Storm the Beaches
Weather and Waves For O'Neill CWC South Africa
June 22, 2009, 5:39 PM
By: Jon Coen
As Jake mentioned last week, we haven't had much comp news to report on as of late. Following his update on the major leagues, I'll fill you in on the Triple A report.
Thus far in '09, the new beefed up Cold Water Classic Series from O'Neill has been one amazing story after another. Got to handed to the crew over there. Instead of sponsoring that one big 'CT event, they put up the bucks for this mini-series on the WQS that gives those fellas a chance to surf some serious juice.
Courtesy O'Neill Europe
It's been windy and raining, but round.
After exciting conditions in Tasmania and Scotland, the 4-star in South Africa is proving to be quite a ride on the Cape Peninsula. The early part of the contest has enjoyed what locals are calling the biggest swell of the year.
But there's an extra variable that comes with holding contests outside the equatorial region — and that is the potential of local weather accompanying a swell. Not that we haven't seen that in the past few months in regions known for sunny skies (think Triple Crown deluges and Cyclones on the Gold Coast) but when you get into the mid and upper latitude wilds, you don't always get waves from systems thousands of miles away.
Swell the first day was solid and powerful. When the event moved back to the jarring beachbreak at Misty Cliffs, Jordy arrived from Reunion Island and headed out straight into the mayhem.
Courtesy O'Neill Europe
Jordy back in South Africa and into the eye of the storm.
"It is pretty wild and cold," he said earlier today, "It's like gale force winds out there. I got on a few waves and couldn't even move for the wind — but there are some fun rides out there."
Fun enough for Jordy to pocket an 8.5 on his first wave back in South African waters.
The highest score of the day, however, went to his O'Neill teammate, John John Florence. John John had himself a little barrel fest and collected a 9.6 for one of his spelunking expeditions.
Courtesy ASP
John John was going blow for blow with Nathan Hedge when he found this cavern.
The third day was back at Misty Cliffs, where conditions were gnarly, but not too rugged. Tomorrow will most likely be a lay day. O'Neill is scouting out alternate breaks to make this one truly memorable for the Round of 32. Paul Canning, Marketing Manager for O'Neill, is hoping to score Kalik Bay, a reportedly epic wave in the region.
But this storm is closing in fast. A local forecaster who goes by the name of Spike actually said, "We should see 40 foot sets on the outer reefs by Wednesday morning. Even for any Hawaiian big wave surfer, this is going to be big."
This is legitimately exciting. The O'Neill CWC continues to be a nice change of pace from the World Qualifying Slog, if Cape Town doesn't get wiped off the map.
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You're The Man Now, Dog
With popularity among the canine ranks soaring, should the ASP considering adding a doggy division?
June 22, 2009, 5:05 PM
By: Jake Howard
Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images
Left: That's Dozer there taking a digger, luckily he's a heck of a body surfer. Right: And bringing new meaning to the word "tandem," five dogs, 20 paws, and one board.
What can you say about a surf contest for dogs? I mean really, it writes itself. This past weekend, for the forth year now the Loews Coronado Bay Resort surf-dog contest descended—fittingly—on San Diego's Dog Beach. In the true spirit of interspecies competition, canines and humans of all shapes, forms, makes and models braved two, hair-raising feet of south swell, all for the honor of being named top dog (pun very much intended).
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Comp Land
A quick survey of what's coming up the next time the hooter blows.
June 19, 2009, 6:35 PM
By: Jake Howard
Augustin Munoz/Red Bull Photofiles
After the Billabong Pro ended in May Mick Fanning went on sabbatical in Indonesia—which we'll tell you all about on Monday—but for now just know he's ready for Brazil.
We've had nearly a month reprieve from any sort of ASP fodder. After Bobby Martinez won Tahiti everybody just kind of went their separate ways, and Jon and I got a chance to talk about something besides what color jersey brings out Kelly's eyes best. But we're finally starting to see the gears grinding into motion.
World Tour Rumblings:
Well, what seemed like the entire Top 45 went on an Indo boat trip together, but we'll be cramming enough of that down your throat on Monday, so for now we'll talk about Brazil: "I leave on Tuesday," reports CJ Hobgood. "I've been spending a lot of time with the family, but we're back at it when we get to Brazil.
"I'm pretty comfortable with how I'm traveling this year," said Mick Fanning in an ASP interview. "I'm feeling strong and I'm happy with how I'm surfing. I would have loved a better result in Tahiti, but the surf was average and it wasn't to be. The next couple of stops are important and I'll be looking to get a win on the board. Brazil is one of my best events so hopefully I can get a win there and narrow Parko's lead on the ratings."
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5'10 On International Surf Day
Moriarity Makes Five Good Points in Ten Good Minutes
June 16, 2009, 2:39 PM
By: Jon Coen
So many of my favorite boards have been 5'10's.
But this isn't about quivers. In honor of International Surfing Day, which happens to be tomorrow, I've got this little video from our friends at the Surfrider Foundation.
CEO of Surfrider, the tireless Jim Moriarity, makes five good points in ten minutes. I know there's waves today, (on both coasts) but take ten minutes to watch this, before you head to your local chapter's rally, beach sweep, paddle out, contest, or drum circle tomorrow.
For more Moriarity gold, go to his Oceans, Waves, Beaches blog.
And be sure to recycle all your Monster Energy cans.
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Flex Deck
Steve Walden Stops By With the Strato-Flex
June 17, 2009, 3:24 PM
By: Jon Coen
waldensurfboards.blogspot
Notice the stinger pattern.
Last week, I spoke with legendary shaper Steve Walden. Walden's shaped for everyone from Local Motion and Lightning Bolt to H.I.C. and Channel Island, but he's always stayed true to his own longboards. He has shaped over 20,000 boards and now has Walden Surfshop in Ventura. The dude also holds the record for the longest noseride ever in competition.
Walden's been on a little tour of the coastal states, and last week we got to sit down for lunch. (Not sure why he wanted Mexican food since he's from So Cal, but I let it be.) Afterwards he pulled out his latest work — the Strato-Flex, which debuted at the Sacred Craft show last month.
Though we may think of longboards as relics, albeit functional relics, we don't always consider that longer sticks are still evolving. Walden explained that he's been talking to his team riders a lot about flex lately — where it's needed and where it's a hindrance.
The Strato-Flex is a series of five stringers. The middle stringer runs the length of the board, just like 99% of surfboards made. But the other four only run two-thirds to half the length of the board. This board bends like a pole dancer. Yowza!
Jon Coen
Do not try this at home with your standard thruster.
"With thinner, lighter EPS construction, the board flex has never been as apparent. With over two inches of flex on both the tail and nose, I see the need to control the flex, as it is now effecting the integrity of the board design.
The strato controls the flex by limiting it to the nose and tail, where you want to keep some, but maintains that stiffness in the middle of the board to keep the speed and keep the water entry clean."
Walden put the board down right in the street and stepped on it. Thing just flexed and then popped right back into shape. Now, I've seen this demonstration with the Firewire before, but this is a longboard, and a very high-performance longboard. Thinner boards like this do have a tendancy to snap. I'm curious to see what his team riders do with flex control and a stronger overall board.
Right now Strato-Flex are available only as custom orders. But look for them to be part of the Global Surf Industries catalog by 2010.
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Quote Them On It
A 140-character glimpse inside the lives of your favorite surfing Tweaters.
June 17, 2009, 8:07 PM
By: Jake Howard
DJ Struntz/Red Bull Photofiles
Ian Walsh, tweating his way off the bottom and into into the dentist's chair.
If ever there were a perfect medium with which to peer into the rigorous lives of professional surfers, Twitter is it. You barely have to be able to spell, you definitely don't have to speak in complete sentences, basically, the more laconic the better. ESPN Surfing is now Tweeting, and while we're no Ashton Kutcher, some of our friends and followers do have something to say—even if it may be a bit mundane at times:
Ian Walsh: Laid out after getting the wisdom teeth done, no fun!
Bobby Martinez: Got some amazing waves yesterday. So much fun! Just took the dogs for a walk.
Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Photofiles
Fanning and Twitter, it's like white and lightening.
Mick Fanning: Cooked chicken and vegis with mushroom sauce. The wife is very happy...hahaha.
CJ Hobgood: Went to the barber and asked to clean up around the ears maybe a little fade. It kinda looks contorted hipster-style, pretty stoked.
Damien Hobgood: Family time, might hit up the fair and get chocolate covered bacon.
Fred Patacchia: Packed and ready to go. Easter Island, Brazil, South Africa, California, Vegas, Costa Rica then, if I'm lucky, home.
Joel Parkinson: Pick kids up from school and do the washing and cleaning or surf? I'm no house wife...
Brian Bielmann/Red Bull Photofiles
Jamie O'Brien, bucking the system and starting his own rodeo controversy.
Channel Islands: Pat G post contest: "I rode that smaller, wider proton you sent down. The thing is mental, maybe my best yet...and I haven't even gone right yet."
Jamie O'Brien: Your children will think it is inappropriate. I won't care. I LANDED THE FIRST RODEO IN A CONTEST.
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