Weds arvo

Hi all,

Went for a quick one around 1100 at Dee Why in the SE’ly. The tops were getting blown over a bit, but some of the faces were clean enough and size as Robbo’s noted was quite acceptable. It was moderately crowded but not a major issue for anyone from what I could tell. Got a couple in the shoulder high range and consider it worth having done for sure. I’d give it a 5/10 for acceptably average. (For latest numbers, see tags below this post.)

At the moment it looks as though we should still have a few sets around tomorrow and into Friday. Swell direction is predicted to swing from SSE around to the east by Friday. Wind forecast doesn’t look too nutty either. From Sunday on, the models are suggesting we could have small to nearly, but not quite flat conditions.

I gather from one of twitter people I follow, (stevieenglish) that Maroubra was okay at around the same time as well.

And now for something different. PB told me about a panorama picture taken at Dee Why back in 1917 that he’d spotted at one of the beachside unit blocks. We located it and I grabbed a shot of the end show that shows the point. Doesn’t look as though the rocks have changed much in the 9+ decades since…

Looks like a nice little one on the inside...

New Way To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Developed

New Way To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Developed.

Very interesting development. Multi-step process to get hydrogen out of water without having to use a sacrificial chemical agent. Works at room temperature too. If this can be scaled up, hydrogen could go from energy storage medium to energy resource.

TG’s Forecast

Re the ATM skimming story front page today’s Manly Daily – Avalon is getting more publicity these days than it ever did.

I used the same CBA ATM in Avalon last weekend too!!  Were they following me around ??!!  

My account balance seems OK so far – two carrots, several old bits of rag, a piece of string and a half chewed Vote for Kev poster.  If the Romanians/Italians had got hold of those, it would have been devastating – they might have choked on them.
A shame…

TG’s Forecast
Posted by: goat on April 8th, 2009
Surf Forecast issued Wednesday 8 April 2009: Seven day outlook for Sydney:

Contain your excitement …

Thursday: about 2 metres South East.
Friday: in the 1-2 metre range East.
Saturday: about 1 metre North East.
Sunday: ditto
Monday: same
Tuesday: same same
Wednesday: same same same

Water temp’s around 22

Have a Happy Easter weekend.

Weather from the Bureau
Forecast for Wednesday
Fine. Partly cloudy. Light to moderate east to southeast winds
Precis: Fine. Partly cloudy.
City:          Max:   22  Parramatta:  Max:   23
Terrey Hills:  Max:   21  Penrith:     Max:   23
Liverpool     Max:   23  Richmond:    Max:   23 
UV Alert: 9:20 am to 2:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]
Forecast for Thursday 
Fine, partly cloudy. Light to moderate northwest to northeast winds.
Precis: Fine. Partly cloudy.
City:  Min:   16  Max:   21
West:  Min:   10  Max:   23 
Friday Fine. Partly cloudy.
City:  Min:   16  Max:   24
West:  Min:   10  Max:   24 
Saturday Chance shower.
City:  Min:   17  Max:   24
West:  Min:   14  Max:   23 
Sunday Showers.
City:  Min:   19  Max:   22
West:  Min:   16  Max:   23 
Monday Shower or two.
City:  Min:   17  Max:   21
West:  Min:   14  Max:   21 
Tuesday Shower or two.
City:  Min:   17  Max:   23
West:  Min:   15  Max:   23 

Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards:
Wednesday until midnight: Wind: S/SE 10/15 knots tending E/SE in the afternoon. SW 5/10 knots inshore early morning.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: S/SE about 2 metres.
Thursday: Wind: S/SE 5/10 knots, tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: SE about 2 metres.
Friday: Wind: NW/NE 5/15 knots.

Surf Forecast issued Wednesday 8 April 2009: Seven day outlook for Sydney:

Contain your excitement …

Thursday: about 2 metres South East.

Friday: in the 1-2 metre range East.

Saturday: about 1 metre North East.

Sunday: ditto

Monday: same

Tuesday: same same

Wednesday: same same same

Water temp’s around 22

Have a Happy Easter weekend.

Weather from the Bureau

Forecast for Wednesday
Fine. Partly cloudy. Light to moderate east to southeast winds
Precis: Fine. Partly cloudy.

City:          Max:   22  Parramatta:  Max:   23

Terrey Hills:  Max:   21  Penrith:     Max:   23

Liverpool     Max:   23  Richmond:    Max:   23 

UV Alert: 9:20 am to 2:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]

Forecast for Thursday
Fine, partly cloudy. Light to moderate northwest to northeast winds.

Precis: Fine. Partly cloudy.

City:  Min:   16  Max:   21

West:  Min:   10  Max:   23 

Friday Fine. Partly cloudy.

City:  Min:   16  Max:   24

West:  Min:   10  Max:   24 

Saturday Chance shower.

City:  Min:   17  Max:   24

West:  Min:   14  Max:   23 

Sunday Showers.

City:  Min:   19  Max:   22

West:  Min:   16  Max:   23 

Monday Shower or two.

City:  Min:   17  Max:   21

West:  Min:   14  Max:   21 

Tuesday Shower or two.

City:  Min:   17  Max:   23

West:  Min:   15  Max:   23 

Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards:
Wednesday until midnight: Wind: S/SE 10/15 knots tending E/SE in the afternoon. SW 5/10 knots inshore early morning.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: S/SE about 2 metres.
Thursday: Wind: S/SE 5/10 knots, tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: SE about 2 metres.
Friday: Wind: NW/NE 5/15 knots.

BSR 2009 04 08

BSR pic of the day

Bali Surf Report
Date = Wed, 08 Apr 2009
Time = 09:30 AM
Location = Padma – Legian
Size = 2-3 ft
Surfers = more than 20
Tide = high tide
Wind = cross/offshore wind
Weather = sunny
Water = calm and swim able
Wave = fun but not really consistent wave

Legian: High tide at Legian can serve up some of the most power-packed beachbreaks in the world. Always bigger than Kuta, although it usually closes-out on low tide. It also closes out on high tide if the swell is over 8 feet. Because Legian is in the curve of the beach, it collects the compressed energy of all swells. If Kuta is only 3 foot, sometimes Legian can be mignificent at 4 – 6 foot. A handy hint is that Kuta Reef is often about the same size at Legian. A hot crew of young Bali locals surf here regularly, so smile, share and be friendly to enjoy your sessions here.

Midday Dee Why update

Wind has gone SE about 10-12 knots from the looks of things but there is still a decent little wave at Dee Why just north of the channel  by the Point. Point has a small but gutless wave that’s suit a SUP or a mal. Dead low tide on the way around 2pm.  Heaps smaller than yesterday but still worth a paddle if you have some idle time.

Cheers,

Rob

not too bad looking

Some ok looking but high tide affected 2-3ft+ waves out of the SE with the wind SW early. Wind looks to be SSE now so set the expectations a lot lower and hope for the best. Rosco.

Mona Vale

There’s a few healthy looking bowls out there this morning! if you get a chance i’d say it’s well worth getting amongst it!

NEW MUSIC REVIEW: Todd Hannigan Vol 2 – Courtside for the Apocalypse

Album cover.

For a man so worried, California surfer Todd Hannigan’s music is surprisingly soft and accepting. Think Jack Johnson to a slower beat, with a taste of Cat Stevens. Folky rock with a country accent.

Hannigan’s deep vocals rumble over plucky acoustic guitar to give the title song Courtside for the Apocalypse an on-the-road feel. And Fast Lane could have come from the flip-side of a Dire Straits album with its style of steel slide and bending electric notes. Things Are Gonna Change and Weight of the World are “rockier” with more pronounced electric guitar riffs and one breakaway lead.

The lyrics are catchy and the melodies flow. Each song has a line or two to grab onto. Something you’re already singing as you jam the day’s selection into your player. And the songs come together to tell a story.

Todd Hannigan.

It’s all happening too fast and Todd Hannigan just wants to relax but his mind won’t let him.

The Apocalypses: going past 29, cause what the hell’s on the other side of thirty anyway? Even if, “it can get expensive when it’s always Friday.” A planet, about to be swallowed by its own excesses, and no one’s doing anything about it.

Heavy stuff that plagues us. Even Flowers has some intensity with its swelling violin. But then we go back in time to Mountainview: a dobro and whisky lyrics that make you want to slug back Jack Daniels with the boys.

Hannigan and his surfboard spend a lot of time on the road. So, we should see him come back to Australia some time soon. In the meantime, Volume 2: Courtside for the Apocalypse is out now. Visit iTunes,  the band site: www.toddhannigan.com or www.cdbaby.com.

- by Shari Hooper

Todd Hannigan and Tom Curren. Photo: Javan Lila

Few little ones around the joint

Hello Friends,

Appears that we still have a bit of swell and, as PB’s already noted, light offshore breezes to begin. The tide’s pretty high for now, so it’s probably going to be mid-morning before things get going at the spots exposed to the south. There are some fun looking waist to chest high sets happening up the beach from Dee Why SLSC.

Here’s the marine forecast:

Wednesday until midnight: Wind: S/SE 10/15 knots tending E/SE in the afternoon. SW 5/10 knots inshore early morning.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: S/SE about 2 metres.
Thursday: Wind: S/SE 5/10 knots, tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon.Sea: to 1 metre. Swell: SE about 2 metres.
Friday: Wind: NW/NE 5/15 knots.

More later…

Dee Why about 0740 was looking plausible for a little beachy fun...

Rip Curl Bells Round 1 – Smith Sizzles, Owen Upsets

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, 2009 ASP Dream Tour sophomore, set the standard in Round, securing an excellent 18.70 out of a possible 20. Photo: ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Stop No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour

Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia

April 7 – 18, 2009

BELLS BEACH, Victoria — Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers was completed today in three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves in the Bells Bowl, and the implementation of the new format, rendering the opening round an elimination man-on-man affair, saw surfers lifting their competitive game to survive a dramatic day of action.

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is a pivotal point in the season and today’s action saw 16 of the world’s best surfers sent packing after just one heat. Despite the criticalness of the format, some incredible performances were logged at the historic venue.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, stamped his authority on today’s proceedings, eliminating highly-touted event wildcard Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 20, from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition. The intercontinental clash was reminiscent of the two’s famed battles during their junior careers.

“I am really good friends with Matt (Wilkinson) and it felt like an old times junior heat out here,” Smith said. “I surfed my first overseas contest out here and it was against him. I was lucky the tide was a bit lower and it was walling up nice on the inside today.”

Smith’s mastery of the Bells Bowl today saw the young natural-footer attain the day’s highest heat total of an 18.70 out of a possible 20, securing two excellent-scoring rides for a blistering and fluid series of forehand maneuvers.

“My normal shortboard is 6’2 ½” and Bells is kind of a sloppier and longer face so I brought my 6’3 ½” and it tends to get through the flat spots a bit better,” Smith said. I surfed earlier this morning on the higher tide and struggled a bit so I was thankful for the low tide out there this afternoon.”

Smith will take on Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 2 when competition continues.

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, caused the upset of the day, defeating incendiary American Dane Reynolds, 23, in Round 1 of competition.

“I am really happy,” Wright said. “I went out there knowing that I needed to get a wave under my belt straight up and put the pressure on him. I did that and got the wave, surfed it all the way through and managed to get a little back up.”

Wright’s tenacity and solid game plan provided him with the win over his marquee opponent and the young goofy-footer will need to employ the same tact as he continues here at Bells Beach.

“Dane (Reynolds) is an excellent surfer,” Wright said. “I let him have what I thought was average wave and he got a 6.8. He is definitely a solid competitor and I am just stoked to get through the heat. I had been watching a lot of heats and I thought that those guys that get the bigger score early are the one going through. I really focused on getting that first wave and ended up getting it.”

Wright will face reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in Round 2 when competition resumes.

Dayyan Neve (AUS), 31, into his third full season on the ASP Dream Tour, survived a hard-fought Round 1 heat against 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24. With the new event format in full swing, Neve was vocal about the heightened drama associated with the elimination man-on-man Round 1 format.

“I was stoked to make it through that heat,” Neve said. “I have been nervous for weeks. I am not a big fan of the new system. For the sport, I think it would be better to have the extra round to get all the top seeds down like Kelly (Slater), Mick (Fanning) and Joel (Parkinson). Get all the crowd watching the top seeds as much as possible is good for the sport I think. So yes, I am not a big fan of it and I hope they change it soon.”

Neve will taken on fellow Sydney-sider Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Round 2 when competition continues.

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

The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta begins its waiting period tomorrow and both events will be on call for a possible start.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Heat 1: David Weare (ZAF) 13.00 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.16

Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.33 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 6.26

Heat 3: Jay Thompson (AUS) 14.66 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 6.60

Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.84 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 10.16

Heat 5: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 14.00 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 7.60

Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.50 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 12.23

Heat 7: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 10.83 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 8.50

Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.50

Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18.70 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.66

Heat 10: Adam Robertson (AUS) 9.56 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 9.00

Heat 11: Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.84

Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.10 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 10.17

Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.83 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.77

Heat 14: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 14.42 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 11.83

Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) 14.50 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 11.46

Heat 16: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.50 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 11.17

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)

Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)

Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)

Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)

Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)

Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)

Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)

Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)

Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)

Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)