Rain

Smallest touch of rain this morning and then back to how it has been for what seem to be the whole of this year !

Perfect conditions locally if there had been some swell but there wasn't.

My spy tells me that Cyclone Carlos sent some waves to the eastern side of Cape Naturaliste. Apparently there were waves at the Farm, Rockies and my favourite PK but the swell was really inconsistent. He was at Meelup and saw one roll all the way from behind the point through to the beach. I love that side and I'm spewing that I didn't think to make the trip.

Same as yesterday

Pretty much the same conditions as yesterday so far. The little swell is from the north but the super tide and small size means there isn't much power in the shoredumpers.

And just like yesterday I had a hand plane session at Barnacles. A couple of nice rights and lefts to make up for the lack of anything stand up-able. Ther was one grom out next to me and he got a few little runners but like fins on his board so gave up. The take off was an inside flat weedless grey thing. Yesterday I cut my hand swimming over it and my feet standing on it. Today was shallower and I was scraping my thighs just swimming out. You can imagine why he was scared for his fins.

The weather for next week looks much like this one. Even another cyclone forming up north to get hopes up.

Better safe than sorry

I'm not too confident that the swell will get bigger or hang around till tomorrow so I snuck out for a sunset hand plane session to get the most out of what we have.

It's still hot and the beach was packed. The water had a few people in it even though the sun has disappeared over the horizon. Swimming around on BP reef with flipper and not much else made me think how much I looked like a seal.

Got a couple of little shore break suckers. There were two out on boards but they didn't have much of a clue and didn't really get too many wave.

Quikie and Roxy Pros start today

Round 1 of both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros have run today in mixed conditions at Snapper Rocks.

Taj and Slater are through to round three in the non-elimination round. Taj hasn't lost a heat at Snapper for a while having won the last three events held there. Hopefully he will make it four.

Heats on demand and a webcast are on the Quikie Pro website.

Don't get excited

But the swell is starting to build from the north. However so is the wind.

It's not surf able yet and the tide is full again. The swell from Carlos shouldn't be that huge as it's coming from a long way away but who knows.

With another high 30s day I had to get wet and had a hand plane session at Barnacles and a couple of spots south. Pretty soft and very, very small but a great escape from this bloody heat.

Fingers crossed.

Call me when February is done

Fen is always a shitty month for surf in WA. It hasn't mattered where I've lived it has always been the same. Bunbury is probably the worst because when it's flat, it's flat everywhere. At least when I lived in Dunsborough you could go hunting to find enough dribble to push you a little.

I was looking at the blog entries from last year and they are basically the same as these (minus the cyclone swells !). The only positive is that as the shortest month of the year it's almost gone.

Cyclone Carlos seems to be tracking on a similar path to Di and Biancca. It's predicted to be stronger for longer than Dianne so maybe we'll get something a little biggerband longer than Monday. However it wasn't was well formed so there is a very good chance of jack. Anyway if it does arrive it will probably be on Sunday and packed again.

Waves ... there's waves

Not quite the two metres predicted (and then downgraded) but enough very north swell to push some two footers onto the reef at BP and Juniors.

It was an after work session from me with a very light onshore that wasn't making it off the beach. The tide was high and the crowd stupid both in size, ability and knowledge of the rules (see yesterday's post). I sat on the takeoff for the BP reef left and went right. The swell direction gave a bit of wall and there was almost enough water over the reef. The repair job on my fins that I did yesterday lasted three waves before I ground to a halt as they caught on the rocks.

Getting dropped in on every wave and a crew of groms sitting next to me was too much for my sanity and I finished off with a few at Barnacles.

As I was leaving one of the groms backdoored the reef take off for a full barrel but got clipped before he got out.

Stormsurf.com have a model which is showing some more north cyclone swell later in the week. Fingers crossed that it arrives and the crowds don't.

Don't get excited

The forecast is for a very short lived 2 metre swell tomorrow with north easterly winds.

One report claims it's from Cyclone Dianne but it is probably too far away at the moment. The winds are up to 160 odd kph so there could be some swell from it but considering how close Bianca had to get to send a day of waves it might be a bit early to wax up the gun.

Taj wins Breaka Pro again

Taj Burrow has just won the Brekka Pro in small but fun looking waves at Burleigh. A couple of linked rides puncuated with a big spinning air give him to mid sevens and the lead for most of the contest.

Parko came second mainly due to a typical Parko wave full of big smooth moves and a little spin. Bede Durbridge started strong but couldn't get the bigger scores and would be a little annoyed that Parko snuck past him at the end. Jayke Sharpe couldn't get any decent waves.

This the second year in a row that Taj has started the Aussie leg with a win in this event. Last year he backed it up with first in the Quikie Pro. He has to be considered a threat for the world title again this year if the judging finally goes for him.

The Flores/Garcia incident has made the mainstream news, thanks to some pretty ugly looking video. It now seems that a local got into a blue with Sunny's 16 year old son and wore a pretty bad beating for his stupidity. Surfing should never be a violent sport but crowds can cause blood to boil, especially if people aren't respectful, don't know the rules and are greedy.

Remember -
* one surfer per wave (DON'T DROP IN EVER)
* the surfer furtherest inside has right of way ALWAYS
* don't snake
* WAIT YOUR TURN
* just because you can catch every way doesn't mean you should. Give a few waves away
* beginners shouldn't surf with those who know what they are doing

This rules apply in Bunbury as much as Burleigh. They apply to BODY BOARDERS, mal riders, SUPs, groms, Mums, soft tops and body surfers as much as shortboarders. Play nice and go home happy.

Taj through to semis

Taj is through to a tough semi tomorrow although both semis are tough. TB is up against world tour surfers Tiago Pires and Jay "Bottle" Thompson and video star Jayke Sharp.

The second semi has Parko, Bede Durbridge and super-grom Julian Wilson against Tom Woods.

The waves have been small and onshore but contestable and if they clean up the surfing will be red hot.

The event website shows that Jeremy Flores was disqualified for some sort of physical confrontation whilst free surfing in the event area. They go on to say that Sunny Garcia is also facing a disiplinary hearing so maybe they clashed. My money would be on Sunny to win !

Taj in Quarters

Taj is in the first quarter final in the Breeka Burleigh Pro. The event is on hold for a 12.45 Qld time call.

Watch the webcast here

ASL/Oakley Big Wave Award nominees

Surfers Village has all the ASL/Oakley Big Wave Award nominees for 2010/11. Click here to go to the site

Heres a taste

Tow surfing

Australian Longboard Magazine has highlighted video of what might be the first time tow surfing was undertaken. It was way before jet skis, way before inflatable boats but in the time of the airship !!!

Boo

Regional WA gets ripped off on their sports coverage again. The ASP is celebrating a deal with the 10 digital sports channel One to broadcast some of the 2011 World Tour, starting with the Quikie Pro later this month.

That means no TV coverage for us in the country and another sport we don't get to see. Ok it was only available to those with Foxtel but I do !!!!!!!!

The webcast will still be running so we'll have to make do with that.

Currently there are two star events, one at Burleigh and a prime in Brazil. I watched a little bit of the Burleigh event this morning. The waves were pretty crappy, small, fat and onshore and the name surfers don't start appearing for a few rounds yet. If there are wave the weekend will be good with surfers of the calibre of Taj, Occy, Fanning and Parko all in the mix.

Going mad

Hanging out for something to ride. It's flat and easterly for what feels like the millionth day in a row and there is no change in sight.

Even the Naturaliste buoy isn't helping as it sits below a metre. Sure you could hunt around with everyone else to one of the very small wave spots for a very small wave but the wind would kill it anyway.

I hate summer !

Devil wind

These easterlies have been sent by the surfing version of the devil. The ocean is flat and any ripples are head out to sea not in from it.

Not much on the horizon either. Is it wrong to pray for another cyclone ?

I lied

One more Bianca video. There are no waves in the foreseeable future so you need something to keep your spirits up.

Just a tip - if you're watching a wave and thinking "gee its pretty fast but that guy seems to be making them", make sure "that guy" isn't Taj Burrow !!!!

Last of Bianca

Nothing to write about for this weekend unless you are aiming on windsurfing to South Africa !

Instead this is my poor quality video of the Cyclone Bianca waves. My reasonable camera was smashed a little while ago and hasn't been replaced so this was shot on my little camera with no zoom which is my excuse !

More Bianca

Some video has started to surface of the waves from Cyclone Bianca. Coastalwatch has some of the deepest tube riding probably ever down south and definately at this spot (because it never breaks). One tube will leave you shaking your head. Click here.

And here is some footage taken of other side of the moon.



Cyclone Bianca hits the Moon from Rory Gollow on Vimeo.

Swell coming ?

The forecast is for a rising 3 metre swell tomorrow with strong off shores in the morning. The harbour buoy has risen a bit fairly quickly this afternoon so there could be waves tomorrow.

Down south early would be the go now that the groms are back at school if you can find the time.

Dribble

Flat again. Just had a quick swim with my board and grabbed a couple of 6 inch take offs at Juniors. Not really surfing just a nice way to wash away work.

Some rumours of a small pulse in the next couple of day which would be good as there are a couple of funky banks from Cyclone Bianca.