Saturday evening wrap

Hello Friends,

The NE windswell, NW wind combo lit up any number of spots around the place. I went to my nearest option, namely far north Collaroy or far south Narrabeen. Waves were exceedingly photogenic, but while I was out, the tide was just too low and the shutdown percentage was in the 90% range. I have too strong a sense of self-preservation to throw myself over the falls, but those with less inhibitions were taking off on some very crunchy sets. After awhile I gave up trying to catch anything, and went swimming with my camera. The battery ran low pretty quick, but I shot a few snaps and a few vid clips (which I haven’t checked yet to see if there are any keepers).

Swell was still going strong as we got toward dark, so maybe there will still be something on Sunday morning. But the models are calling for it to fade quite a bit overnight, so I wouldn’t be too optimistic. However, it would seem we’re in for some solid south swell on Monday and Tuesday.

More thoughts on that tomorrow…

Here are a few snaps…

South Narrabeen looking the goods.

He didn't catch this one...

My battery died just after I took this one...

Gardens goes off.

south-west vancouver island

on friday, expect great conditions at the lost village beach, near the mouth of the straits, an hour’s drive – intrepid matt reports excellent surfing there on wednesday and thursday – outstanding bowls, up to double-head, on wednesday, settling down to shoulder-high on thursday – crowded with excellent surfers on the first day, much quieter the second – today is our first snowfall (we only get one or two little ones around the ocean), so expect continued, chilly merriment up the straits …..

Slater Wins 6th Billabong Pipeline Masters Title – His 6th Event Win in 2008

Da man.

Billabong Pipeline Masters

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

Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii

Dec. 8-20, 2008

BANZAI PIPELINE, Hawaii (Friday, Dec. 12, 2008) – Nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won the Billabong Pipeline Masters a record sixth time today. The victory is Slater’s sixth of the 11 event 2008 ASP World Tour season.

“It’s inexplicable,” Slater said of his win and banner season. “I’m just stoked. I wasn’t even worried about surfing the event, so to surf it and win and get that board (a Gerry Lopez designed surfboard trophy). I’ll cherish that for sure.”

Slater has made the Pipeline Masters final 10 out of the 17 times he has entered the event; winning in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 and again today. His 2008 win comes nine years after he last clinched the Pipeline crown in ‘99.

“My season is all about nines,” Slater said. “Winning this event nine years later, I needed a 9th in the ninth event of the year to win my 9th ASP World title, it’s crazy.”

Slater paddled out in eight to 10 foot waves at Pipeline four times today, beating Chris Ward (USA) 14.00 to 7.23 in the in the first man-on-man final* held at the venue in eight years. Slater’s heat totals in the three heats prior to the final were 19.00, 18.63 and 19.40 – all out of a possible 20 points.

“It was disappointing that the waves didn’t really turn on for us in the final,” Slater said. “That’s what we are here for, to put on a show for people – at least give them some big wipeouts or something. In the final there weren’t too many waves, but I picked the right ones. It’s about time Wardo had a result like this though. He is one of the best barrel riders in the world.”

Ward’s final berth today is the second of his four-year ASP World Tour career. The Californian made the final of his first event on tour on the Gold Coast of Australia in 2005 but finished second there as well. His result today saw him jump from 27^th to 14^th on the year-end ratings.

“I placed better than last year and I would have loved that win but Kelly got all the good waves,” Ward said. “It was very hard out there, I think I missed a couple of good ones in the beginning but I am good. I’m happy.”

Had Ward won the final, he would have won the 2009 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title too. He ended up finishing third in the ASP Specialty Series that rewards the surfer with the best Hawaiian season performance across three events.

“It was a great feeling to be in reach of the Triple Crown,” Ward said. “I would definitely love to do it again in the future so I will try again.”

Last year, Bede Durbidge became the first Australian to win the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title since Mike Rommelse (AUS) in 1997. This year the honor went to Australia’s Joel Parkinson who finished 5^th in the first two legs of the Triple Crown held at Haleiwa and Sunset Beach and 9^th at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

“I’ve come runner-up to the Triple Crown a couple of times,” Parkinson said. “Andy nabbed it from me both times, so no hard feelings to Wardo, but I really didn’t want that to happen again. It feels amazing to actually take it home this time.”

The victory is doubly sweet given Parkinson made headlines earlier in the week by earning the first-ever perfect 20 out of 20 heat total at Pipeline – only the second perfect heat total in ASP history under the two wave format.

“It’s been a good couple of days,” Parkinson said. Today could have been better for me in terms of the event, but I am happy.”

The heat of the day was the semifinal clash between Slater and Timmy Reyes (USA). Reyes emerged from a deep right-hand barrel to earn a 9.10 and with six minutes to go, had Slater needing a combination of scores to win the heat. In true Slater fashion, the nine-time world champ scored a 9.00 and 10.00 in a space of three minutes to take the heat.

“I almost beat Kelly which is pretty rad,” Reyes said. “I can’t get mad losing at someone who has nine world titles and it was good to win a couple of heats out here in all-time conditions at one of my favorite waves in the world.”

Reyes finished the year rated 16^th courtesy of his equal 3^rd place today.

Ward beat Australian Adrian Buchan 16.46 to 10.16 in their semifinal bout. Buchan finished in the semifinals or better three out of the last four events, a feat that saw him rocket to World No. 6 in 2008. Buchan finished the season 19^th in 2007 and 44^th in 2006.

“That’s what this year was about,” Buchan said. “Stepping up and trying to crack the Top 10 and establish myself up there and I think I have done that. I am pretty confident and looking forward to a short break and then getting back into it. I’m looking forward to next year already, it’s going to be exciting.”

The Top 45 surfers on the 2009 ASP World Tour have been decided with surfers rated 1-27 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings automatically requalifying for the 2009 tour. Bede Durbidge (AUS) finished runner-up to the World Title which Slater claimed back in October.

World Nos. 1-10 respectively are: Kelly Slater (USA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Taj Burrow (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Bobby Martinez (USA) Jeremy Flores (FRA).

Surfers finishing World Nos. 11-27 respectively are: Luke Stedman (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Andy Irons (HAW), Chris Ward (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW), Mikael Picon (FRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Ben Dunn (AUS).

The Top 15 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfers in ranking order are: Nathaniel Curran (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Gabe Kling (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), David Weare (ZAF), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Dustin Barca (HAW) Tiago Pires (PRT), Phillip MacDonald (AUS) and Drew Courtney (AUS).

The three 2009 tour wildcards, as decided by the ASP in conjunction with the surfer’s union, went to injury applicants Dean Morrison (AUS) and Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and WQS NO. 16 Marlon Lipke (DEU).

A complete list of results and year-end ratings for the 2008 ASP World Tour can be found atwww.aspworldtour.com/2008ratings.

Billabong Pipeline Masters Final Results:

Final: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.00 def. Chris Ward (USA) 7.23

Billabong Pipeline Masters Semifinal Results:

Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.00 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 15.60

Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) 16.46 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.16

Billabong Pipeline Masters Quarterfinal Results:

Heat 1: Tim Reyes (USA) 16.17 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 6.67

Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.63 def. Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 11.84

Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.33 def. Kamalei Alexander (HAW) 2.67

Heat 4: Chris Ward (USA) 8.06 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 7.43

Billabong Pipeline Masters Round 4 Results:

Heat 1: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.20 def. Marcus Hickman (HAW) 12.67

Heat 2: Tim Reyes (USA) 12.66 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.83

Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.40 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 7.96

Heat 4: Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 10.33 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 6.67

Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.77 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 11.56

Heat 6: Kamalei Alexander (HAW) 10.17 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.33

Heat 7: Chris Ward (USA) 13.43 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.56

Heat 8: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.83 def. Evan Valiere (HAW) 8.43

Final Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Ratings:
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5,500 points
2. Dusty Payne (HAW) 5,363 points
3. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 5,250 points
3. CJ Hobgood (USA) 5,250 points
3. Chris Ward (USA) 5,250 points

For more information please visit www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.

Midday DY Update + MHL SydneyBuoy update

Hey, it’s actually improved a bit since this morning. Yeah, it’s a NE swell and it’s not great for Dee Why Point but there are few waves getting in there and the crowd’s not too bad.  Definitely be better at Narra or Manly though.

I spoke with Mark at Manly Hydraulics Laboratory y’day, just curious what was going on with the MHL buoy for Sydney that’s been offline for the better part of a month now. Apparently, this one’s died and had been scheduled for replacement for some time, the new one is due to be installed in the next week or two, so, hopefully we’ll see it back online in the not-too-distant future.

Cheers,

Rob

Mona Vale

The waves are good this morning, if your reading this, then get off your computer and get out there!

Nice swell, dirty water.

A good, chunky swell is getting into Bronte and Tama this morning and although a little full will improve with the tide. Tama outcrop has a crew of only 6, wave size is good, shape too full. Bronte reef is deserted but you can see it’s potential with perfect lines hitting it. Bondi is a lake, too much north in it. Due to the recent rain the water is filthy though, so I’m heading out of town.

We have waves but…

Looks like high tide is causing havoc for the shape and power of the 3 foot (head high) NE swell.  Also the offshore wind hasn’t pickd up yet so the shape is uneven.  But give it a few hours and the conditions should clean up and improve as the tide drops after 8.30am (low at 3pm).  Good solid swell due on Monday.  Enjoy.

The heat

Hello Friends,

0650: NE windswell froths things up.

Pretty lumpy and messy looking at Dee Why this morning. As expected, the big blow yesterday afternoon and evening pushed up a reasonable amount of short period windswell. Sets at the point were getting toward the shoulder high range on the bigger ones, but the quality is not too impressive. I’d be looking at other, more NE windswell-friendly locations if I was keen to get in.

It has to be said that the water is looking pretty ordinary thanks to the heavy rains yesterday afternoon and evening. You wouldn’t want to go in with any unhealed wounds or if your immune system wasn’t in tip top condition. I’d be there will be a few surfers sitting in doctors’ offices looking for antibiotics later this week.

Surf is not likely to last long, but with luck it should hold through this afternoon. As most Sydneysiders will know, we’re in for a baking today with highs expected to reach 34. Wind is light and from the NW as I write this a little after 0700, but there is a strong wind warning for N-NW winds of 18-23 kts increasing to 20-30kts by this afternoon.

Don talks surf with Simon Marnie on ABC 702′s weekend show.

Saturday morning early risers’ call

Hi early risers!

By close of play last night, the weather was ‘orrible – rain, blasting NE wind and cool.

But Saturday, the Bureau tells us, will be a different kettle of little silvery swimming things.

Outlook for the early is easing W-NW winds in the 15-25 kt range and a couple of metres of NE windswell. Northern ends of east to north east exposed stretches could have waves into the shoulder high plus range on sets. The earlier you get into ‘em the better because a) the wind is going to kick back up by this afternoon, and b) the locally produced NE windswell will fade quickly;.

Check back between 0715 and 0730 for an update, and if you have a wireless set, tune it into 702 ABC Sydney’s weekend show, where you will hear my surf report right near the 0730 news headlines.

(Remember, this report was prepared last night. Things change. Your mileage may vary!)