If Cronulla surfers were blown away by today's surf conditions –wait for the weekend!
I was wondering where all the surfers were this morning, apart from a 30 knot souwester blowing the spindrift into your face as you tried to take off, the swell was up a little but there still wasn’t a bank on the beach. We ended up surfing a closeout peak in the middle of North Cronulla and by 6am it was THE only peak on the beach. When Wylie paddled out it was a giveaway. There wasn’t one other surfer on the whole beach- just eight people out the Alley.
Hold all calls though, the Swellnet surf forecast is almost gushing in its prediction for pumping 6 ft waves on the weekend. Picking up tomorrow, there is a large South swell on the way with offshores in tow. Friday is when it gets good, with a long period south swell in the Tasman Sea “Surf size will be largest at south facing beaches, where we should see a steady upwards trend into the 6-8ft range by the end of the day (much smaller earlier tho'). Bigger waves are also possible at offshore swell magnets and up in the Hunter (10ft?). However beaches not open to the south will be smaller (late afternoon peak around 4-5ft) with smaller surf again inside protected southern corners (2-3ft).”-(Swellnet)
Just when you thought it was safe to get in the water, the Rip Curl GromSearch is a worldwide series of events designed especially for grommets. From Australia to America it gives groms the centre stage to show everyone what they’ve got. What they have got is a four day contest at North Cronulla, starting tomorrow!
Nashy is probably getting his phone out now to complain but if the predictions are good so will be the surfing, so if you can get a park( I never can) you should have a look. The Australian series is made up of five events and a National final (ratings based invite ONLY) around the nation and in past years has seen some incredible surfers on the winners’ podium including; Stephanie Gilmore, Jordy Smith, Ben Dunn, Matt Wilkinson, Owen Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons and Laura Enever.
Speaking of hero’s, Tyler Wright has claimed victory at the Roxy Pro France, besting Courtney Conlogue (USA) in a hard-fought Final as a packed crowd looked on at the primary site of Les Gardians.The Roxy Pro France enjoyed high-quality surf throughout the competition, suitably peaking today and providing the background for a major shakeup in the race for the ASP Women’s World Title.
Wright wasted little time in the final, racking up a bevy of excellent scores for powerful and progressive surfing on the afternoon righthanders. Incorporating power turns, aerials and high-speed surfing, the young Australian collected the highest heat total of the event, an 18.53 out of a possible 20.
“The conditions were so fun out there and I just got into a great rhythm,” Wright said. “I think my first four waves were all over 9 points so I was really having fun. I’ve had a lot of success here in France over the years and I’m rapt to put another win on the board for this year.”The win vaults Wright from 4th to 2nd on the ASP Women's World Championship Tour rankings and well within striking distance of a maiden world title heading into the final two events of the year.
Sally Fitz blew her chance when she gave Tyler the first wave under priority in the quarters.
In the mens, small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) range has prompted event organizers to call a lay day for the Quiksilver Pro France.
Stop No. 9 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France is a critical stop in both the hunt for the world surfing crown as well as the battle for requalification. The event will resume when conditions improve.
“Cleaner today but much smaller and not a high frequency for waves,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “We’ve called competition off for the day and will return in the morning to reassess conditions.”
Siargao Island, Philippines - Local surfer Piso Alcala (PHL) has taken out the 20th Annual Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 1-Star Qualifying Series (QS) event that’s also sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC).
Alcala also took out this event in 2008 and 2012 and sealed his third win today, and the first ever by a Filipino on the ASP QS, in dominant fashion netting two near-perfect rides in the Final to finish with a heat total of 19.45 out of a possible 20. Alcala was by far the standout surfer on Finals day dispatching the last international surfer, Chris Zaffis (AUS), in the Semifinals and fellow local, John Mark Tokong (PHL), in the Quarterfinals-I couldn’t show you any pics because their server was down but the waves looked really good.
Jared Hickel and Paris both had wins in last weeks Subway Summer Surf Series in Newcastle, which was an excellent warm up for the upcoming Aussie titles in WA.
In news close to my heart-The International Surfing Association (ISA) announced today that Nauru, Sri Lanka and Cayman Islands have become its 87th, 88th and 89th Member Federations, taking the organization a step closer to reaching its goal of 100 member nations in 2015.
The ISA's international growth and development is a key part of the ISA's mission, as the International Federation for the sport. The universality, appeal, consistent growth and reach amongst young people world wide, are a key elements of the ISA's ambitions of making Surfing an Olympic sport.
As I am one of the only people in the world to have surfed in both Nauru and Sri Lanka I feel I am compelled to wonder what the “Nauru surf club” looks like. If you look at the picture one kid is holding a rake? And another guy is holding a stick spiked through 20 beer cans-no surfboards in sight.
If any of these guys can take off on a “Nauraun “death close out good luck to them because the only waves are the odd peaks breaking onto 6 inches of live coral. Enjoy!