by The Editors on December 9, 2009
For most of the day we all thought Kelly Slater was going to walk away with a win on a board he claimed he hadn’t surfed since “Bruce won it” in 2004, the last time The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau was held. Then, in the final heat of the day, San Clemente, California’s Greg Long charged through with all four of his high scoring waves including a perfect 100.
“I’m so happy just to be here, invited into the biggest event of big waves in the world with all my heroes, I’m so excited,” said Long. . . “It’s a dream come true for me. Riding big waves is my passion and I’ve been following The Eddie since I knew exactly what it was, I was probably 12-years-old just getting into surfing. Since then, I’ve had every single poster from Brock Little to Bruce Irons on my wall. I look to those guys for inspiration and to be standing up here with Sunny (Garcia) and Kelly Slater is a dream come true for me. I never would have thought that this is my first year surfing the event and to come away with a victory is really a childhood dream become real.”
Maybe it is good to go last at Waimea. . . follow the jump for the ASP press release.
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by The Editors on December 9, 2009
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
by The Editors on December 8, 2009
Surfers have a little more to worry about in Grisborne, New Zealand. Moko the friendly dolphin has apparently become too aggressive, according to a story on abc.net.au.
Grant Fussell, the president of the local surf club, has had to rescue six people terrorised by Moko in the past two weeks. . . “The problem is we do have a lot of people going out and getting into trouble and they’re not aware of his weight and his strength,” he said. . . . “Some [cases are] not so serious – people wanting to get their surfboards back.”
One woman nearly drowned after the dolphin wouldn’t let her go back to shore because he wasn’t “finished playing with her yet.” Some even fear that Moko may try to “mate” with a human in the near future. Seriously. Brings a whole new meaning to the term “getting dropped in on.”
[Link: ABC.net.au and The Australian]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
The ASP is playing up The Billabong Pipeline Masters battle of surf titans (which could begin tomorrow) with good reason, but here is the lowdown on the title race between Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson:
– Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
– Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
– Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
– If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.
We know Parko edged him at Sunset, but our money is on Mick Fanning. Follow the jump for all the details in the official press release.
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by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Terry Hardy apparently hasn’t let a few ASP improvements get in the way of his plans for the Slater Tour aka CST, according to a story on Surfing Life.
Over the weekend Taj confirmed he had been approached by the CST promoters but told The Australian newspaper: “I don’t really like the sound of it, to be honest. It sounds really unorganised. The guy I spoke to didn’t seem to know that much. It was kind of bizarre. I just thought they’d be a lot better and a lot more organised in their approach. It didn’t seem very professional. . . “It doesn’t sound like they’re going to get the very best guys. If that’s the case, I’m definitely not interested. I’d only do it if all the very best guys were doing it. I’m not interested in separating the top ten in the world. It seems silly. it will just dilute it, i think.
We agree with Taj. Surfing has come too far. And with Andy Irons back on the ASP WCT next year then it really doesn’t matter all that much what Kelly Slater decides to do.
[Links: Surfing Life and The Australian]
by The Editors on December 7, 2009
Looks like the convergence of TV and web is finally bringing some good programming to the table as Fuel TV announces they will be broadcasting the Billabong Pipeline Masters live and direct over their cable network as well as in HD online for those of us who clipped the cables years ago.
Everyone seems to be happy about it:
“We’re excited to be offering the first-ever live broadcast of an ASP World Tour event to the U.S. audience,” says Scott Paridon, FUEL TV Vice President of Production and Development. “And with our networks in Australia and Portugal also broadcasting the contest live, people across three continents will be able to watch all the amazing action at the legendary Billabong Pipeline Masters.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with FUEL TV on this project,” says Graham Stapelberg, Billabong VP of Marketing. “The Pipeline Masters has been the site of so many exciting finishes to the world tour. The greatest surfers have carved out their legacy at this world renowned wave, and this live broadcast will be one that nobody wants to miss!”
Honestly, after catching Fuel.tv’s coverage of the 2009 Tampa Am yesterday we’re not sure we need to see this on cable TV, but there’s no doubt it’s going to look good on those 62 inch Sharp Aquos screens.
Follow the jump for all the details.
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by The Editors on December 6, 2009
About two minutes into the final of the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset 39-year-old Sunny Garcia dropped in on an okay wave, made a couple solid turns, and then ducked perfectly into a racing right barrel. He scored a 9.7 and took the lead for the 30 minutes of the 35 minute heat.
Mick Fanning got some waves, Joel Parkinson grabbed a couple, and Dusty Payne struggled as the sets backed off. Then with two minutes left Parko caught a ripper and snatched the win from Sunny. A collective old-guy sigh was heard around the world. We’d already started writing headlines about how Sunny had come in and dominated the two best surfers in the world. It would have been a great story. But obviously, it was not to be.
“It feels good, but I’m still bummed that I lost,” Garcia said. “I came this far and I wanted to win. I started off with a 9.4 and to need a three at the end of the heat and not get it was a little frustrating. Hopefully, they’ll run the Eddie tomorrow, I’ll go get some big waves and wash out this loss and get ready for Pipe.”
Follow the jump for the press release.
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by The Editors on December 2, 2009
Yep, the locals in Seaside, Oregon are still there. They’re still hard and tough. And they still don’t want anyone else to surf their frozen cold waves. They’ll get no grief from us. But that’s not the case with the local KGW.com news crew.
When KGW photographers and a reporter arrived to the Cove of Seaside, two surfers warned them not to take their cameras out to the Point and take pictures. . . They encountered several surfers –some polite, others irate. . . One surfer stood in front of the photographer’s camera and blocked the lens with his hands. . . “We don’t like cameras taking pictures here,” the man said.
We wouldn’t want thousands of people flocking in for ice-cream headaches either.
[Link: KGW.com]
by The Editors on November 29, 2009
