SurfAid Padang Earthquake Update 3/10/09

Two major earthquakes have hit the Padang, West Sumatra, region – the initial 7.6 on Wednesday evening and then a 6.6 quake on Thursday morning. Padang, the gateway to the Mentawai Islands and where most of the surf charter boats are based, has been seriously damaged and the death toll is more than 1,100 but there are fears that thousands more are still trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

SurfAid has gone into emergency mode and has staff doing assessments of the needs of the people in the coastal areas south of Padang, which are heavily populated and impoverished. SurfAid had Mentawai health program staff already in Padang and they have been reassigned to emergency work. SurfAid will respond to the immediate urgent needs with medical staff and supplies. SurfAid has eight doctors and three nurses preparing medical supplies.

SurfAid is buying tents, tarpaulins, food, water and sanitation and medical supplies in Medan, North Sumatra, and getting these to Padang.

The SurfAid office in Padang survived, however the internet system is down, along with electricity and phones, so a priority is to get a new internet system in place along with satellite phones and gensets for power, along with fresh water as the mains water supply is cut off.

SurfAid’s Program Director, Dr David Lange, who has been with the organisation less than a month, narrowly escaped from the Ambacang Hotel just before it collapsed. The people behind him didn’t make it out and last night emergency crews were using heavy lifting equipment to try to locate any survivors. The Ambacang is a well-known stopover hotel for surfers heading out to the Mentawai Islands.

SurfAid is still trying to locate five of its Indonesian staff in Padang. Sixty Australians were still unaccounted for last night.

SurfAid CEO and Founder Dr Dave Jenkins is in Bali and will fly into Padang when we have our communications systems in place. SurfAid Chief Operating Officer Andrew Judge is in Medan, North Sumatra, hoping to get on one of the full flights to Padang today.

The SurfAid speedboat Sibex was dispatched to a village in Siberut yesterday to check on reports that a school and mosque had collapsed.

SurfAid Mentawai Program Manager Tom Plummer is heading to Padang from his base in Tua Pejat, the regional capital of the Mentawais. His house in Padang is completely flattened. Luckily his pregnant wife, Sas, had just left for the USA. “Thankfully she left on Tuesday, the day before the first earthquake,” Tom said. “She had finished a contract with an aid organisation in Aceh and had just shipped all her belongings down to our house in Padang. I haven’t told her yet that there’s nothing left.”

SurfAid Program Director Dr David Lange filed the first report to SurfAid staff after his narrow escape on Wednesday evening: “That was a very large earthquake. I don’t know the size yet but large chunks of glass and brick walls of the hotel I was in came down all around me. I can’t imagine how I got out. It was like the floor was falling away as I ran over it. I lost my passport, communications, all my money. The city is burning, infrastructure appears damaged (water lines, sewer lines, power lines are down). We need medical supplies, food, shelter and transportation. I would guess hundreds are dead and significant infrastructure damage worthy of a significant response.

“I have only scrapes. I’m in a safe place. We are going to set up a field hospital now. I’m using someone else’s computer and won’t be able to communicate.”

A few hours later, David filed this report: “I just can’t believe I’m alive. The people right behind me didn’t make it out, the blocks from the hotel were falling all around me.

“One hospital, called Silasi, is completely ruined and non-functional. One other private hospital is damaged severely but functioning out of tents. The main public hospital I did not assess. The Ambacang Hotel and Spice Homestay are both collapsed, with lots of westerners in the Ambacang.

“I saw dozens of the biggest buildings collapsed in town, most of the damage is concentrated in the commercial centre markets, the main pasar, which was fully packed. The one-storey homes seem OK but people aren’t staying in them because of fear. Water mains are ruined and power lines are down. No fuel is available right now.

“People are trapped and screaming for help but they are below huge slabs that will take heavy equipment and there is none. I would expect hundreds dead when the final toll is known, but the big issue is that the normal infrastructure is down. We should focus on supporting infrastructure: tents, tent clinics, clean water, food.”

SurfAid has launched the SurfAid Padang Earthquake Relief Appeal. You can donate via our website at www.surfaidinternational.org

Thank you very much – and many thanks to all who have already donated.

- Kirk Willcox
SurfAid International Communications Director
E: kirk@surfaidinternational.org
M: + 61 407 063 829
www.surfaidinternational.org

Beachley Contest snaps

Stopped by Dee Why to watch a few heats of the Beachley Classic in the drizzly and stormy conditions.  It was pretty hard going for the contestants, but there was energy and size, so you got the odd photogenic moment… here are a few samples…

Another lip gets the treatment.

Slashing a shutdown.

Sofia sets up another floater.

S. Mulanovich executes a reo.

Staying out of the weather

Ripping a little cutty in the junkness.

It was rather messy, but as usual there were sections of note.

Round three competitor Jacquline Silva

A little weather didn't put off the spectators.

Beachley Falls to Woods in Round 3 of Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, current ASP World No. 8, eliminated seven-time ASP Women's World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, in Round 3 of Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic competition today, which was offically Beachley's last heat on the ASP Women's World Tour.

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Saturday, October 3, 2009) – The Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic got back underway today when the world’s finest competitive female surfers were greeted with stormy three-to four foot (1.5  metre) surf at Dee Why and completed two rounds of competition.

Today’s action saw surfing icon and seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, fall to Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, in Round 3 in what was officially her last professional heat while reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, was victorious in a highly anticipated rematch over defending event champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15.

Woods, who relegated Beachley to Round 2 in their opening Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic bout, eliminated the ASP Women’s World Tour veteran from competition today when they faced off in the tricky Round 3 conditions at Dee Why and advanced through to the Quarterfinals.

“It feels great to go in to the Quarterfinals and to get two wins against Layne (Beachley),” Woods said. “In these types of conditions, the waves are all over the place, so it’s really just a fight to get waves. Layne’s been on tour for nearly 20 years and she’s gotten the best of me in nearly every man-on-man heat we’ve had, so I wanted to go out there and give it one last shot, so I’m happy with that.”

The talented Australian has yet to advance past the Quarterfinals in the first two events of the2009 calendar and is hoping to break through to the Semifinals at this year’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

“I’m excited to try and work through to the Semifinals,” Woods said. “The title of Quarterfinal Queen needs to be gone. I’ve got Bartels in the next heat and she’s always a hard one, so we’ll see what happens.”

Beachley was unable to find a rhythm in what would be her career-last heat and logged her career-lowest heat total (a .50 out of a possible 20) while bowing out to Woods, but her tough luck in the Round 3 matchup has no reflection on the illustrious champions previous accomplishments.

“It’s a demoralizing way to go out, but it doesn’t depict my career at all,” Beachley said. “All I can do is laugh. To finish my career after winning seven ASP World Titles with a 0.50 heat total in my last heat is pretty comical, but very devastating at the same time.”

After an impressive Round 2 performance, Beachley was unable to find a rhythm against woods and posted only one small score before the clock ran down in her heat.

“I just couldn’t afford to buy a heat out there,” Beachley said. “At the end of the day, I’ve had a fairytale career and I guess you can’t finish with a fairytale ending.”

Gilmore, who is the current ASP Women’s World No. 1, eliminated defending event Champion, Wright, in a low-scoring affair. Wright caught a last-second wave and was unable to clinch the small score needed to advance over the reigning ASP World Champion, opening the door for Gilmore to advance through to the Quarterfinals.

“I’m glad to get the win, but I’m disappointed in my performance,” Gilmore said. “It was difficult and I think I only scraped through because Tyler (Wright) fell on her wave at the end. It’s a win though, I’ll take it. I really studied the conditions before I went out and I got out there and it was a totally different story. It just shows that no matter how much hard work you put in, the ocean’s still in control.”

After falling to the prodigious young Australian in Round 3 of last year’s Beachley Classic, Gilmore approached the rematch against Wright with more caution and her tactics allowed her to come out on top in this year’s battle.

“I took the heat a little more seriously because of what happened last year,” Gilmore said. “I take every heat really seriously and although it looks like I’m having a lot of fun I’m still working really hard and Tyler (Wright) is dangerous in all conditions. She likes bigger waves and she’s very mature. I just went out there with my game head on and worked hard.”

Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, who is the current ASP World No. 2, bashed the day’s highest heat total, an impressive 16.00 out of 20, with committed forehand surfing on the thumping Dee Why right-handers.

“The conditions are tough, but I was able to get two good rights,” Lima said. “I saw that the girls in the other heats were not hitting the closeout sections, so I was trying to smash the closeouts to get higher scores and it worked out.”

Lima, who is fresh off of her first career victory at Bells Beach and a two-time Beachley Classic runner-up, is hungry to claim back-to-back wins and is ready to better her result at this year’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

“Here we are again,” Lima said. “I’ve finished second here twice before and I’d love to win this year.”

Lima will face fellow Brazilian Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 30, in Quarterfinal No.3 when competition resumes.

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic event organizers will reconvene at 7am local time tomorrow for a possible 8am start. The event will be webcast LIVE via www.beachleyclassic.com

For all of your ASP needs log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.10 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 7.50
Heat 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 7.00 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) .50
Heat 3: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.50 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.90
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 8.60 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.45
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.00 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.50
Heat 6: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 14.25 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 4.10
Heat 7: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 13.15 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.25
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 14.25 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 4.45

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 2 Results: (1^st and 2^nd advance)

Heat 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 9.15, Jesse Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.50, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 5.95

Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.50, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 8.00, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 5.15

BSR LEGIAN 03OCT2009

BSR pic of the day

Not much.

Buoy data shows it to be small and getting smaller on Saturday with light westerly winds most of the day.

Roberto

Grey and rainy but not flat

Impressive level of stoke happening under the circumstances.

Hello Friends,

Basically it’s a vile morning out there. Must mean that someone is hoping to get a big crowd along to a public event. Commiserations to the fine folk at Dee Why for the contest and food and wine festival, and down Manly way for the jazz.

On the surf front I can report that if you are extra keen, you should be able to find a little something in the protected south corners. Dee Why doesn’t look fabulous, but there’s enough going on that the Beachley contest folks should have something to show off on. Sets look to be in the chest to head high range.

Swell is out of the south at around 2 metres with a power setting in the marginal 7-8 second range. So, not heaps of juice, but if you can deal with the 20kts of SSW wind, there are little sections to be found under the rainy skies. The Bureau says that wind should be out of the SE, so chances of an improvement to surfing conditions are not good.

Tomorrow looks to be not quite as inclement and we should still have some swell. The main issue will be that cursed wind. More grey skies and messy onshore conditions I’d say.

Go well with your day one and all!

Tides: H@0720 L@1323

Synoptic Situation
A Low over inland NSW is expected to move east to be centred off the Central Coast early Saturday as a ridge of high pressure develops over Tasmania. The Low is expected to move rapidly eastwards during the remainder of Saturday. A weak ridge is expected to linger over the far southeast Australia into the next week directing onshore airstream along NSW coast.

Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards:
Strong Wind Warning
Saturday until midnight: Wind: S/SE 25/33 knots, easing to SE 20/25 knots in the evening. Sea: 2 to 3 metres abating to 1.5 to 2 metres in the evening.Swell: S/SE increasing to 2 to 3 metres.
Sunday: Wind: SE 15/20 knots tending E/NE in the evening.Sea: about 1.5 metres.Swell: S/SE 2 to 3 metres.
Monday: Wind: SE/NE 5/15 knots.