Fridays

I think I have said it before but there are few things I like more than getting into the ocean on a Friday afternoon. Especially that moment when you duck dive and see the setting sun glow through the falling lip. Very zen.

Today two groms were sharing little runners of what is normally a winter bank off the end of the southern rocks at Juniors. Not great but they were enjoying themselves.

I took hand plane version 2.0 for its first spin but stupidly left my fins at home. That made it very difficult to get into waves early enough to set a line before they closed out. The jury is out on this new board. It rode a little soft and didn't seem t want to bite into the face. I'm leaning towards the quality of the waves and the lack of drive from fins as being the probable cause. We'll see.

It looks like a little front may brush past over the weekend. Winds should have some north in them. Apparently the secret spot that shows up in all of Taj's Cyclone Bianca footage was breaking again on with Sunday's little northerly pulse and TB, CJ and the Snake were all over it, probably recovering from the Margaret River celebrations the night before.

Gone

The swell has pretty much disappeared locally. From watching the Drugaware Pro on FuelTV its the same story down there. Judging from the commentators its not looking good for tomorrow either.

The beach was pretty this morning, crisp air, clear water and strong offshores. There was a gaggle of lid groms at BP Groyne. I'm guessing that they spent most of yesterday spewing that they were stuck at school while the waves were firing and arrange for an epic early. No matter how small it is groms will always get wet if they have made the effort to get out of bed !

Rain

At least I think it is. It has been so long that I've almost forgotten.

The onshore wins have brought a little swell but it isn't particularly big or any good. There are a few people out everywhere but like me yesterday they seem find it more frustrating than fun.

There are a few showers still around but the forecast for tomorrow is looking fine and offshore. The lack of banks is probably going to wreck any waves locally. It could be a good day to head to the Margies Pro before the weekend crowds.

I would like to give you an idea of what the surfing has been like but their crappy website and webcast spends more time crashed than working and the heats on demand are way behind. The five seconds on the News made it look messy and double overhead on the sets. Taj, Slater, Fanning, Parko, CJ, Julian Wilson, Kai Otten and a few other big names are through to the man on man round of 24. Taj and Parko have the hardest heats as they are the only ones against 'CT competition (Otten and Wilson). The women also need to run a pile of heats.

Two in a week

Well that was going to be my boast after my first wave at Juniors late this afternoon but the first wave was basically the only wave of a very frustrating session. That wave and the one that made me go out were a cruel trick as I spent the next 45 minutes paddling around trying to find something that would break.

Still the groms on the inside were having a ball and it was nice to be in the water so it wasnt all bad.

If you can believe a forecast of anything but sunny and 30 we might get some rain tomorrow. The promoters of the Margies Pro are talking up 15 foot waves but I think they might just have their hand on it !

TB - the Bridesmaid !!!

Taj has lost his first heat in his last four contests at Snapper. On the positive side it was the final and he was beaten by Slater in terrible waves. With a forecast of howling onshores and bad weather for the limited time that remained in the waiting period the organisers were stuck running it today and hoping the lower tide made for decent waves. Still the best two surfers all event made the final and now sit one and two leading into Bells.

The TV News is reporting that Slater will join Burrow at next month's Margaret River Pro prime event. They should be joined by some talent as everyone scrambles to avoid or take advantage of the mid-season cut. Now we just need the weather to change and some swell to arrive.

Best hack of the day - Martin Potter in the legends heat. Killed it like he was still 16.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST FINAL MATCH-UPS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 11.20
2 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.17

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.77 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 8.20
SF 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.56 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.40

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.40 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 9.06
QF 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.64 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.40
QF 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.30 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.60
QF 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.03 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.95

ASP WORLD TITLE TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 10,000 points
2. Taj Burrow (AUS) 8,000 points
3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 6,500 points
3. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6,500 points
5. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 5,200 points
5. Brett Simpson (USA) 5,200 points
5. Dusty Payne (HAW) 5,200 points
5. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 5,200 points