Monday, Monday…

Hello Friends,

0700: what can you say?

As PB’s noted, it is exceptionally uninteresting out there Sydney surfers. Waves are looking very small and weak and we have 15kts of E to ESE wind. Oh, and did I mentioned the skies threatening to shower? Blergh city kids.

All we’ve got on the long range forecasts for the east coast is an outlook for more small, short period windswell. Looks to me like a great week to catch up on all your projects.

About the only slighty hopeful sign, is the possible development of a little east coast low around Thr-Fri. But the WAMS show it fading away fairly quickly and none of the interpretations I’ve looked at are suggesting that we’ll see much of anything in the way of waves. Oh well, what can ya do?

Have a top old day, and stay happy.

LNT: Adrian Belew, Frank Zappa

Read a reveiw in the Herald about a Adrian Belew gig at the Basement. Had never heard of him (cringe) so went looking for some clips. Here are a couple I liked…

First, a great cover of Bowie’s We can be heros with Martha Wainwright sharing vocals

Most of the clips I found had pretty dodgy audio, but this one’s not too bad. It only goes for a couple minutes, but gives you a good idea of how well this guy can play…

Belew’s dexterity reminded me a little of the late great Frank Zappa

And once you’re looking at a Zappa clip, You Tube is throwing up heaps of treasures, eg Frank covering Stairway to Heaven in his inimitable way…

Hey! Want to recommend something for inclusion in a future late night tunes? Just use the form below…

cforms contact form by delicious:days

south-west vancouver island

on sunday at 4 pm: one-foot plus, not quite enough to ride, at our rivermouth point – soft banks breaking at low tide, over shallow, cobbled reef, destroyer of my fin a few weeks ago, freezing day, excuses excuses – please stay tuned – better conditions are pending at our rivermouth, and are likely to prevail further up the straits, towards open ocean – marine winds at the straits mouth are northwest to 25 knots, and falling …. please stay tuned …

small clean warm

Overcast and cloudy, 1ft waves with the odd bigger set. Lite offshore SSW early, forecast to be light variable and go round ENE later. Doesn’t look too bad for a trim on a mal or a SUP, but you’re not missing much. Rosco.

Taj Burrow Interview Video at Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro

From our friends at firststoke.com:

Video interview with ASP World Tour surfer Taj Burrow (AUS) at the 2008 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro. Taj talks about the 2008 season, the new contest format, and catching his first wave. 

Check out this interview from firststoke.com:

Here are links to other surfer interviews from the same event: CJ Hobgood, Tiago Pires, Jeremy Flores, and Miky Picon:::

http://firststoke.com/videos/3913-cj-hobgood-interview-video/

http://firststoke.com/videos/3895-jeremy-flores-video-interview-hang-loose-santa-catarina-pro/

http://firststoke.com/videos/3903-tiago-pires-interview-video/

http://firststoke.com/videos/3899-miky-picon-video-interview/

NSW surfers clean sweep individual Australian Junior Titles

Dean Bowen (NSW/Culburra) took a massively impressive win in perfect surf

Dean Bowen and Paige Hagerston (NSW) Win Australian Junior Under 18 Titles in Excellent Waves at MargaretRiver

Sunday December 7, 2008: Dean Bowen served notice today that he could well be the next emerging young  Australian surfing star with an incredible display of powered precision surfing as he demolished the field to win the Australian under 18 Junior Surfing Title.

Throughout the event Bowen was the surfer to beat and he left nothing to chance in the final opening with an excellent 8.65, backing it up immediately with another excellent 8.75 and then at the half way point of the final sealing the deal with an outstanding 9.5 ride!

“ I have absolutely loved the waves here all week at Margaret River and it’s just so great to win an Australian Junior Title – Past winners like Parko (Joel Parkinson) and Tom Carroll went on to become legends of the sport and to win this event is really special” said an ecstatic Bowen after his win.

“It gets me into the world junior titles in Ecuador next year and I’m so looking forward to that event – To represent Australiathere will be great and already I’m confident we can win – Australia has the best surfers as far as I’m concerned and we’ll be going there to show that to the world!”

Dean Bowen.

Bowen’s massive tally of 18.25 out of a possible 20 left all his rivals chasing a combination of scores to try and catch him with Queensland’s Tim McDonald coming in 2^nd on 14.25 followed by fellow south coast NSW surfer Jordi Watson on 13.5 and South Australia’s Khai Adams in 4^th place on 9.75.

Bowen also complimented his big win today by scoring the events only perfect 10 point ride in his semi final and most who witnessed his performance this week are in no doubt the powerful and likeable goofy foot surfer has a big and immediate future in the sport along with a resemblance in style and power to Australia’s most recent champion goofy footer (right foot forward) surfer Mark Occhilupo!

The girls under 18 final was a far closer battle today. The lead see sawed throughout between the three dominant NSW girls and in the end Paige Haggerston (Coal Point/NSW/Newcastle) and Sth Coast NSW surfer Kirby Wright finished tied in first place on 14.10 with Haggerston getting the result on a countback due to a highest scoring ride of 7.35 to Wright’s 7.25.

Paige Haggerston.

“ I can’t belive I’ve won such a close final!” said Haggerston “I was struggling in last place half way through the final but then found a really good wave and put myself in contention – I just searched hard for a decent ride in the final 5 minutes and when I got one I knew I had to get another good score to defeat Kirby and somehow I’ve made it – It’s the best feeling!”

Haggerston’s win today also will see her off to Ecuador next March representing Australia at the World under 18 surfing championships.

Paige is all the rage.

Cooper Chapman (Nth Narrabeen/Sydney) rounded off an amazing day for NSW by taking a big win in the under 16 Boys division. Chapman found form in the final 15 minutes of his final coming from last place to first with two excellent 8 point plus rides to take the title with a score of 16.75 to Central Coast NSW surfer Dylan Cummings in 2^nd place on 14.5. Third in today’s under 16’s went Tasmania’s Hamish Renwick with Victoria’s Harrison Mann in 4^th place.

The Australian Schools teams finals were also completed today and they enjoyed the absolute best of the pristine perfect surf to 2m at Margaret River today.

A number of epic duals went down with massive scores throughout. The School most likely to boast bragging rights as Australia’s number one school for surfing goes to Margaret River who took two massive schools titles (out of a possible 3 titles) today with wins to under 19 Boys Pair Matt Baldock and Jethro Hedstrom   and also a win in the under 16 Boys represented by Creed McTaggart and Shaun Greene. The girls from Margaret River also did the school proud with Laura and Bronte Macaulay placing 2^nd in the under 19 Girls division behind Victorian pair from Newhaven Collage, Nikki Van Dijk and Jessica Laing.

Margaret River High schools boys in both the 19’s and 16’s defeated Queensland school Currumbin Palm Beach Secondary school and both finals were incredibly close!

With two wins and a second placing out of three schools finals nationally, Margaret River can definitely claim the mantle as the best surf school in the country!

Margaret River High School Surfing captain Matt Baldock said after surfing his under 19 team to a win “We have a surfing academy at the school and todays win by the 16’s and 19’s and 2^nd place in the Girls 19’s confirms what a great program we have going – It’s special for us and for the school – we’re stoked and the teachers will be stoked too!”

The event overall has been one of the best Australian Junior Titles ever with a mixture of excellent large 3m plus surf through to today’s immaculate conditions which were complimented by sensational performances across the board.

Next year sees the event travel to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and with a new sponsor jumping onboard, this event will continue to nurture Australia’s best surfers. New sponsor to be announced by official release tomorrow!

Final Results – Australian Junior Surfing Titles 2008

Under 18 Boys: D. Bowen, T. McDonald, J. Watson, K. Adams

Under 18 Girls: P. Haggerston, K. Wright, P. Anderson, F. Palmeteer

Under 16 Boys: C. Chapman, D. Cummings, H. Renwick, H. Mann

Under 16 Girls: T. Wright, M. Greene, B. Doyle, N. Van Dijk

Teams Titles: NSW 1^st!

Under 16 All Stars Boys: Victoria, NSW

Under 19 All Star Girls: NSW, Victoria

Under 19 All Star Boys: Victoria, NSW

Under 19 MR Boys: Margaret River High School, Currumbin/Palm Beach SHS

Under 19 MR Girls: Newhaven College Vic, Margaret River HS

Under 16 MR Boys: Margaret River HS, Currumbin Palm Beach SHS

Schools Teams Standings for 2008: shortly announced

With so many multiple divisions across individuals and school teams surfing, the event mini site, which is located on the front page of www.surfingaustralia.com is the place to find results spreadsheets across all these divisions.

Winners across the Boys and Girls 18 division and Boys 16 division will become automatic selections for the Australian Junior Team which will compete in Ecuador next March at the ISA World Junior Titles.

Finals will run this coming weekend.

Mona Vale

There’s a few fun waves out inside point this morning, good fun for the frothing goofy footers, but it’d be pretty much sloptastic for anybody else.

Cronulla by Aquasea wetsuit repairs

C C

Heavy showers and muggy on the Central Coast this Monday morning.  The swell is weak, ruffled and small at 1 – 2 feet max from the east.  There is a very light southeast breeze forecast to go northeast later.  High tide 0500 and low tide around 1105.  Local barometer 1009 hpa, 97% humidity, 18 degrees C.  Have a great week.

Narrabeen Rpt

Awful! Tiny, weak, dirty & onshore