Sat arvo update

1550: amidst the chaos and confusion of low tide and south swell, the occasional rideable one.

Evening all,

Last golden rays of sun are dappling the walls in my office as a fine winter Saturday in Sydney  heads toward evening. Just thawing out from a brief excursion to the Long Reef bombies with reporter PB and a dozen others.

Basically, it was the wrong end of the beach for the swell and very low tide. It was very confused out there. Lots of stuff heaving around in a sizable way, but it was hard to pick the makeable ones. And, they never seemed to break in the same spot twice.

(We’d checked Northy, but it was looking a bit too bone-crunchingly board snapping for our taste, so we left it to the crew and wandered to Longy instead. )

As the light faded away, I climbed up in the crow’s nest to snap you a few of the point and beachy at the Dee Why end. Looking damn fine for the sizable crowd. Saw a flash popping from the water as well, so there was obviously a photog doing some snapping. Very clean and powerful looking… wish I’d braved the crowd – if only to get some pictures.

The MHL Sydney buoy is showing what looks to be a peak in size around mid-afternoon. It got up to 2 metres on average on a period of 10 seconds from the south.

From the look of things, the energy levels are going to roll off overnight and Sunday could see generally smaller conditions, but it should not be flat. Mon-Tues seem set to be smaller again… getting toward flatness. There could be a little pulse around Wed-Thr, and then it would seem we’re in for small to flat conditions into the weekend.

Anyway, here are a few more snaps taken just on dusk…

Enjoy!

1550: amidst the chaos and confusion of low tide and south swell, the occasional rideable one.

The point lights up with some 10s 2 metre south swell.

More nice lines stacking into an unpopulated beachy. Lotta of ‘em shutting down.

oh dear…

Rookie Pires Bests ASP Ratings Leader Slater in Rip Curl Pro Search Round 3

Portugal's Tiago Pires, a rookie on the 2008 ASP World Tour, scored a sensational come-from-behind victory today to defeat eight-time ASP World Champion and current Dream Tour ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3

SOMEWHERE, Indonesia (Saturday, August 2, 2008) – Tiago Pires (PRT), 2008 Dream Tour rookie and current No. 39 on the ASP World Tour ratings, caused a sensational upset today, eliminating eight-time ASP World Champion and current ratings leader on the ASP World Tour, Kelly Slater (USA), from Rip Curl Pro Search competition in Round 3.

Running in solid six foot (2 metre) waves at the primary venue ‘somewhere’ in Indonesia, Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Search was treated to some fantastic performances, none moreso than Pires’ come-from-behind victory over Slater.  Needing a 7.16 in the dying moments, Pires watched a priority-holding Slater take the first wave of the set, leaving the European to pig-dog an incredible backdoor pit for an 8.40 and the win.

“There were two waves at the end of that heat and he went on the first one and I took the second and it turned out to be a really good wave,” Pires said. “When I came out of the barrel and into the channel, everyone was screaming. This is the biggest win of my career. I have won a few ASP WQS events, but to beat Slater here in these conditions is amazing.”

Pires’ victory was well celebrated on the cliff by several members of the ASP Top 45 as the young Portuguese surfer is the first Dream Tour competitor to defeat Slater in 2008.

“When I came up through the cave it felt like I won the event,” Pires said. “There were so many people screaming and cheering. It felt really good. I guess it’s a big deal that no one else had beat him this year, but I’ve been training hard and I hope to be going much further in this event.”

Slater, who has won a staggering four out of five events thus far on the 2008 ASP World Tour, was gracious in his defeat, congratulating his opponent while considering his tactical mistake.

“I knew I shouldn’t have gone on that first wave,” Slater said. “Congratulations to Tiago (Pires) as he surfed really well. He’s definitely not one who I underestimate and he is probably one of the best barrel-riders in the world. It was one of those situations that I played through in my head about a minute before it actually happened, but that happens from time to time. Before the contest started, I said my luck would have to run out somewhere and I guess it was here.”

Still sitting with a comfortable lead in the race for the 2008 ASP World Title, Slater will regroup and look towards the next event at Lower Trestles, California in September.

“It’s an unfortunate result here – no one likes a 17th,” Slater said. “However we get two throwaways and when I do that, I’m still counting four wins this year which is pretty good. Lowers has always been a good venue for me. It feels like my backyard and it is typically one where I do really well. You can never discount any one in any heat though, these are the best surfers in the world and they’re all dangerous.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), reigning ASP World Champion and former Rip Curl Pro Search winner (2005), competed immediately following Slater’s elimination, comfortably advancing past Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 16.34 to 3.90.

“Our heat was so slow for waves it was unbelievable,” Fanning said. “I was in the water at the end of Slater and Tiago’s heat and when Tiago (Pires) came out of the barrel, the entire cliff erupted and I thought, ‘wow, that sure isn’t for us because nothing has happened yet.’  Fortunately a few rolled through and I was in position to capitalize. I’m happy to be moving through to Round 4.”

Fanning, currently sitting No. 4 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings, is in position to benefit from Slater’s early elimination and regroup his 2008 ASP World Title defensive campaign.

“Tiago (Pires) has been putting in a lot of great performances all year long and it was only a matter of time before he took down a big name,” Fanning said. “I think what it’s done is really fired everyone up, especially the top seeds since it offers us a chance to gain some ground on Kelly (Slater).”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), current No. 2 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings, put in the strongest performance of the day, eliminating goofy-footer Royden Bryson (ZAF) with the day’s high heat total of an 18.40 out of a possible 20.

“Indonesia is such a tidal spot,” Parkinson said. “Some heats will have really good waves while others have a bit of a struggle. Thankfully for us, the waves really turned on there and I was able to grab a couple of good ones.”

Kai Otton (AUS), current No. 12 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings, was another to cause a big upset today, eliminating dangerous goofy-footer Damien Hobgood (USA) from Rip Curl Pro Search competition.

“Damien (Hobgood) and I are really good friends and we’ve been surfing out here a lot the past few days,” Otton said. “We knew we were seeded pretty close for this Round and we were watching all day yesterday to see what would happen – seeing who could lose or win so that we didn’t end up with each other. That’s how it goes sometimes and I was able to get a couple of really good ones towards the start and managed to get through.”

Otton opened up with two lengthy forehand barrels, netting him a heat total of 17.50 out of a possible 20, to eliminate Hobgood and the young Australian hopes his momentum will carry him though the remainder of the event.

“I’ve had a pretty shocking year so far and I haven’t managed better than 9th,” Otton said. “I’m fired up to be here though and into Round 4 and I’m ready to break through with a result.”

Surfline, official forecasters for the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for the current Southwest swell to maintain throughout the night and into tomorrow before fading tomorrow night.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am for a possible 7am start.

The event will be webcast live via http://live.ripcurl.com/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 RESULTS

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.84 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 9.77

Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 17.50 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.83

Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 6.86 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 4.90

Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.40 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.43

Heat 5: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.17 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.64

Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.43 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 14.40

Heat 7: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 17.43 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 11.83

Heat 8: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.57 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.33

Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.34 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 3.90

Heat 10: Bruce Irons (HAW) 15.50 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 6.24

Heat 11: Mikael Picon (FRA) 14.00 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5.67

Heat 12: Ben Dunn (AUS) 14.43 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.17

Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.30 def. Ben Bourgeois (USA) 8.43

Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.10 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 9.60

Heat 15: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.33 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 9.34

Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) 14.84 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.67

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)

Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Heat 3: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

Heat 4: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)

Heat 6: Mikael Picon (FRA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)

Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)

Heat 8: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International

Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere

Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour

Somewhere, Indonesia

July 30 – August 10, 2008

Vale Bud Browne 1912-2008

Legendary surf movie pioneer Bud “Barracuda” Browne has died at age 96 in San Luis Obispo, California.

Bud Browne and his 16mm camera.

Bob Browne first pointed a movie camera at waves in the around 1940 while he was working as a lifeguard at Venice Beach in Los Angeles county, California. After WWII, Browne began making annual treks to Hawaii with a 16mm movie camera and in 1953 he showed his first feature,  Hawaiian Surfing Movies, at Adams Junior High in Santa Monica.

While he wasn’t the first to make surf movies (Doc Ball and others were doing it in the pre-war years), Browne was first one to do it commercially – and thereby to establish surf flicks as a genre.

Following the modest commercial success of Hawaiian Surfing Movies, Browne decided to make surf movies for a living and quit his day job as PE teacher for the LA Unified School District.

It was a low-tech era. In an interview published on www.legendarysurfers.com, Browne describes the scene on his opening night:

Bud was asked if he remembered how it went.

“Oh yeah! That evening, after introducing the film on stage, I hurried up to the projection room to join the operator of an arc projector I had hired. I could see the screen from a small window, I had a microphone in hand and a tape player with music. It was a nervous time, trying to coordinate telling the projectionist when to switch from sound to silent speed and vice versa, playing music in some places and not in others, and narrating when needed. Sometime during the show I remember the take-up reel quit turning and much of a 45-minute reel of film piled up on the floor. Although this was a sort of nerve-wracking experience, I’ve always thought of the overall event as going pretty well.”

Bud Browne's Surf Down Under was the first 'international' surf movie.

Arguably the first “international” surf movie, Browne’s Surf Down Under was released in 1958. Browne shot the footage on a trip in 1957. Sadly, the waves weren’t too good (he visited during the summer), but he did manage to shoot one sequence looking back at the crew from the bow of a surfboat. More importantly perhaps were the surf movies he showed at various surf clubs in Sydney. A young surf entrepreneur named Bob Evans helped with the organisation.

Surfing as we know it today was just getting started in Australia. A year before Browne’s visit, a group of American lifeguards visiting for the Melbourne Olympics, had left a few boards behind. Browne turning up with a couple surf movies featuring hot surfers in Hawaii really added fuel to the fire.

Footage from the Australian trip turned up in 1959′s Cat on a Hot Foam Board, and not long after American surfers started catching ships out to Oz in search of waves and adventure.

Bud Browne’s Wikipedia entry has numerous interesting links.

Should have been here yesterday…

Looks like i missed it too.  At 9.30am it’s 1-2 feet and clean but the charts are indicating a possible increase by this arvo but there is no sign of it yet.  Great day and should be something around all weekend. Enjoy.

Missing- Presumed Dead.

MISSING: One swell. 1 to 2 meters, blue/green, glassy face. Last seen yesterday.

Cronulla

Cool and breezy, surf has dropped to around 1-2 foot, however keep an eye on the south, some swell is coming “alas the wind”?
WIND: WNW at 19kph. WATER TEMP: 16 degrees.
SWELL: South 2-3 metres at 9 seconds.
FORECAST: Fine. Sunny. Cool, fresh to strong west to southwest winds, easing in the afternoon..
MAX AIR TEMP TODAY: 15-17 degrees.
TIDES: HIGH: 08:53 LOW: 14:34
WINDSURFERS: OK for experienced riders only.
BOAT DIVING: Good – sea conditions outside, vis around 10m on the TUGGERAH, 10m at Barons Hut, thanks to www.seatamerdive.com Sydney Scuba Diving Boat Charter and Ian Griffiths “Griffiti”.
SHORE DIVING: 4-6 metres vis at Oak Park. 4 metres at Shiprock.
See ya – Leo at www.aquasea.com.au in Sydney – wetsuit wettie wetty repairs for surfing scuba windsurfers ring Aquasea on 02.95404774, go diving without tanks ie tankless diving using 12 v volt compressors also known as hookah dive diving with www.aquasea.com.au in Sydney NSW Ph: 02.95404774 led hid halogen torches and lights video boat transom lights for underwater lighting at night similar aqua cam camera and cameras see www.aquasea.com.au for stainless wire in your balustrades and for underwater lights and housings cameras. Mob: 0408.002315 SYDNEY NSW AUSTRALIA.

Narrabeen Rpt

2008/2009 parking stickers are starting to appear, so the swap is on again, BUT WE DON”T NEED ANY MORE WARRINGAH STICKERS. Works like this – if you have a spare you want to swap, drop an email to stickerswap@hotmail.com with what you want/have in the subject line, i.e. “Have Pittwater, Want Manly”. If you want to buy a sticker, don’t contact me. Contact the relevant council, or post something in the Realsurf forum. Oh,….and the swell has pretty much died

Central Coast Smaller Today

Fine, dry and cold on the Central Coast this Saturday morning. The swell is smooth and full at 2 – 3 feet from the east southeast. There is a light to moderate west southwest breeze gusting stronger then easing off later. High tide 0855 and low tide around 1435. Local barometer 1003 hpa, 68% humidity, 8 degrees C. Have a good weekend!