Hey, that looks like a little wave

Okay, it's just barely big enough to catch, but at least there's something to chase.

Hello Friends,

Nice morning out there and, amazingly, if you’re extra keen there’s a tiny little south bump to be chased. When I grabbed this morning’s snap at around 0730, there were a couple folks snagging tiny ones along the rocks at Dee Why point and at least one person picking up a waist high slider just off the beach.

The windswell is still coming from the southern quarter, but it now has a touch more east to it. Size is around the metre mark and since this time yesterday, the power setting has moved up from a little under 8 seconds to about 9. Not an amazingly fabulous set of numbers, but better than the last few days anyway.

The Bureau’s call is for the current light winds to pick up from the N-NE and to be blowing along at around 15-20 kts by this afternoon. That won’t help this weak little windswell, so the plan is to get out earlier rather than later I’d say.

Tomorrow we’re due to get NW winds of 10-20 kts, and the swell is likely to be smaller again.

Get out there and have yourself some fun!

This morning's MHL data

TG’s Forecast

Surf Forecast issued Thursday 18 September 2008: 4 day outlook for Sydney:

Small and smaller for the weekend.

Friday: about 1 metre North East.

Saturday: about 1 metre North East.

Sunday: less than 1 metre East North East.

Monday: lesser still from the East.

Water is still too cold for comfort at 17.  Watch out for those ice cream headaches on Saturday if you feel like a swim when the max air temp is forecast to be 31.

Weather from the Bureau:

Forecast for Thursday evening
Fine. Moderate northeast winds tending light to moderate northwest overnight.
Precis: Fine.

Forecast for Friday
Fine. Mostly sunny. Light to moderate northwest winds and northeasterly afternoon seabreezes, fresh near the coast.
Precis: Fine. Mostly sunny.

City:         Min:  12 Max:  25   Parramatta: Min:  10 Max:  27
Terrey Hills: Min:  11 Max:  25   Penrith:    Min:  10 Max:  28
Liverpool:    Min:   9 Max:  28   Richmond:   Min:   8 Max:  28

UV Alert: 9:10 am to 2:30 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]

Saturday Fine. Windy.

City:          Min:   13  Max:   31
West:          Min:    9  Max:   31

Sunday Fine.

City:          Min:   15  Max:   23
West:          Min:   11  Max:   23

Monday Mostly fine.

City:          Min:   13  Max:   27
West:          Min:    8  Max:   29

Tuesday Fine.

City:          Min:   11  Max:   22
West:          Min:    7  Max:   23

Wednesday Chance shower.

City:          Min:   11  Max:   20
West:          Min:    7  Max:   21

Thursday Fine.

City:          Min:   11  Max:   23
West:          Min:    7  Max:   25

Matthew Kilpatrick wins the first Kings of Leon album in RealSurf’s Surf is . . . Sex On Fire

It’s DAY 2 of Surf is . . . Sex On Fire at RealSurf. Don’t forget to check out the Daily Line from the lyrics to Sex On Fire for your chance to win the new Kings of Leon album, Only By The Night, signed by the band.

One winner every day for 14 days. Plus the grand prize of the framed album artwork, also signed by the band.

Congratulations MATTHEW KILPATRICK, the first winner in the competition.

The Daily Line for Day 1 was “Them knuckles are pale”

Winning answer: ”them knuckles are pale”/ I’m feelin frail/ as i begin to bail/ and i get driven like a nail/ into the reef, it feels like i failed

south-west vancouver island

on wednesday at 530 pm: only one-footers at our lost village beach, soft and not steep – alas, not quite rideable – changing and uncertain weather, but generally moving from hot and clear, to something more turbulent – yay: strong marine wind warning in effect through thursday, westerly to 30 knots – please stay tuned ….

REALSURF COMPETITION — Surf is . . . Sex On Fire

Sex On Fire is the first single from the new Kings of Leon album. Everyone’s waiting for this CD to hit Australian stores on 22 September and RealSurf’s got 14 of ‘em to give away, and ours are signed by the band.

GRAND PRIZE :: One lucky RealSurfer will also win the framed album artwork, also signed by the band.

Entering is easier than figuring out where you’re going to surf this weekend. Check it out.

Competition page:  Surf is . . . Sex On Fire

or

Just watch the Sex On Fire video on RealSurf.tv. It’s an awesome song.

Here’s the album cover too, so you know what it will look like in stores and on your wall maybe!

Melanie Bartels Wins Billabong Girls Pro Rio in Rifling Barrels at Barra da Tijuca

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, en route to her phenomenal victory at the 2008 Billabong Girls Pro Rio.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International

Billabong Girls Pro Rio

Stop No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour

Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

September 10 – 18, 2008

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Wednesday, September 17, 2008) – Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, has won the 2008 Billabong Girls Pro Rio, defeating fellow finalist Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, in rifling four foot (1.5 metre) barrels at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro today.

Event No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Girls Pro Rio survived through a grueling five-day lay period to culminate in excellent conditions today, with the ASP Top 17 putting in some of the best performances in ASP history.

Bartels, who rockets up from 14^th to 6^th on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, collects her second career Dream Tour win (her first as a full-time member) with today’s victory at the Billabong Girls Pro Rio.

“It’s an amazing feeling and I’m just overwhelmed right now,” Bartels said. “My last win was in 2006 as a wildcard at Sunset so to be able to come out on top today, in these conditions, is really special. The waves started to deteriorate towards the end, but I was able to grab a couple of scores against Sofia (Mulanovich) and I was really just surfing my own heat out there and doing my own thing. I was having fun.”

The Hawaiian, who was unable to make the second event of the season, has rebounded in spectacular form today, defeating the reigning ASP Women’s World Champion during the Semifinals in what some are calling the best heat in women’s professional surfing history (19.00 def.18.50) before taking down Mulanovich in the Final.

“After that Semifinal with Steph (Gilmore) I was filled with a lot of confidence,” Bartels said. “The waves pumped for that heat and we were trading barrel after barrel. That’s the most fun I’ve had in a heat in a long time. I had a tough start to the year with sponsors and results, but that just made me really hungry and after today, I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Mulanovich, who solidifies her position at No. 2 on the ASP Women’s World Tour ratings with today’s runner up finish, continues to collect consistent results in 2008 with her third Finals appearance of the season.

“Another Final is a good result for me,” Mulanovich said. “Of course I would have liked a win, but congratulations to Mel (Bartels), she was on fire. I just couldn’t find the scoring waves in the Final so maybe things will be different next time. The next event is in Sydney and after that it is at home in Peru so I am looking forward these next few events.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, was in sensational form today, netting the event’s only perfect 10-point ride and backing it up with an 8.50, but was still unable to overcome Bartels in the Semifinals.

“You can’t be too disappointed when you lose a heat like that,” Gilmore said. “Mel (Bartels) surfed amazing and deserved that win. I did everything I could out there and there wasn’t much more I could do. Mel got two really good waves and I got one really good one.”

Gilmore also earned the Kustom Best Wave Award for her phenomenal perfect 10-point backdoor barrel, reiterating her dominating form, but the young Australian is more aware than ever of how close the race for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title has become.

“You can’t count anyone out of it these days,” Gilmore said. “Mel (Bartels) is one of my favorite surfers and it was only a matter of time before she went off this year. The next stop is in Manly and I have a pretty good track record out there so hopefully I can regroup and put in another result there.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion was another potential champion this morning, dispatching of local favorite Silvana Lima (BRA), 23, in their Quarterfinal bout, but was unable to overcome her Peruvian opponent in the Semifinals.

“I couldn’t buy a wave out there,” Beachley said. “I think the Semifinal before us took all the waves then so that was a bit of a disappointment. A 3^rd is a good result, but it’s two years since I’ve had a win and I’m certainly ready for one.”

Highlights from the Billabong Girls Pro Rio can be accessed via http://www.billabongpro.com/rio08

The next stop on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Beachley Classic in Sydney, Australia from October 9 – 14, 2008

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Girls Pro Rio Final Results:

1 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 14.34

2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.60

Billabong Girls Pro Rio Semifinal Results:

Semifinal 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 19.00 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.50

Semifinal 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.67 def Layne Beachley (AUS) 9.46

Billabong Girls Pro Rio Quarterfinal Results:

Quarterfinal 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.84 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 5.23

Quarterfinal 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.47 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 8.50

Quarterfinal 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.74 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.60

Quarterfinal 4: Layne Beachley (AUS) 14.83 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 10.33

Current ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings: After Event No. 4 of 8

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3516 points

2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 3504 points

3 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 3036 points

4 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 2628 points

5 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 2424 points

6 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2112 points

7 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 2028 points

8 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 1836 points

9 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 1824 points

10 - Rebecca Woods (AUS) 1632 points

11 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 1452 points

11 – Julia De La Rosa (PER) 1452 points

13 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 1440 points

14 – Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 1260 points

14 – Karina Petroni (USA) 1260 points

14 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 1260 points

17 – Serena Brooke (AUS) 1080 points

18 – Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 912 points*

Mona Vale

There

There’s a whole bunch of fun little waves out mona this morning!

clean, small and cool

A1 conditions but not a lot of wave action. Only a foot or so with the occasional bigger set. Water’s still quite cool in. Rosco.

Crowded.

Geez, was blown away when I got up this morning and checked the cams at 0600 to find 30+ in the water at Mid-Curly and at least 20 at N Narra. Surf is maybe chest high on the sets. Clean but not much size to it but the water was mobbed. Little south swell pulse out there that probably won’t last past today but it did look clean if not very big.  Dee Why is tiny. Two guys out up the middle. Nothing on the Point this morning.

C C

Fine, dry and cool on the Central Coast this Thursday morning.  The swell is smooth and small at 1 – 2 feet from the southeast.  There is no breeze at the moment.  High tide 0950 and low tide around 1610.  Local barometer 1013 hpa, 90% humidity, 7 degrees C.  Have a good one!