How keen are ya?

Hello Friends,

Around midday in the sideshore but fun little lumps.

Arvo update for ya… went down to Northy in the late morning with the intention of catching a few onshore junk burgers. Tide was still pretty high, and the wind was going along strongly. Interestingly, there were not that many people in the water (compared to the usual Northy population on a sunny morning) and better still, there seemed to be a few waves as well. Bit of a shock jumping in because the NE wind has pulled up some deeper cool water. Glad I’d opted for the springy. Anyway, didn’t stay out too long, but I’m glad I got in because there were a few really quite fun shoulder high waves added to my life count. As the tide dropped, it got more crowded and the waves seemed to be getting a little jucier.

and from this morning…

0715: Not much, but not flat either.

We’re looking at another day of NE wind across the Sydney region. It was already around 10 kts at 0700 and the call is for it to build to 20-30 kts this afternoon. Very summery indeed. Windswell is currently out of the NE (what a surprise) at about two metres out at sea. The all important power setting is a marginal 7 seconds though, so you’re not going to be seeing many waves with faces much above chest high.

At 0715 Dee Why was reasonably well populated considering the marginal conditions. Mostly in the waist high range, and pretty fat and soft looking, thanks to the approaching high tide. I reckon there’d be better prospects around the corner at Curly or up Northy way.

A SE change is due to show up tomorrow morning early, and as it comes through we should see the dominant swell direction swing around to align with the wind as the day goes along. It’ll be more short period stuff though. In fact, the models are showing that we’re in for another week of periods in the 6-8 second range along most of the NSW coast. Typical spring conditions.

Have yourself a top old day!

Some fun to be had early (DYSH)

Some fun to be had early (DYSH)

Some fun to be had early (DYSH)

Some fun to be had early (DYSH)

2009 ASP World Tour Surfer Tim Boal Interview

French surfer Tim Boal.

FirstStoke.com recently caught up with French surfer and Pukas Surfboardsteam rider Tim Boal, who recently qualified for the 2009 ASP World Tour. Tim talked about how it felt to make the tour, what the world should expect from him in 2009, and more.

Here’s the link to the story:

http://firststoke.com/news-events/interviews/18-2009-asp-world-tour-surfer-tim-boal-interview/

ASP International Releases 2009 Global Schedule

There are sure to be a few surprises in the new year.

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Thursday, November 13, 2008) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International today released its 2009 events calendar. Dates and locations for the ASP World Tour, ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), ASP Pro Junior and ASP World Longboard events are now posted on www.aspworldtour.com.
 
Notable changes to the ASP’s premier tour – the ASP World Tour – include date changes for the Brazilian leg of the tour and the absence of Fiji from the calendar. In 2009, the world’s Top 45 male surfers will count eight results from 10 events.
 
The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will now be held from June 27 to July 5 when conditions in Imbituba, Brazil are historically superior to those on offer in November. From Brazil, the ASP World Tour will head due east to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.
 
“Moving the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro to mid-year was a logical transition,” ASP President Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said. “Having the two most far-flung venues, Imbituba and JBay, back-to-back is not only an economically sound measure, but it tweaks the geographic synchronicity of the ASP World Tour in the right direction. The other plus is that shifting Brazil into the prime-wave window is in keeping with Dream Tour philosophy.”
 
The 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will again boast eight events, with the Top 17 counting six of eight results toward their year-end totals. The only change to date for the world’s best female surfers comes in the form of a combined men’s and women’s Rip Curl Search contest replacing the stand-alone Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle.
 
The men’s ASP WQS heralds the most exciting additions on the ASP landscape for ’09. The most notable of several new and upgraded events is O’Neill’s expansion of their Coldwater Classic series. O’Neill has added events in Tasmania, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa and Canada to their existing Scotland and Santa Cruz contests. All five events carry a 6-Star or 6-Star Prime rating. The 6.0 Lowers Pro at Lower Trestles, California has also been upgraded from a 4-Star to a 6-Star Prime event.

“2009 sees the final phase in of the ASP WQS plan that began in 2005,” Bartholomew said. “With the establishment of a solid raft of 6-Star Primes, and the bonus points that accompany them, the qualifying process will be ratcheted up as the top Dream Tour aspirants surf it our at quality locations for meaningful points.”
 
Visit http://www.aspworldtour.com/2008/2009schedule.asp to see the 2009 ASP World Tour calendar in its entirety.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Kelly Slater’s Having a Party – with a credit card company?

Press received at RealSurf:

Summer isn’t over yet, thanks to Kelly Slater and Brett Dennen. If you’ve got a Citi card and are in the L.A. area on November 21, please join Citi and SPIN for a VIP reception and celebration of the world-famous surfer’s new book, For the Love published by Chronicle Books.

Held at the Malibu Performing Arts Center, the night will include an intimate Q&A session with Slater and a performance from favorite Brett Dennen whose new album Hope for the Hopeless is out on Downtown/Dualtone (www.brettdennen.net) 

Each guest will receive a complimentary autographed copy of For the Love. Co-written by long-time surfer Phil Jarratt and featuring an introduction by surf-soundtrack king Jack Johnson, the full-color book reveals Slater’s life and career. For more info on the event, the book, and how to get your tickets, check out privatepass.citi.com. 

For the Love, is a revealing and heartfelt tribute, written with surfing veteran Phil Jarratt. Published by Chronicle Books, For the Love marks the first time Slater’s story has been told in full color – reflecting the latest twists and turns in an incredible and unconventional life. 

November 21, 2008 
8pm – 10pm 
Malibu Performing Arts Center 
23825 Stuart Ranch Road 
Malibu, CA 90265 
Cost: $45 

Each package includes: 
* Access for two (2) to the For the Love private VIP reception* hosted by Kelly Slater on November 21st in Malibu, California. 
* One (1) autographed For the Love book (retail value $45). 
*Includes a Q&A session, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a special performance by Brett Dennen. 
(This offer is available to Citi credit cardmembers. Offer expires Wednesday, November 19 or while supplies last.) 

http://www.spin.com/articles/surfer-kelly-slaters-having-party-and-youre-invited 

“Make You Crazy” video co-starring Mandy Moore and Femi Kuti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F58TfYHqLak

PADDLING ALONE FOR 10,000 MILES FROM PERU TO SYDNEY

The adventure of an extraordinary man, Alex Bellini.

Twenty-nine year old Alex Bellini, from Aprica in Valtellina, Italy, is rowing across the Pacific Ocean from Lima, Peru to Sydney, Australia, alone and unassisted.

He set off on February 21, 2008 and is planning to reach Sydney sometime at the end of November 2008, after over 9 months and 18,000 km (10,000 nautical miles), always risking to be drifted away by the winds and the unfavourable sea currents.

After having walked across the Sahara Desert in 2000 and the Alaskan ice in 2002-2003, Alex rowed across both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in 2005. 

His new challenge today is to cross the Pacific Ocean on his own in his 7.5m boat. Alongside the equator with only his oars and the strength of his arms: an extreme sporting challenge, which is both complex for the physical and psychological effort and praise to his determination.

Alex’s aim is to raise money for the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and, particularly, for the vaccination of refugees in North Uganda.

For Alex’s day by day adventure visit his website www.alexbellini.it

For further information on the arrival of Alex Bellini in Australia please contact Valentina Marturano.

Contact: Valentina Marturano

Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Sydney

Tel: (02) 9392 7939

Fax: (02) 93927935

www.iicsydney.esteri.it

iicsydney@esteri.it

Mona Vale

Same deal as yesterday, about shoulder high, fun little NE swell rights and lefts, definately worth getting out there!!!

Too East For Bondi.

There is a few decent sets coming into Bronte and Tama this morning but it’s too east for Bondi. Tama outcrop has some good lefts to shoulder high but is as crowded as a public school. Bronte reef a bit smaller and consequently a little less crowded. Keep an eye on Maccas as it has been slowly getting it’s groove back recently and has formed an unusual right where the usual left is.

C C

Fine and warm on the Central Coast this Friday morning.  The swell semi-smooth at 1 – 3 feet from the east northeast.  There is a light north northeast breeze to strengthen later.  High tide 0925 and low tide around 1605.  Local barometer 1009 hpa, 95% humidity, 17 degrees C.  Have a good weekend.