The Christmas wave “tidings” are not looking promising for Cronulla surfers this year. Let’s face it, the back end of this year hasn’t been record breaking for our beaches anyway - we still havent got ANY banks at all. The Alley bank that was our saving grace has gone and left us with Nada! Nothing-a closeout from go to whoa!
The Swellnet forecast shows the best we can hope for is a 3ft Saturday swell, it might even make 4ft…so the new Christmas presents may get wet after all. My present is 11ft long and comes with a paddle. Before everyone blows up, its for paddling in the lake - I promise. I took it down the coast and my next door neighbour took one look and said “if you paddle that out the Bombie you’ll get beat up!” Thanks genius, they still haven’t accepted professional surfing yet, let alone Mals!
I have just done a story with Ant Pancia on Cronulla shapers for USA's Surfline-check it out here. http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/shapers-alley-cronulla_121330/
While I am sending you places,as part of Cronulla's 100 years Surf Retrospect we are having a photo contest,if you haven't voted go to the Leader site here and vote.
The final Wahu Surfer Groms Comp for 2014 wrapped up in crystal clean one-foot waves last weekend between Wanda and Elouera on Cronulla’s northern stretch.
Jackson Roberts (Bateau Bay) claimed his second Wahu Surfer Groms Comp title in as many events, bagging the win in the Under-14 Boys. Roberts went neck-and-neck with local and recent Surf Dive N Ski Australian Junior Titles competitor Jay Brown (Lilli Pilli) in the final and up until the final 20 seconds, it appeared as though Brown would bring home the bacon, however the local surfer unfortunately fell victim to a critical interference call, which saw him slide into second position and consequently hand the first place trophy to Roberts.
If you have been living under a rock-which isn’t a bad thing-Gabriel Medina, 20, made history, becoming the first Brazilian to claim the prestigious ASP World Title, besting an international field of world-class athletes on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour .The young Brazilian secured his remarkable world surfing crown at the final stop of the season, the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons on Oahu’s North Shore.
“Winning the World Title was my dream and now it’s reality - I’m seriously shocked,” Medina said. “Brazil is partying right now I think. I’m so thankful to be part of this, a lot of guys have tried to do this and I feel honored to be the one. I don’t know why it’s me but I’m really happy it is and I’m so proud to be Brazilian.”
Australian Julian Wilson has won both the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing after defeating World Champion elect Gabriel Medina in the closest Pipe Final on record. The victory marks his only win of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour and his second CT win of his career. He pocketed $100,000 for the event win and a bonus $50,000 for the Triple Crown series.
Now that that’s over, congrats to Fishkiller who won our “Surfpicks” tipping contest JUST beating bigloser with a fail, using John John at Pipe…..we had about 10 starters, next year we want some more.
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) will become the World Surf League (WSL) in 2015, delivering the athleticism, adventure and competitive drama of the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves from around the globe.
The 2015 elite men’s Championship Tour (CT) will be contested by the WSL Top 34, made up of the top 22 finishers on 2014 CT season, the top 10 finishers on the 2014 Qualifying Series (QS) and two WSL wildcards.
The 2015 elite women’s Championship Tour (CT) will be contested by the WSL Top 17, comprised of the top 10 finishers on the 2014 CT, the top six finishers on the 2014 QS and the WSL wildcard.
The circus starts again with reintroduction of a Qualifying Series (QS) event to Burleigh Heads in January 2015. The three-day 2015 Scoot Burleigh Pro, presented by Vissla will be a World Surf League (WSL) QS 1000 rated men’s and women’s event.
The Scoot Burleigh Pro, presented by Vissla will take place January 30th – Feb 1st on the iconic Burleigh Headland and will provide an ideal warm up for some of the best surfers in the world who will later compete at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro’s at Snapper Rocks.
That’s enough rubbish for this week - it/s time to wax up and wait for some waves-a little ENEast swell doesn’t do too much for Cronulla but there is the odd little corner you can find. Till next week.
