Tour" venue looks like maybe Bunbury should be part of the tour. We've got beaches full of close outs everywhere and if you come in winter you can get shore breaking, mud coloured barrels as well.

King of the Groms continues at the moment in pretty average surf. Apparently the swell  is due to kick at the same time as the storm that makes it hits the coast.

Quikie Pro France

The Quiksilver Pro has started in France but went on hold after six heats to wait for the tide.

Luckily round one is non-elimination with three of the heats being won with scores under 11, including Taj. Mick Fanning won with a 13 but his competitors got 2.24 and 1.96. Even Slater was only able to manufacture a heat total of four ! This might be the reason the contest went on hold.

The waves in France are always crap, always. Just messy, tide effected close out beach breaks. It does make heats a bit of a lottery and the best surfer doesn't always win.

There is the usual webcast and on FuelTV for those with Foxtel.

Spring again

Nice morning but the wind has turned onshore already. There is still a little swell around but not many waves.

The usual three are out a BP Reef and there are a couple at the groyne in closeouts.

The Surf Club are doing IRB training so it might be a good place to avoid for a few hours unless you like the smell of petrol fumes and surfing by a motorcross track.

NIce Day

Perfect Spring weather and a decent ground swell. The harbour bouy has been over 0.75 for most of the day and Naturaliste was just under three. Coastalwatch was reporting down south as solid, clean and 4 - 6'+.

Locally the lack of banks was still causing a problem. Sidewash was popular all day with BP and Juniors drawing a little after work crowd. The Bay was touched by the wind and messy. There were even a few lines showing at the Wall and across the Cut. Fraggles had some steamers coming through but the lulls were horrendous.

The wind will have a touch of north in it tomorrow and the swell is heading down. However you still might get some half decent waves, maybe at Capel, Binningup or down south.

Slater wins

Kelly Slater has won the Hurley Pro again beating Bede Durbridge and adding $100 000 loose change to his wallet.

The win puts him into first place and drops Jordy to second. Taj got fifth after lacking a decent backup against Dane Reynolds.

The next event starts in France in six days and is followed up by the Portugal and the Search.

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.13
2 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.13

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.87 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.43
SF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.67 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.63

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.60 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.20
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.03 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 15.97
QF 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.27 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.87
QF 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.80 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.90

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.76 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.50
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.10 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) N/S
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.40 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.47
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.04 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.73

ASP WORLD TITLE RACE TOP 5 (After Hurley Pro at Trestles):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 40,000 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 35,500 pts
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 30,500 pts
4. Dane Reynolds (USA) 30,250 pts
5. Mick Fanning (AUS) 29,500 pts

Windy

The big high down south is pumping strong offshore winds at us.

There is a Dad and two grom on BP reef but it is a grom wiggle only morning.

Finishing today in the USA

Tonight will finish off the Hurley Pro at Trestles. Last night round three and the new non-elimination three man round four. Winners in round four go straight to the quarters with the rest into one of the four round five heats. This means that you can lose twice and still win, provided you lose in the right rounds. I don't like it but can see how the sponsors and spectators could see the benefit of the better surfers being in the water longer.

The waves were great. If J-Bay is the wave you surf in heaven, Trestles would be the back up for when you want to bust out a few different moves.

Probably the best exchange of the day was Jordy v Brett Simpson. Jordy pulled off a massive air rotation before a few hacks and finishing with a Superman. Brett followed on the next wave with two massive airs but was easily beaten.

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.20 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 8.16
Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) 12.17 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 12.00
Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.13 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.54
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 13.06
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.93 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.67
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.50 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 12.67
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.87 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.93
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.57 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.83
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.60 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 6.63
Heat 10: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.50 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.96
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.17 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.24
Heat 12: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.87 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.87

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.30, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.00, Chris Davidson (AUS) 12.33
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS), 17.20, Kelly Slater (USA) 15.37, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.27
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.60, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.16, Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.26
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.60, Dane Reynolds (USA) 16.40, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.97

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND5 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA
QF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. TBA
QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA
QF 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA

Round Two done

Overnight they finished the second round of the Hurley Pro, finally dumping the losers. From the heats on demand they waves looked okay but must have been too inconsistent to justify starting round three. There is still meant to be a bigger swell on the way.



HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 6: Owen Wright (AUS) 11.00 def. Luke Munro 10.60
Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.16 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 9.26
Heat 8: Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.00
Heat 9: Adam Melling (AUS) 12.40 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 6.34
Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) 14.50 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 7.83
Heat 11: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.60 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9.17
Heat 12: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.70 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.60
HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 10: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 12: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

Summer

almost - strong easterly and bigger waves going out to sea than coming in.

Hurley Pro Starts

The first event under the new format, the Hurley Pro at Upper Trestles has started while we slept. I did watch the first two heats live on Fuel TV. The waves look typical, foggy, glassy and fun. It is definitely a wave you would love to surf but without the usual massive crowd.

The new format still  has a non-elimination round one. Dane Reynold's looked like he really didn't want to be in his first heat but tried a bit harder to win his round two heat. Most of the names got through, including Taj Burrow but in round two Fredie P and Bobby Martinez have both been eliminated.

Surfline are calling a big swell from down near New Zealand to hit during the waiting period. But they were optimistic about Chopes !

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.33, Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.94, Luke Munro (AUS) 10.33
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.50, Adam Melling (AUS) 14.46, Brett Simpson (USA) 13.83
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.40, Taylor Knox (USA) 13.30, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.04
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.10, Gabe Kling (USA) 12.67, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.70
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.16, Rob Machado (USA) 11.47, Kai Otton (AUS) 9.67
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.27, Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.10, Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.43
Heat 7: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.50, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.26, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.93
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.24, Daniel Ross (AUS) 15.23, Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.33
Heat 9: Jadson Andre (BRA) 17.03, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.46, Dusty Payne (HAW) 8.10
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.04, Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.57, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 5.23
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.47, Owen Wright (AUS) 13.66, Roy Powers (HAW) 8.50
Heat 12: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.93, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.67, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.26

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.70 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.10
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.33 def. Rob Machado (USA) 10.77
Heat 3: Gabe Kling (USA) 12.17 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.44
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.16 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 9.93
Heat 5: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.93 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 10.77

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 6: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Luke Munro
Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 9: Adam Melling (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 11: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)

Sik !!!

Today I added a chest and ear infection to the one in my eye and sinuses. Must have run over a black cat.

Did get a quick look at the beach during trips to the doctor and chemist.The conditions were nice both mid morning and late afternoon. The swell wasn't that big but there were a few out here and there grabbing a few fun corners between close outs. The tide looked like it was a bit of an issue though.

Would have been superb down south and it will be good tomorrow as well.

Apologies

I have been sick as a dog for the last week plus and have struggled to get of the lounge so the beach has been off limits as well. I'm still no better and this is the first time I have actually cracked out the computer for more than 10 minutes.

Seems that after the front went through mid-week there was some swell. I have seen the odd photo of places down south like Boneyards with waves. Maybe some of you were able to score during the light winds between fronts.

Today isn't looking great. I'm not lucky enough to see the beach from my front verandah but I can see that it southerly and the harbour buoy is telling me that sea is up but the swell isn't. At least I didn't really miss too much  while I was sleeping. Might be another day with the V8s.

Spring has sprung

Corny line - sorry.

No clouds, blue sky and clean water. There was even a little desperation dribble for the Fathers who wanted to share it with their sons. There were a few out at BP reef and some groms taking on Barnacles and Juniors.

I went out at BP Reef. The waves were pretty weak and breaking off the inside reef which was shallow. That one rock sitting down the line nearly caught everyone at least one when the excitement of a "set" wave pushing the paddler wider.

Regardless of the size, it was fun and nice to be in the sun and in the water. To top off my session I whipped out the handplane and crack a couple of reef drainers at Barnacles.

Daily Double

Today had everything - flatness and onshore.

Maybe some of you can have a nice Fathers Day with the family tomorrow without worrying that your missing any decent waves.

AI wins Tahiti

Andy Irons won the Billabong Pro as most of us would have been eating breakfast. On the last day of the waiting period there were some nice wave, if a little windy and small. However there were plenty of little barrels and Kelly Slater got yet another 10 in his quarter final and the wave deserved every point with him taking off late under the lip, freefalling, almost losing balance and then slotting deep and long. He even looked back after coming out clean.




Andy was a deserved winner after surfing well all event and getting through some close heats after losing in round one. I've never rated AI. His stance is ugly and his feet are to far apart, he claims to often and was consistently over scored during his world champ years. He has then had the advantage of a guaranteed wildcard after his contest hiatus, something that wasn't extended to Tom Curren, Occy or Slater. However he has been working very hard with Parko and his trainer to get back in the game and his wife is pregnant. In what looked like an honest pre-event interview and in his interview with GT in the channel after the final, Andy showed a new maturity and self-awareness that wasn't there in the past. In the past he has been huge in the Europe and Hawaiian legs so at number 7 he is still in the title hunt. However he is already carrying his throw away events and can't afford any slip ups.

Slater has jumped up to second while Taj stays at third and Jordy at one.The tour has been trimmed in size with the two "injury wildcards" announced today. Kierran Perrow and Gabe Kling will stay on tour due to their early season injuries. We can also expect to continue to see Tom Whitaker and Dean Morrison for most of the rest of the season as a replacement for Parko, who isn't expected back before Hawaii and Kai Otten who has a serious spine injury.

The next event is in the US at Trestles. Not long to wait as it starts on the 12th.


BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Andy Irons (HAW) 14.67
2 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.33

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.00 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.93
SF 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.57 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.26

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.53 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.23
QF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.80 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.33
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.77
QF 4: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.44 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.00

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.67
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.83 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.83
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 10.00 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 1.10
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.00 def. Manoa Drollet (PYF) 5.37
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.70 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 8.43
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.67 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.83
Heat 7: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.17 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.07
Heat 8: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 17.00 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.66

CURRENT ASP WORLD TITLE RACE TOP 5 (After Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 30,250 pts
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 30,000 pts
3 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 25,250 pts
4 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 23,750 pts
5 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 23,250 pts

Round Three

Round three has been done after two and a half days of surfing. Today's waves were pretty marginal and that is why it was only a short day.

In good news for Taj, Jordy was also taken out by Manoa Drollett. While this will probably be a throw away for Jordy, it also means he doesn't get away from his clutches. On the bad side both Slater and Mick Fanning are into round four. Slater has last event runner up Adam Melling, while Mick is against Andy (who won his heat by a fraction of a point).

Highlight of today is Pat Gudauskas pulling off a rodeo clown in his heat. While this gives an indication of the wave quality it is also claimed to be the first in a WCT event. However Pat pulled another (smaller) flip at a WQS event in the Maldives last year.




The end of round three also marks the end of this year's dream tour for 13 surfers.

- Drew Courtney (AUS), 31
- Neco Padaratz (BRA), 34
- Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22
- Mick Campbell (AUS), 34
- Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33
- Tom Whitaker (AUS), 30
- Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 25
- Blake Thornton (AUS), 25
- Dean Morrison (AUS), 29
- Jay Thompson (AUS), 28
- Nate Yeomans (USA), 29
- Ben Dunn (AUS), 24
- Marco Polo (BRA), 29

Tanner has had one of the shortest CT careers so far only lasting half a season, although it is not really his fault. Most of the rest have had a decent run. Deano, Mick Campbell and Kieren Perrow would have probably had a good shot at requalifying in a full season and have always been highly competitive. Looking at the list there is no real duds other than Neco and Marco Polo whilst people like Travis Logie are still there.

Chopes Starts - Taj Out

Round one and a chunk of round two were done last night and this morning in contestable surf.. Round two has been a bit of a horror for the top seed in each heat with most going down for a 33rd.

Taj lost to local wildcard. The heat was close but Manoa got minutely higher scores to win.




Check out heats on demand for the action and Jordy's huge round one one footed air.

New Swell

Bit of a glass off and new pulse of swell in the water this afternoon. The swell was quite small but ever now and then a big one came through. Unfortunately the lack of a decent bank meant that most of the waves just shrunk and dumped in the shorie.

Tried to get a wave at Juniors. It looked smaller than it really was (although it wasn't big) but with a fair old current pushing north and a couple of decent rips to add to a lowish tide. Spent all my time paddling to try and get into position for the odd one that looked like it may hold up. Generally the waves peaked but rolled onto the shallow bank to crash.

Because it looked different from the beach I had decided to try out the old Bruce Montgomery 80's thruster that I had recently "restored". At 6'0" x 19" it was at least 10 inches shorter than anything I had ridden in the last ten years. Last time I had a board that small I was considerably younger, considerably fitter and a hell of a lot lighter. Needless to say I sank when sitting on it and struggled to catch any waves at all. Even when I though I got one I tended to just fall off the back. Might keep it in the shed for a clean summer day and try again.

Before

After

No surf

No surf here and no surf in Tahiti

Chopes not much chop

Still no action at the Billabong Pro. With no backup venue the event is relying on a very distant call from Surfline of a small swell in a couple of days.

Chopes has become another Munkuda is the last few years. After a couple of big scary events there has been little swell and one event finished after the waiting period. Like Spain, there always seems to be great waves for the trials and after everyone goes home. Even a change of dates hasn't helped.

Luke Egan also has to weigh up the effect that a poor result in inconsistent waves could do to those on the elimination bubble before calling it on.

Flat

Again !!!!!!!

Lay Day

Small and inconsistent waves have resulted in a lay day on day one of the Billabong Pro. Some good heats on paper in round 1 but as it is non-elimination so most will be under whelming. The American websites are talking up Slater v AI v wildcard in heat 10.

Current world number one Jordy is in a hard heat against goofy CJ Hopgood and local Manoa Drollet (who always get a little local push in the scoring). Taj has Tiago Pires and a wildcard while Mick has last event runner up Adam Melling and a local wildcard. With Tahiti 18 hours behind not a lot worth getting up in the middle of the night for in this round.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Tuamata Puhetini (PYF)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF), Dean Morrison (AUS), Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Luke Munro (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS)

Billabong Pro Chopes tomorrow

The Billabong Pro Tahiti starts tomorrow. There is a webcast and Fuel TV is showing it live but it is always at a weird time of the night.

There was some big swell for the trials and a few big wipeouts.

The event has been a bit of a bust over the last few years and because it is a barrel only can be a little boring and throw up an upset here and there. Goofies are usually succesful but naturals can use a bit of backhand flare. Expect lots of people to get smashed as everyone has to get impossibly deep to get decent scores.

Taj and Slater have done well here. Jordy hasn't and it has been a bit of a vodoo place for Mick until last year when he did a lot of pre event work. Parko is out probably until Hawaii with his fin gash. Apparently he hasn't even be able to walk on it yet.

This is the last chance for the lower end of the World Tour to get enough points to remain on tour. At the end the tour will be cut from 45 to 32 for the rest of the year. No big names in danger, only those who haven't made it out of the second round.

This is what a big swell looks like

Ry Craike at Tombstones

Tombstones 2010 from Tom Jennings on Vimeo.

All hype ???

Plenty of swell but not massive. The harbour buoy showed a quick jump in size and period but has started to level and drop. The wind was from the south early and has picked up and turned onshore.

As usual when there is a decent swell to follow the Naturaliste buoy (and almost all of the others) have dropped out so it is hard to tell how much swell is around but it was hardly massively epic.

Lets see what Tuesday brings.

Still coming

The big swell is still coming. The Bureau of Meterology has forecast the swell to jump from 1.5 to 3 overnight and to hit 5 metres tomorrow. It isn't showing on any of the swell buoys yet. ALl of the other forecast sites and the WIN news are calling the swell too. However thats not to surprising since they all tend to use the same data.

There is a sniff of a follow up swell on Tuesday but with some ify winds. It will probably be too big for Bunbury and to south for Capel but Binningup may be the go.

We'll see if it actually turns up first.

Swell Hype

Coastalwatch is hyping up a massive 40'+ ocean swell that is likely to hit us on Sunday. The weather forecast is for a mostly sunny day with SSE winds so it could be one of those massive clean days down south that are great to watch but not great to surf.

Black is up to 40' !!!

Stormsurf has the swell tracking from deep in the Antarctic and brushing past the south west corner

Wax up the gun !

Still the pick

Light winds and BP Groyne is still the pick. The swell has dropped right off but there is still the odd fat corner out of the rip. Lots of closeouts and the wally ones are short and difficult but it is nice to get wet.

Groyne

BP Groyne was  the pick again today with a smaller swell but strong cross wind. Probably one out of every twenty held up but one is better than none.

Waves

BP Groyne is throwing up the only decent waves locally. Gradually people are hearing about the odd tube in between the close outs and it was starting to get crowded when I left.

Be careful

The news has reported that a surfer has been attacked and killed by a shark off South Point this morning. It is always sad when this happens and brings back how many things can go wrong when you enter the water, not just sharks and other things that bite and sting but the fact that we can't breath underwater and that our (and others) boards are full on sharp parts.

There have been a few stories floating around of sharks in Bunbury and Capel over the last few weeks and with winter's choc milk water you need to be extra alert.

Be safe.

Skunked

Was doing the visit the parents thing today so stopped in at one of my all haunts and a favourite, 4th Groyne in Mandurah. The wind was stronger than Bunno and with a lot of north in it and the swell was too small to really make it work.

As I was hanging and there was only two body board groms and their Mum out I decided to get wet and see if I could fluke one of the little sets that were coming through occasionally. What I didn't see was the two wave hogs suiting up in the other carpark. 4th Groyne has been taken over by body boarders in the last few years and as anyone who has had to deal with them knows they don't know the rules about sharing, waiting your turn and snaking. The take off for body boarders can be way inside and in front of the groyne as they don't have to deal with the taking off in the super sucky part or ripping the fins off on the exposed rocks. This left me battling the rip and the current to try to get a position where I could jag one.

However one guy decided to sit way, way deep and take all the sets (and go straight), the other sat outside me until it looked like a wave was coming then he paddled around and inside. I put up with it for a while and decided that I was dropping in if I could get into position, which was super difficult with the wash off the groyne. When the Mandurah Catholic College came out for the PE lesson and basically formed a fence on the inside I gave it up as a bad joke. Cold, wet, pissed and without even one wave to my name.

Get home about 3 and check BP Groyne. The swell has dropped and the wind is light and swinging more offshore every minute. The rip looks kind of strong but there is an odd wave. However by the time I scooted home for a dry wetsuit three guys showed they had the same idea. None could seem to stay in the right spot and none of them made a take off in the time I watched before deciding I wasn't getting skuned twice in a day.

Lot of north in the wind and forecast for some rain and a strong south westerly in the next few days.

Sunday

A few waves around today with light winds. People seemed to be getting the odd fat one in between close outs here are there but nothing to write home about.

Looks like similar conditions over the next few day as late last week but things change.

Shark Stories

With some shark sightings localy in the last few weeks (might be connected to the whales ??) this footage from the US will just add to your paranoia. Apparently the camerman was shadowed by a shark the day before so decided to take his SUP and a camera on a pole and see if he could find the shark again. Turns out he did and another for good measure, both white pointers. I'd rather not know what is below me.


Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.

Snapper Rocks !

The BP Groyne became Snapper Rocks with this take off resulting in a neatly broken surfboard.

Plenty of swell around with offshore winds first up this morning. BP Groyne was throwing some nice barrels between closeouts.

The Back Beach was pretty busy with as mix of body boarders and surfers getting the odd corner here and there. I saw one body boarder lock into a nice long tube and emerge clean.

There were still the odd places away from the crowd for the patient. There was only one at the Clam and a small sprinkling at a dumping Bay.

The wind swung southerly quickly but didn't mess it up too much at the start. Could be okay tomorrow.

East Coast

The east coast had waves today. Not the east coast of Australia like last week but the east coast of WA. With a decent sized swell there is surf on the Dunsborough side of Cape Naturaliste. But with the lack of fronts so far this year and a mixed up swell direction it wasn't top quality.

The swell was inconsistent and with enough size to get the shortboarders (well a collection of fish, mid lengths and normal boards) out. Crowds weren't that big but with the long lulls and strange take off spots it didn't take much.

There were people out everywhere to Castle Rock. Even spots that weren't usually surfed were being tried. I surfed the Rocky Point boat ramp on the mal. One guy at Eagle Bay was getting the odd head height take off. PK wasn't that great and there was a few out off Meelup point.

Could be better tomorrow at some of the northern spots when the wind goes more south west and the swell sorts its self out. Or it could go flat.