Surf Movie Sunday

Something for a wet and wintery day in the south.


On the subject of weather, you might have heard about a storm that hit the US this week. Heres the silver lining.



With summer very close the idea of 30 days without surfing isn't far fetched.

30 Days without Surfing from Driftwood Collective on Vimeo.

An arty clip of Steph Gilmore.

Break Line: Stephanie Gilmore on Nowness.com.

And thats it for another week.

New/old World Champ

Steph Gilmore has won another world title, winning the Roxy Pro in France last night.

The waves so bad early that I couldn't be bothered watching for more than a couple of minutes in the first round so can't tell you how she surfed or anything else.

The stupid thing is that it is July and the world champ has been picked and there is only one event left.

Taj wins

Taj has won the Quikie Pro in okay waves while Steph Gilmore won the Roxy

Taj snuck through in the final minute of his semi with Ace Buccan and then beat a consistently over scored Adriano DeSouza. Seems the ASP wants a Brazillian world champ ?

Lots of pros will be over for the Margaret River Masters before the next World Tour event at Bells at Easter.

Quik Pro on

Finals day for both Quiksilver events. The waves are small but very contestable.

Men's quarters started the day and both Slater and Parko are out. Taj is in the water at the moment and with less than three minutes to go he is down against Ace Buchan. He needs a big eight to win. And while I'm writing he's got it !

That means the semis are -
DeSouza v Kerr
Burrow v Smith

Women in the water. Some good finals coming up - Laura Enever vs Tyler Wright and Steph vs Sally will be killer.

Gilmore wins

Steph Gilmore got a little bit of revenge for losing the world title by beating Carissa Moore in the final of the Roxy Pro. This is Gilmore's best result this year.

New World Champ

Carrissa Moore has just won the womens world championship in France after outgoing champ Steph Gilmore has just beaten the only other women with a shot, Australia's Sally Fitzgibbon in the semis.

The Roxy Pro should finish today as there is only the final between Moore and Gilmore to go. The womens longboarders are in the water now.

Moore is one of the new breed of surfers and rips pretty hard. She is at home in big waves and punting in little ones. She was one of the first star surfers to get mainstream sponsorship, signing with Target and Nike 6.0. Her win will help push Nike deeper into the action sports market. 

Bells

Watched a bit of Bells from my hotel room in Naples, Italy. It is on in the very early morning but I have picked up the odd heat before breakfast and some of the heats on demand.

Looks like decent surf for the first time in the last few years. If the men's finals are run tomorrow as planned it will be the first time for a while that the event has stayed at Bells (Winki counts as staying) and run straight through.

Sally Fitzgibbons has won the women's event from Carissa Moore. Steph Gilmore made the semis. The title race could have some contenders this year.

The judging has come under some scrutiny with Bobbie Martinez complaining even after winning against Taj in round two. It is very difficult to work out how some rides are being scored. I don't think one hugeish snap that is on a poor choice of wave or that put you behind the running wall and you kick out is better than a number of hacks down the line. Mick Fannins first 9 in round four was deserving but his second, maybe not.

Final tomorrow. Watch it online or FuelTV.

Ciao

New girls and epic battles

The Roxy Pro finished today with the new crop staking a claim in 2011. Steph Gilmore lost to new comer Laura Enever in the quarters as did stalwarts Slivana Lima and former world champ Chelsea Hedges. The only "rookie" to go down was Coco Ho to Sally Fitzgibbons. Sally (20 and in her 3rd season) didn't last another heat getting beaten by Carissa Moore. The final was between Moore and Owen Wright's more successful little sister Tyler with the American taking home the bacon.

The semi consisted of a 17, 18, 19 and 20 year old with a combined four years on tour. Wright and Enever are both in their first world tour events as proper members rather than wildcards. Changing of the guard ?

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.34
2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.37

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.53 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 11.84
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.00 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.50

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.77 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 10.44
QF 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.67 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.50
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 19.20 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 14.50
QF 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 18.37 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.83


The Quiksilver Pro ran in some nice but flukey conditions. Both the non-elimination round four and round five ran. Round five had some super close heat and a classic between Taj Burrow and Adriano de Souza. The final combined heat score between the two of them was 38 out of 40 with both both holding two nines !!!! The only real name to fall out today was Parko in a close one to Jordy, who eats up drivey crumbling rights.

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.07, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.80
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.53, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.14, Kelly Slater (USA) 11.06
Heat 3: Brett Simpson (USA) 16.60, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.63, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.87
Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.23, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.76, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.56

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.80 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.60
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.27 def. Michel Bouez (PYF) 12.94
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 19.06 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18.94
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.67 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.17

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
QF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
QF 3: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
QF 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

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 !

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.

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.

Womens WCT is on

The Womens World Tour is battling away in Peru. Very hard to tell what is happening as there is no website or webcast.

Steph Gilmore is through to the semis, as is WA's Clair Bevo. Regardless of what happens it will be Clair's best result of the year so far.

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.57, Anali Gomez (PER) 11.83, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 9.84
Heat 2: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.26, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 9.50, Valeria Sole (PER) 5.17

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.00 def. Nikita Robb (ZAF) 8.43
Heat 2: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 13.60 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 11.67 
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.33 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 9.84
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.50 def. Julia de la Rosa (PER) 8.60
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.00 def. Anali Gomez (PER) 9.37
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.00 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.77
Heat 7: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 15.17 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 9.50
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.17 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 13.60

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
QF 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)
QF 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)

One down, one still going

Steph Gilmore proved once again that no one on the WCT can beat her winning the Beachly Classic at Dee Why Point. That is win three from four events with her only loss (not counting stupid round one) was against a wildcard. The next womens event is in Peru in June.

After a couple of lay days the Billabong Pro Brazil is back on in ok surf. Brazil continues to be the one place that is always crappy and below the "Dream Tour" standard. Round three and possibly round four may go today.

Taj pulls the lowest qualifier Travis Logie, who surprised everyone by actually winning a man on man heat at WCT level. Don't want to jinx TB but he should win over the worst surfer on tour. There are a few names in the strange position of being in round three. Parko has a potentially difficult heat as do anyone against a Brazil nut. Bede vs Owen Wright and Freddie P vs Flores could be good as well.

Seems that with the lay days they have been able to improve the quality of the webcast and the site now has a new twist on "heats on demand" - you make your own playlist of individual waves.

BILLABONG SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 10: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 13: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 16: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)

Round two and three

Brazil started late last night with the non-elimination round one. Not that it matters but other than Parko the top surfers lost. The Hopgoods both got through to round three in waves that suit their styles. Travis Logie lost again.

Round two is on now. The waves are ok, decent size but a bit all over the place. It looks like there will be some slow heats wave count wise. It is cold, grey and pouring with rain - no bikini babes at this time of the year.

Taj has just won his round two heat with a huge air and a combo score over a Brazilian wildcard. Even if Taj has lost both his top scores he still would have won easily with his two back ups. Mick is in the water now against a local and Slater is up next against another one.

The webcast is basic but Billabong seems to have sent their commentators. Luke Egan, Snips Parsons and GT are a huge step up over the people used at last year's event.

BILLABONG SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Tanio Barreto (BRA)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Messias Felix (BRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 6: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 9: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 10: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 11: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 13: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 14: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 15: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

The women have had three lay days in a row. They are into round three with all heats potentially exciting. Steph Gilmore is up against another wildcard. WA's Claire Bevo has a hard heat against Sophia Mulanovich.

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 3 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (AUS) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 7: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 8: Sally Fitzgibbons (HAW) vs. Lee Ann Curren (FRA)

Contest frenzy

The fourth womens CT event starts tomorrow. The Beachley Classic is usually held in crap suburban beach break waves but is the second stand alone event in the last two weeks. Carissa Moore won last week in New Zealand in ok but small surf after Steph Gilmore was knocked out by a wildcard early in the event. Its hard to get excited about these events because the waves really make it hard to show any decent surfing.

Heat 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), TBA
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Nikita Robb (ZAF)
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)

The men are in Brazil on Friday for the first Billabong event. Billabong have taken over after the local sponsor pulled out at the last moment. This event was moved to winter to try and get some decent waves. Last year it was crap and this year will probably be the same. And it will probably look cold and un-Brazil like on the beach as well. This was the worst webcast last year and it looks like it will be again as Billabong hasn't had the time get its team there.

On the plus side with the change in judging this year the event should be even more tailor made for Taj, Slater, Jordy and Dane.

Steph wins again

Steph Gilmore continues to be better than everyone else on the tour. She is starting to look like a female version of Slater, unbeatable by anyone but herself.

The waves were pretty crappy but some of round one of the mens was held. Taj, Parko and Mick all went straight through to round three.

The forecast isn't good. Not much swell and onshore winds. Might be Bells at Johanna again this year.

Women to finish soon

The womens event at Bells continues in difficult onshore conditions.

Steph Gilmore is through to another final and her opponent will be Chelsea Hedges or Sophia Mulanovich, who are in the water right now.

The webcast is on and Fuel TV will be broadcasting after the current semi.

Bells has started

Bells has started with the first two rounds of the womens event today. Can't tell you what the conditions were like as I was working and no heat on demand have been loaded yet.

Clare B won her round one heat and heads straight to round three with Steph Gilmore and Marges winner Chelsea Hedges. Wildcard Tyler Wright moved into that round with a second in round two.

When the mens round one starts most heats have at least one surfer of interest. Parko and Mick both have wildcards including last year's trial to final wildcard Robbo.

The website is a bit glitchy at the moment but hopefully they will sort it out soon.



RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO BELLS BEACH RESULTS

ROUND 1

Heat 1 First: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Second: Carissa Moore (HAW), Third: Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 2 First: Coco Ho (HAW), Second: Paige Hareb (NZL), Third: Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 3 First: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Second: Tyler Wright (AUS) Third: Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Heat 4 First: Silvana Lima (BRA), Second: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Third: Nikita Robb (ZAF)
Heat 5 First: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Second: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Third: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 6 First: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Second: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Third: Amee Donohoe (AUS)

ROUND 2

Heat 1 First: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Second: Nikita Robb (ZAF), Third: Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2 First: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Second: Lee Ann Curren (FRA), Third: Bruna Schmitz (BRA)

Round twos are done

Round two of both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros were run today in ok surf. No real surprises with highest rated surfers generally winning, except Ben Dunn beaten by WQS champ Dan Ross and Roy Powers who had AI. Andy was throwing buckets on each turn and found the only clean tube of the day. Despite being hugely overscored on his second wave Powers wasn't close. Expect to see this line again over the season - Travis Logie got a 33rd.

In the womens WA Clair Bevo was knocked out and the two former world champs (Hedges and Mulanovich) cruised through.

Heats to watch in round three -

• Taj vs Owen Wright - the aerial master vs the apprentice. If the waves are good will be a killer. Taj said in his round two interview that he has given up all that stretching and training and is just going to free surf in his heats.
• Bobby Martinez v Andy Irons - goofy v natural. Bobby is one of the few backsiders that can go vertical enough at Snapper to challenge and AI is looking red hot already
• Mick, Joel, Dane and Kelly's heats just because they are in them. They should all win.
• Steph Gilmore v Tyler Wright - a world champ whose style is perfect for Snapper vs Owen's radical little sister
• Sophia vs Carissa - the "old" guard vs the new school. Carissa will be one to watch all year.

Coverage is on the webcast and live on FuelTV, who also have a full highlights package at about 4 and 7 each night WA time.
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) 15.17 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.33
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.83 def. Nathan Yeomans (USA) 11.37
Heat 11: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 9.53 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 8.07
Heat 12: Mick Campbell (AUS) 15.17 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 14.00
Heat 13: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.00 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.54
Heat 14: Daniel Ross (AUS) 12.43 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 7.97
Heat 15: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.57 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 13.36
Heat 16: Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.44 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 9.57

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 7: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 10: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 12: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 16: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 14.83, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 12.76, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 9.67
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.94, Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.43, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 5.23

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 7: Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (HAW)
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)