If any parents out there have any more children they want to farm out-send them down to the Alley, because when Greg McCarthy called it "kiddies corner" he wasn't kidding!
Fair dinkum, you can almost walk on the water they're so thick.
With that rant I will start the surf report; the 2ft south swell has finally got here even though the constant easterly wind has made it a lumpy mess with no power to speak of. If only yesterday's perfect conditions had translated into today's swell it would be happy days for Cronulla surfers.
The Swellnet forecast looks somewhat somber for the week with Friday the pick of the days where it might actually crack the 3ft mark, even though the wind will be onshore the whole time. The bank situation hasn't really improved either with the Alley bank being murdered daily and a couple of half-forming sand spits up the beach looking like they might have some potential. The only thing we have going for us is this small wave cycle normally builds banks, as opposed to the bigger swells that can destroy them.
If you have been getting up early for the ASP morning show you will know that the woman's comp at Maui has just been called on "It's looking really nice out there so we are on," said ASP Women's Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer. "We've started to see the bay come alive and it's going to be a really exciting Round 1."
The Vans World Cup of Surfing - the second stage of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing at Sunset Beach, on Oahu's North Shore - will also start today with Round 1. Solid surf in the 10 to 15-foot wave face range is on offer for start of the ASP Prime rated Qualifying Series event.
Among those to hit the water in the opening round will be Ian Walsh (HAW); Brent Dorrington (AUS); Frederico Morais (PRT); and Krystian Kymerson (BRA). The Vans World Cup is a 4-day competition that will utilize the biggest and best surf between now and December 6. All events are free and open to the public-just jump on the first flight you can! LIVE webcast at aspworldtour.com and vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com.
Breaking news-Connor Oleary got a second in his round 1 heat and will surf again in heat 8 round 2-Connor needs the points,so get behind him.
The Kiama Subway® Summer Surf Series event wrapped up on Sunday in clean two-foot peaks at Werri Beach.Local South Coast surfer Luke Wrice (Coledale) put his fellow finalists on the ropes when he posted a heat total of 16.17, which proved too much of an uphill battle for his fellow competitors. Jared Hickel was the best performed local with a fourth in the final.
After claiming two runner-up finishes in previous NSW Subway® Summer Surf Series events, Kirra-Belle Olsson (Avoca) managed to break the runner-up curse and claim the title in Under-18 Girls. The Central Coast goofy-footer avoided a critical interference call with Paris Whittaker to edge ahead of her fellow finalists with a heat total of 12.17. Paris picked up third place.
The third day of the ISA's Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival marked the start of the Hainan Classic, Men's 4-Star ASP Qualifying Series event. Day One of the competition took place at the picturesque left point break at Riyue Bay with challenging surfing conditions. A small fading ENE windswell provided 2-3ft surf during the favorable morning low tide, however, as the tide rose during the first half of the day, conditions deteriorated with surf in the 1-2ft range.
In my favorite story of the day,the International Surfing Association (ISA) has welcomed Nepal and Bangladesh as its newest Member Federations, further driving the expansion of Surfing in Asia.
Global development is a key element of the ISA's strategy and the consistent growth and reach amongst young people is a driving force behind the ISA's ambitions of making Surfing an Olympic sport-imagine that - "Gold to Nepal".
The Bangladesh Surf Club, the governing body for Surfing in the South Asian country, was formed in 2003 with the support of Surfing the Nations - a humanitarian Surfing organization. Jafar Alam, President of the Surf Club, has been instrumental in the growth of Surfing in Bangladesh providing many young people with an identity whilst Nepal is totally landlocked-no surf! So, the paddleboarders will have to step up.
Finally (I know it's not one of my best) Nominations are now open for the 2015 Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame. Surfing’s night of nights will be held in Manly, Sydney, on 12th February, 2015 and will feature the who’s who of the Australian surfing community.
Current ASP Men’s World Tour Champion Mick Fanning and current ASP Women’s World Title contender Tyler Wright took the honours last year for the Male and Female Surfer of the Year awards, while North Narrabeen great Col Smith became the 36th inductee into the Hall of Fame.
Other awards to be presented on the night will be the Rising Star Award, Waterman of the Year, ASB Surfing Spirit Award, Peter Troy Lifestyle Award, Surf Culture Award and the Simon Anderson Club Award. The 37th inductee will be voted on by members of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.
The Awards will also feature the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year and Nikon Surf Movie of the Year, which will showcase the finest work taken by Australia’s best surf photographers and filmmakers during the past 12 months.
For more information and to nominate visit www.australiansurfingawards.com or for information on the Nikon Surf Photo and Movie of the Year visit www.mynikonlife.com.au/partners/surfing-australia so check out Hawaii and book your tickets, everyone else is!
That's all folks!
