Like the swallows returning to Mission San Juan Capistrano surf fans return to their computers each spring waiting to see whether Kelly Slater will drift off into free surfing or rally his strength to take one more stab at a world tour title. Quiksilver owning the first event always give them hope and this year is no different. According to the ASP:
Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, will return to the singlet this season, challenging for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title against the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves. Coming away with an ASP Dream Tour win in Brazil last season, Slater made a mid-year challenge for the crown, yet fell short of the Australian onslaught.
This year also sees the return of Andy Irons to the world tour. The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast run February 27 through March 10, 2010. Hard to believe the new season is already on, but we’re ready.
Sport bra maker Kalyx has just named surfer Holly Beck as “Kalyx Woman of the Week on their blog Busted. We’re not exactly sure what that means, but we think Holly Beck deserves it. If nothing else it’s a great way to check in with the surfer with abs of steel.
Currently, Holly is working on a book about her globe-trotting experiences as a pro surfer. You can keep tabs on her latest adventures by following her blog, “Holly Beck Surfs.” Interested in learning how to ride like Holly? Check out her newly opened surf camp & yoga retreat for women – Suave Dulce – in Nicaragua.
Follow the link for the rest of the interview. You might learn something. We did.
Claw Warbrick the founder of Rip Curl will be inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame at the Coolangatta Hotel on Saturday February 20, 2010 according to a story on Goldcoast.com.au.
The surf businessman will become the hall’s 32nd inductee. . . “I feel honoured,” said Warbrick. “I feel humbled to join the list of those who have made such rich contributions to our Australian surfing culture.”
The votes has been taken and it looks like the yes’ have won according to the Mavericks big wave contest is on for Saturday, February 13, 2010.
Twenty-four surfers are on the scramble to get to NorCal ahead of a monster swell that will be be hitting Mavericks Saturday. Click here to watch it live on uStream or click the link for all the details.
ASP World Champion Mick Fanning has offered Barack Obama a surf lesson if The President should visit Tweed Australia, according to a story in the Tweed Daily News.
“I’ve actually seen photos of him on the net standing up on a surfboard so there’s probably some basic knowledge there we could build on,” Fanning told the Tweed Daily News. “If he’s able to get to his feet okay I’d probably try and get him doing a couple of turns, maybe even get him working on an air-reverse or a rodeo flip.”. . . “I’d like to meet the most powerful man in the world, plus he seems like decent bloke,” he said. “It would be really interesting to get an insight into what his life is like now he’s the president. . . “I’d have so many questions for him, so hopefully there would be plenty of time between sets.”
Guess it wouldn’t be the first time an Australian tried to give a Hawai’ian some surf lessons.
Why is Kelly Slater in Monterey this week? It’s not for Ghost Trees. He is playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with other celebrities like Tom Brady, Kenny G, and Bill Murray. Not a bad way to spend the week.
Mona Vale, Australia surfer Paul Welsh, 46, was “having a surf” with his young son at Basin Bay when “a small shark” hit him from below, according to a story on Stuff.co.nz.
He made it out of the water and his wife drove him to Mona Vale Hospital, where he is recovering well, a NSW Health spokesman said. . . “He’ll be out of hospital by the end of the day.” . . “I was pushing my son on to waves and it just belted [me],” the man told the paper. “I grabbed on to the pinnacle of a rock and held on as it tried to drag me out … and I won.” . . .The victim has signed an exclusive deal with Channel Nine, a NSW Health spokeswoman said.
Exclusive deal? Guess if you’re going to be news you might as well get paid for it.
Tomorrow at noon the votes from the Mavericks Surf Contest invitees will apparently decide whether or not the contest will run this Saturday, February 13, 2010, according to a story in the San Jose Mercury News.
A poll of voters who have been poring over computer-model data suggests there is little doubt that the seventh big-wave champion will be crowned Saturday on the beach at Pillar Point. Waves measuring 40 feet on the face — considered the threshold for a big Mavericks day — are expected. . . “Ninety-nine percent,” is how longtime contestant Evan Slater described the chances for Saturday, adding, “It’s not going to be picture perfect, but it’s going to be big, real big if the forecast holds.” . . Santa Cruz’s Zach Wormhoudt, another longtime competitor, was just as confident, saying: “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
It appears the organizers’ talks about how important this whole event is to their sponsors are finally paying off. This should be good.
