Surf Report with John Veage, March 4, 2015

Today’s 1 ft. east bump is good for kids and desperados and the Nth Cronulla  shore dump was as dangerous as it gets this morning: six-year old kids ,80-year-old swimmers, floating photographers and frothing Fishwits made it all  an experience not to be forgotten.

It is as small as it gets so the good news from Swellnet is the southerly that is due tomorrow will bring with it some new swell, 3-5ft heading into the weekend. Surf early if you want the good winds and surf often if you want the good waves.

More good news – there is a rumour that there is another bank on the beach, hallelujah. After three months of the Alley getting hammered there is now an option at Wanda so please spread the love!

The Subway Summer Surf Series will call Cronulla home this weekend when the elite two-day competition kicks off on Saturday.

The Cronulla event looks set to showcase more than 100 of the country's best male and female surfers in the under-16, under-18 and under-21 divisions.

“Surfing NSW has had the privilege of hosting three Subway® Summer Surf Series events so far and over that time we’ve been blown away by the level of competition,” said Surfing NSW CEO Mark Windon.

“Cronulla currently has a rise of impressive talent coming through the ranks, so it’s safe to say there’ll be some stiff competition against the local contingent.”

It is also the official last weekend of Surf Retrospect where the Cronulla surfing walk of fame is unveiled on Sunday morning at 10am. Bronze plaques are to be placed along the Wall of all Cronulla’s elite surfers form international competition, including 1999 world champ Occy and 2 times world Kneeboard champ Gavin Colman.

There is also a ticket only function to honour 40 years of surfing service to Jackson surfboards owners Jim Parko and Dave Maddo at South Cronulla bowling club on Sunday afternoon.

The opening stop on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ, has been called OFF for the day with only small surf on offer at Snapper Rocks. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning to assess conditions and make the next call. 

Yesterday Hawaiian surfers Coco Ho (HAW) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) were the standout performers of the day, each dominating their Round 2 heats and making the most of what Snapper Rocks had to offer.

An unusual Round 2 appearance for Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) saw her face Bronte Macaulay (AUS). The trials winner pushed Gilmore throughout their heat, holding the lead for much of the bout. With one minute remaining the pressure was on with Macaulay still occupying the top spot. The 6-time reigning WSL Champion kept her composure and found a wave in the dying seconds, using her skill and experience to claim a come-from-behind victory and avoid early elimination.

In the mens, Reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) proved just why he wears the yellow jersey in his heat against compatriot Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) and wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA). The Brazilian pair went blow for blow with the rookie testing Medina, holding the lead with an 8.93 and leaving Reynolds in a combination situation. The Champion answered back with a near-perfect 9.50 and the highest two-wave heat total of the day, an 18.30 (out of 20), to seal the win and his place in Round 3.

“That was a tough heat against Wiggolly,” Medina said. “I knew it would be a tough heat because I’ve been watching him over the years and his backside is dangerous. He put some good scores on the board but luckily I got that last wave and I made it, I’m stoked.”

Heat 5 saw a thrilling battle unfold between three-time World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), rookie Matt Banting (AUS) and trials winner Jack Freestone (AUS), who took to the water in an all-Australian match-up. All three surfers put on a show but it was Banting who held the lead at the halfway point. A fired-up Fanning put the pressure back on, posting the highest single-wave score of the day, a near-perfect 9.73, but it wasn’t enough to take the lead from the rookie, who claimed the first CT win of his career and caused the upset of the day. Fanning and Freestone will surf again in elimination Round 2 if the surf ever picks up!

The conclusion of the 2014/2015 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) today sees Makuakai Rothman (HAW) become BWT Champion. The Hawaiian previously spent several years battling on the WSL Qualifying Series before being offered a wildcard to compete in the BWT this season. Rothman surpassed all expectations, finishing his first Big Wave season with 20,833 points on the rankings, almost 7,000 points ahead of this year's runner up Gabriel Villaran (PER). 

“I feel amazing to be the WSL Big Wave Champion, it’s a dream come true,” said Rothman. “I wasn’t invited to all events and here I am, the world champion this year as a wildcard”. Rothman solidified his place atop the rankings with a runner-up finish at the second and final BWT event of the season, the Punta Galea Challenge in the Basque Country. On Thursday, December 11, 2014, Rothman fought through to the Final where he battled eventual winner Nic Lamb (USA). The pair traded nine-point rides before Lamb took the win with a Perfect 10 and the Hawaiian came in second place. The result was enough for Rothman to secure his maiden title and he becomes the second Big Wave Champion from Hawaii , after Jamie Sterling, since the tour was founded in 2009.

Finally, Eight VEGEMITE SurfGroms were living the dream across the weekend as VIP guests at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. 

Quiksilver and Roxy ambassadors including four-time World Champions Mark Richards and Lisa Andersen along with Craig Anderson were on hand to teach the next generation of surfers. Funnily enough my sons  boss’s daughter was one of the recipients-Olivia Herman (9 - Lilli Pilli, NSW - Surfing Cronulla Surf School)

Till next week.