Its not yet here……

I was hoping that the nice juicy south swell we had been expecting would have greeted me this morning down the beach. Sadly it has not yet. Wind is lovely and brisk from the west (its been blowing all night) and looking at the buoys you can see that the period has jumped out nicely now to 10 seconds and heights are stating to rise. I would be very surprised if the lovely knee high sets of this morning are not tripple that size by lunchtime if not bigger.  Infact I will be very annoyed given I am working from home today!!! The more exposed south facing beaches will be the pick as the day progresses. Low tide is 9:20am and these winds should remain offshore all day. Anyone would think that we almost have the perfect set of ingredients!!!! Have yrself a top day.

C C

Happy 19^th birthday to Realsurfer Justin B.  Fine, dry, cool and windy on the Central Coast this Monday morning.  The swell is ruffled and rising at 2 –  3 feet  from the southeast.  There is a brisk, moderate southwest breeze at the moment forecast to weaken later.  Low tide 0920 and high tide around 1600.  Local barometer 1000 hpa, 11 degrees C. 48% humidity.   Have a great week.

Slideshow: Sth Narrabeen, 2 May 2009

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Check out the complete collection of 62 shots from this magic morning by clicking here

A month of Sundays in Byron Bay today

Slideshow: Longy, noon Fri 25 Sep 09

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Shot the above between about 1130-1230 at the lagoon entrance, just south of Long Reef SLSC.

Check out the entire collection on my site by clicking here

Another day with potential.

Looks like the 3+ bump was ridable most of the day Saturday with relatively light winds. Same will happen for Sunday only a rain front will move through in the morning. The better news is that the 4+ foot swell for Sunday will see offshore winds in the afternoon.

Roberto

PARKO ELIMINATED FROM QUIK PRO FRANCE

Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, current ASP World No. 11, dominated the peaky waves on offer at Les Bourdaines today, posting the highest heat total of the event, 18.27 out of a possible 20. photo: ASP/ CI/ CESTARI via GETTY IMAGES

SEIGNOSSE, France (Saturday, September 26, 2009) – The Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange completed an action-packed Round 3 today, and despite the smaller one-to-three foot (0.5 – 1 metre) waves on offer at Les Bourdaines, the world’s best surfers flew electric in front of a capacity crowd on the beach.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France ran in unexpectedly clean conditions today, and proved to be one of the most exciting days of competition so far this season, with massive scores and big upsets seemingly on call throughout the round.

Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, who earned his seed into the event through the Moskova Trials, caused the upset of the Quiksilver Pro France thus far, eliminating current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in Round 3 of competition. The Round 3 chess match saw the lead flip back-and-forth until the dying moments when Beven exploded on a set lefthander to secure a 6.87 out of a possible 10 and the win.

“It’s the kind of lefthanders I like surfing and it was a good heat,” Beven said. “I am stoked right now. I am fighting for France and the Euroforce. I haven’t qualified for the ASP World Tour yet, but I am showing I can surf and do well in this event. I am over the moon right now.”

A local to the South of France, Beven enjoyed the support of the hundreds of spectators at the water’s edge today, as they supported the hometown hero in his thwarting of the current ASP World No. 1.

“It’s great to get that kind of heat wins in front such a huge supporting crowd, and to beat the world No. 1 is even better,” Beven said. “Seeing everyone get together behind us French and European surfers and that’s what the Euroforce is all about. A big thanks to all people putting the event up, it’s a great time every year for all of us.”

Beven will face Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro France.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, surfed immediately following Parkinson’s elimination, with many assuming the Floridian would immediately capitalize on the opportunity to gain some ground on the ASP World Tour ratings. However, it was his opponent, wildcard and current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 7, Joan Duru (FRA), 20, that opened up the heat with an incredible 9.17 out of a possible 10.

Despite being on the ropes from the outset, Slater patiently built momentum throughout the heat, and in the face of Duru failing to secure a solid backup wave, netted an impressive 8.90 out of a possible 10 in the last minutes to take the win and advance through to Round 4.

“I opened up with a pretty good wave but turned around to see Joan (Duru) bang out his 9.17,” Slater said. “As I was paddling out, I knew I was working the math out in my head as to what I’d have to do to come back. My board seemed to work out perfectly for those conditions – I’d never ridden it before, but it’s a similar template to one I’d been riding, a light, little epoxy. Joan didn’t ever really find a backup score and I was able to grab a good one right at the end there. Pretty happy to come back there.”

With the elimination of ASP ratings’ frontrunner, the opportunity to gain ground exists for a number of ASP Top seeds, Slater amongst them. Despite the Parkinson’s stumble, the Floridian remains cautious when calculating his 2009 ASP World Title chances.

“I don’t really smell blood yet,” Slater said. “I think I’m still in the forest trying to find him (Parkinson).”

Slater will take on lethal 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, when Quiksilver Pro France competition resumes.

In addition to the ASP World Title drama that went down on Day 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France, some of the best surfing of the event was executed by some of the sport’s most progressive characters.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, current ASP World No. 11, proved the form surfer of the day, blending explosive aerials with searing carves to net the highest heat total of the event, an 18.27 out of a possible 20. Bucking the traditional thruster model, Reynolds opted for a shorter, wider board with big side fins and a small trailer fin. The result was revelatory.

“The waves were pretty bad and I couldn’t take it too serious on a shortboard,” Dane said. “The waves were still really fun though. It’s not flat and there were still some good sections to get speed on and get some airs. I had fun out there. I am riding an MTF (Merrick Twin Fin). It’s just a copy of one of Rob Machado’s old ones. It felt good today in these waves, with two big side-fins and one smaller one in the middle. I was scared to ride this board because it was catching rail yesterday, but it was going pretty good today. I just figured that I’d have a lot more fun on this thing.”

Riding high following an equal 3^rd place finish in South Africa and a runner-up finish last week in Southern California, Reynolds is proving to be one of the most dangerous surfers on tour.

“I like it here in France,” Reynolds said. “The waves can be really similar to home and punchy and fun. We haven’t had too many waves though so hopefully it picks up.”

Reynolds will face Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in the opening heat of Round 4 when competition recommences.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am for a possible 8:15am start.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro France will be available at www.quiksilverlive.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.50 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.03

Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.27 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 11.00

Heat 3: Ben Dunn (AUS) 14.57 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.13

Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.50 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 12.80

Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.50 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 9.74

Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.17 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 12.70

Heat 7: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.57 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.80

Heat 8: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.87 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.07

Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.73 def. Joan Duru (FRA) 13.57

Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.57 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.76

Heat 11: Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.43 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.83

Heat 12: Tim Boal (FRA) 15.43 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.67

Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.54 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.06

Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.34  def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.50

Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.17 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 10.16

Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.67 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.47

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)

Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)

Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)

Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

The flatness

Hello Friends,

Great day for Sydney’s surfers to catch up with family and friends. The howling offshores have put paid to any prospect of a decent wave this morning. And judging from the look of the buoy data off to the south of us, the expected energy from that low in the SW Tasman sea isn’t too likely to get here today.

But by this time tomorrow, we should be seeing solid south swell lighting up the usual spots.

The wind will blow hard today and overnight before starting to slacken on Monday. As that happens, the swell will push in and it should be a day of surf options.

The low is moving pretty quickly, so the swell looks likely to peak in Sydney tomorrow and then to weaken over the following couple days.

Get out there and enjoy!

Tides: L@0803, H@1451
Warning Summary at issue time:
Storm Force Warning south of Green Cape, Gale Warning remainder south of Port Macquarie, including Sydney Closed Waters. Strong Wind Warning north of Port Macquarie.

Synoptic Situation
The generally strong to gale force westerly airstream will continue to affect New South Wales coastal waters on Sunday in association with a deep low pressure system over the southwestern Tasman Sea. Storm force strengths are expected across the far south closer to the low’s centre. This airstream, for most parts, will gradually ease during Monday, and into Tuesday, as a ridge of high pressure moves over eastern New South Wales.
Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards:
Gale Warning.
Sunday until midnight: Wind: W 25/35 knots, reaching 35/40 knots at times.Sea: 3 to 4 metres. Swell: S/SE 1.5 to 2 metres.
Monday: Wind: W/SW 25/35 knots gradually easing. Increasing swell.Sea: 2 to 3 metres. Swell: S 3 to 4 metres.
Tuesday: Wind: SW 20/30 knots, easing to E/SE 5/15 knots.

Total and complete absence of swell... for now.

Flat today

The wind has blown out any chance of a wave today- it’s strong, offshore and the conditions are completely flat.  Should be a significant swell coming in over night so gear up for the next few days with solid swells and offshore winds hopefully providing some classic conditions. Enjoy.

Its not flash

Good morning – after being away for 10 days its always nice to be back in lovely Manly but I was a little saddened to see the lack of swell hitting this lovely beach this morning. Set waves are knee high and the wind is already up and forecast to reach 25 to 35 knots from the West as the day progresses. I would have thought we would have had a little bit of fresh swell on the way by now but its not arrived as yet. Maybe it will come later in the day.