Bartels and Gilmore Lead Opening Day of Beachley Classic at Dee Why

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, started her Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic campaign with a Round 1 heat victory in a tough heat over defending event champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15, and Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25.

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Wednesday, September 30, 2009) – The opening day of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic saw current ASP World No. 5 Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, and reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21,  lead the world’s best women’s surfers through Round 1 in two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Dee Why.

Gilmore stayed busy throughout her entire Round 1 heat today and emerged victorious in a tough battle over defending Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15, who eliminated Gilmore in Round 3 of last year’s competition, and 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, to advance directly through to Round 3 with a solid 14.00 out of 20 heat total.

“I wasn’t really focusing on redemption over Wright, but it was more about shaking off the first heat nerves,” Gilmore said. “Chelsea (Hedges) and Tyler are a couple of my favorite surfers and Tyler did so well here last year, so I guess it felt good to come back with a win after a long break. It’s a bit disappointing that we’re not surfing at the point this morning, but it’s (Dee Why) a great wave and who knows what’s going to happen later in the week, maybe we’ll be up at the point for the Final, that’d be awesome.”

Although the talented regular-footer felt pressure entering the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic after a long mid-year break, Gilmore showed no sign of nerves and the poise shown by the defending ASP Women’s World Champion carried her directly through to Round 3.

“I think there is pressure after such a long break,” Gilmore said. “There’s sort of that safety net of Round 2, but I wanted to go out there and surf hard and my equipment is amazing at the moment and I’m stoked to be through to Round 3.”

Aside from the pressure of returning to contest mode after a long break, Gilmore also expressed the weight of entering an ASP Women’s World Tour event as the top seed.

“The pressure is always sort of there if you’re within the top five on the ratings, especially when you’re No. 1,” Gilmore said. “You’re expected to be fit and ready to go. I’m feeling fit and happy and I’m excited to be back in the action.”

Gilmore will have a Round 3 rematch against Wright when competition resumes.

Bartels surfed impressively throughout her entire opening round heat, but found her two best waves in the back half of her bout to claim the highest heat total of the day, an impressive 15.25 out of 20, while capitalizing on a rare barrel, leaving fellow competitors Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, and Amee Donohe (AUS), 28, needing a combination of scores to top the Hawaiian standout.

“I’d been eyeing that little barrel out there,” Bartels said. “I was just waiting and that wave came to me and I was able to find that little barrel which gave me the good score. It’s been such a long time between events that I forgot I was surfing in a contest out there. I just tried to get a wave and surf.”

The explosive Hawaiian veteran started her year off strong with a runner up finish at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast before suffering a 17^th place finish at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Bartels was elated to advance directly through to Round 3 at Dee Why and get the second half of her season off in the right direction.

“Bells is a very hard wave and it was really small when we surfed it, so it was tough for me,” Bartels said. “The waves out here are offshore and bigger than two-foot, so it’s perfect, I’m stoked.”

The Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic holds a waiting period from September 30 through October 5, 2009. Event officials will reconvene at Dee Why at 7am local time tomorrow to assess conditions for the potential start of Round 2 at 8am.

For LIVE action and additional event information log on to www.beachleyclassic.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.45, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.15, Layne Beachley (AUS) 8.25
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 15.25, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.05, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.85
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.00, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.40, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.05
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.60, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 8.60, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 4.70
Heat 5: Coco Ho (HAW) 10.65, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.35, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.25
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.55, Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.85, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 6.40

Upcoming Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 2 Heats:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Layne Beachley (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)

“TRANSPARENTSEA” – A MODERN JOURNEY WITH ANCIENT CREATURES

Professional Surfer and environmental campaigner Dave Rastovich and the sea kayak he will navigate to Sydney.

Professional surfer Dave Rastovich initiates a bold environmental awareness campaign tomorrow from Byron Bay.

Professional free-surfer and environmental campaigner David Rastovich will attempt an epic 700km ocean paddle from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach this October.

The journey aims to follow the annual migration south of humpback whales and their calves while raising awareness of the need to protect the majestic mammals and the world’s ocean environments.

Twenty nine year-old Rastovich (Brunswick Heads, AUS) is using the paddle to extend his personal environmental journey which in 2006 saw him co-found the “Surfers for Cetaceans” movement and in July this year saw him granted one of just 200 invitations to attend former US Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Project – Asia-Pacific Summit.

On October 1st “Rasta”, accompanied by world-class water photographer Hilton Dawe (Byron Bay, AUS) and a videographer who will help chronicle the event, will step from the sands of Main Beach, Byron Bay and begin the journey in single-seat sea kayaks.

Joining them will be Chris Del Moro (Los Angeles, USA) a respected free surfer, activist, artist and co-director of Surfers for Cetaceans.

Assisted only by the wind and waves, Rasta and his cohorts will paddle the entire distance aiming to reach Bondi by November 5th. Each afternoon they will paddle to the nearest beach, rest overnight, engage with local communities and – conditions permitting – take advantage of the local surf.

The primary intention of the journey is to draw attention to the plight of the migrating whales that ultimately are destined for the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by Japanese whaling fleets.

In addition, the team will record and highlight other areas of environmental concern including the effects of the commercial fishing industry on marine mammals and fish stocks; run-off issues to do with agricultural, domestic and industrial human activities; the state of rivers and estuaries; and where necessary they will also initiate beach clean-ups.

It is a well-intentioned odyssey that, at worst, is certain to be an incredible test of endurance but will also, quite possibly, double as the surf-trip-of-a-lifetime.

“What excites me the most is being able to combine the high-risk elements of surfing and sailing and the notion of endurance and pushing your body,” said Rastovich.  “I’m eager to bring those elements together with environmental awareness initiatives.

“Our intentions are that, after 36 days and 700 kilometers, we’ll have helped educate a lot of people on the beauty and majesty of the whales, plus the impact we all have on what is such an amazing stretch of coastline and in what ways we might all implement positive change.”

An additional kayak will be made available to a small roster of like-minded invited guests – individuals who share the mission’s sense of purpose and who are able to help bolster public awareness.

Participants already scheduled to take part include eight-time Molokai-to-Oahu paddling champion Jamie Mitchell, former world #5, pro surfer Matt Hoy, and professional surf commentator, editor and musician Adam ‘Vaughan’ Blakey.

“Our intentions are to reach Bondi and celebrate the completion of our voyage with Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,” said Rastovich.

“We expect to be crossing paths with the Sea Shepherd crew on the journey as they take their ship, the Steve Irwin, to Perth where they will launch their next campaign to save our whales in Antarctica. The same whales we will be paddling alongside.”

The official Transparentsea launch will take place on Thursday, October 1st at Main Beach, Byron Bay. Here, members of the Aboriginal Bundjalung tribe will don traditional dress and perform a farewell ceremony. Following the ceremony, the kayakers will paddle out to meet the whales and begin their long voyage south to Sydney.

Transparentsea participants (L to R): Surfer Dave Rastovich, musician Will Conner, Surfrider Foundation's Kristy Theissling and Californian surfer, artist and campaigner Chris Del Moro. Photographed today in Byron Bay.

Kennedy blasts Billabong Pro Junior Bells Beach

2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior champion Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW) was in stellar form this morning at Jan Juc posting the highest single wave and total heat score. photo: Michael Tyrpenou/ ASP Australasia

(Jan Juc, VIC – Wednesday, 30 September 2009) — A return to form from a past champion headlined day two of the Billabong Pro Junior Bells Beach on the blustery Victorian Surf Coast.

With a change of location to Jan Juc, due to a dissipating swell and strong off-shore winds, the best junior surfers in Australasia were out to cement spots in the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior champion Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW) was a man on a mission this morning,  posting the highest single wave and total heat score with an 8.25 (out of a possible 10) and 15.25 (out of a possible 20) respectively.

“It was really testing conditions today,” Kennedy admitted.

Granted two of the biggest and best waves of the day, Kennedy took his opportunity with both hands highlighting to all his amazing talent.

“I was lucky with the waves I was gifted today, it definitely about luck out there,” he said.

“I knew I had to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself.”

Having been the hottest property in the junior surfing sphere in 2008, Kennedy has struggled to adjust to life on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), but is back for the final event of his Pro Junior career.

“Last year the fire inside burnt so intensely and I wanted it so bad, but this year has been a learning curve on the WQS,” he said retrospectively

“I have had a lot of time to focus and work on my surfing, but it has been hard work.”

“This is my last event so I want to go out with a win, or at least a good performance to carry me into next year,” Kennedy continued.

Another competitor bowing out of the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series after this event is Josh Johnson-Baxter (Ocean Grove, VIC) who joined Kennedy in the winners list today at Jan Juc.

Getting through a tough heat with Billy Kean (Sawtell, NSW) this morning, Johnson-Baxter is looking forward to finishing off his Junior career in style.

“This is my last event on the Junior Series so I want to make as many heats as possible,” Johnson-Baxter said.

“Surfing at home is always a great motivator, so hopefully it will help me as much as possible.”

Perth Standlick (Bondi, NSW) again mastered the cold, tricky and blustery conditions.

Having been the first to take apart the ‘Bowl’ at Bells Beach, Standlick chose to sit on the left-handed peak at Jan Juc today and reaped the rewards.

“I’m staying with a few of the local guys, so a bit of local knowledge paid off for me today,” Standlick said after accruing a total heat score of 12.95 (out of a possible 20).

“Things seemed to have worked well for me in the last two days,” he said with a smile.

“Today I knew my backhand would be the best option it was really soft out there.”

With Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) holding the only guaranteed spot at the ASP Billabong World Junior Championships the race for the final four spots is coming down to the wire.

Seeing top-rated seeds Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW), Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW), Christopher Friend (Alexandra Headland, QLD) and Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach, QLD) all securing a place in the round of 32 today tension is mounting amongst the top ten as the competition flies into the business end.

The Billabong Pro Junior Bells Beach will take place from 29 September – 3 October 2009.

Narrabeen Rpt

Lovely day for the beach

Clean start

Hello Friends,

There are tsunamis travelling across the ocean toward the east coast of NZ, Cook Islands and elsewhere. But as I type this, the Kiwis have just downgraded the warnings for their exposed coast because with luck it won’t be too dramatic. Deaths have been reported in Samoa, so clearly we’re in the early stages of this story.

Here on the east coast of Australia, and more particularly at Dee Why beach where it’s day one of the Beachley Classic. Waves aren’t huge, but they’re a fun size, so they don’t have to start out with groveling in gutless little dribble (as so often seems to happen with surf contests).

Sets look to be in the chest high range and the wind is currently a light and favourable NW’ly.

From the forecast data, it would appear that there will be waves of some sort through today and maybe tomorrow. Friday looks like being tiny to flat and then it looks as though it could start picking up on Saturday and build into the solidly overhead range as the weather turns showery.

Finally, I’m sure I speak for many when I send my condolences to our man Matt on the Central Coast following the passing of his mum. Strength to you during this hard time mate.

Synoptic Situation
A high lies over the New South Wales coast and will move over the Tasman Sea today. A front behind this high will move along the southern half of the coast on Thursday, with S’ly winds strengthening and extending to the north coast during Friday.
Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards:
Wednesday until midnight: Wind: NW 8/13 knots, tending N/NE 15/20 knots during the afternoon, then NW 10/15 knots inshore, 15/20 knots offshore in the evening.Sea: about 1 metre rising 1.5 to 2 metres in the afternoon. Swell: SE 1.5 to 2 metres decreasing to about 1 metre during the day.
Thursday: Wind: N/NW 15/20 knots, turning N/NE 18/23 knots in the afternoon.Sea: 1 to 2 metres rising 2 to 2.5 metres in the afternoon. Swell: SE about 1 metre.
Friday: Wind: NW 10/15 knots ahead of a S’ly change 15/20 knots.

Fun looking little set wave tickles the strand.

No C C Surf Report Today

No Central Coast report:   Matt’s mum passed away peacefully in her sleep (after a long illness)  early this morning.  RIP

Tiny Logger Lines in Byron Bay today.

Beautiful Sunny Morning!

Worth it getting up early. Hope you caught a few.

 The Size and Shape of Things

 The Point Lighting Up

I Feel the Need for Speed! 

Cheers, Doug

www.wozthatyou.com

Watch out for white whale headed South

The albino humpback Migaloo thrilled whale watchers on the north coast yesterday as it made a cameo appearance on its way south.

The white whale swam through the centre of Byron Bay and passed with 500 metres of Cape Byron.

The visitor services officer at the headland reserve, David Moore, says it was the first time in 10 years on the job he’s seen the rare mammal.

“It didn’t breach which was unfortunate but it was sort of quite playful, a bit of tail slapping and stuff so it was good, the public enjoyed it,” Mr Moore said.

“The people that were here, it’s busy anyway with the holidays so there was (sic) a lot of people here at the time and yeah, everyone was very excited and it was quite visible, like that was the main thing, you really can see it quite easily,” he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/29/2699326.htm?site=northcoast

Aussie Claims Victory at WQS 4-Star Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro

Parrish Byrne Claims Victory at ASP WQS 4-Star Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro.

ICHINOMIYA, Chiba (Sunday, September 27, 2009) – The 2009 ASP WQS 4-Star Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro recommenced this morning for the final day at Tsurugasaki Beach with the Quarterfinals kicking things off this morning.

The local weather at Tsurigasaki Beach, Ichinomiya was fair this morning. The surf conditions were two-to-four feet (1 to 1.5 metre) with onshore winds. Event director Toshiyuki Tanaka called this morning at 8am to get the final day’s action underway.

Two Japanese, one Hawaiian, and one Australian: Parrish Byrne (AUS), Izuki Tanaka (JPN), Teppei Tajima (JPN), and Joel Centeio (HAW) made it to the Semifinals.

In Semifinal 1, Byrne overcame Tanaka to move to the Final. In Semifinal 2, Tajima overcomes Centeio to move to Final.

Teppei Tajima held the lead for the majority of the Final with Parrish Byrne. With only a few minutes remaining, Byrne fights back strong with an excellent 9.33 to take the lead over Tajima. Tajima strikes hard back with an excellent 9.00, but not enough to take the lead once again. With a total point of 16.83 to 16.50 for Tajima, Parrish Byrne of Australia is crowned the 2009 Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro Champion.

ASP WQS 4-STAR BILLABONG TSURIGASAKI PRO FINAL RESULTS:

1 - Parrish Byrne (AUS) $12000 1500 points
2 – Teppei Tajima (JPN) $5000 1313 points
3 – Izuki Tanaka (JPN) $3400 1125 points
Joel Centeio (HAW) $3400 1125 points