The Surf Blog Spot

I was reading the California surf reports this morning and the reports show some chance of fun surf this weekend.  The South Pacific is showing signs of activity.  The predicted storms down by New Zealand looks like they should arrive around January 4-5, 2009.  Central and Southern California should see the best waves.  Keep your eyes open and continue to check the swell forecasts.

Swell Forecasts

In case you forgot…there is only one day left until Christmas!  I hope everybody has been good this year and I hope you do not receive any coal.  Maybe a new surfboard??

Well, if surfing is not your thing on Christmas Eve and you are overwhelmed with the in-laws….then take a seat and find out exactly where Santa is making his next delivery.  He might be coming to your surfing town as we speak.  He might even have a new wetsuit or surfboard for you!!

 Track Santa

The Top 45 surfers on the 2009 ASP World Tour have been decided with surfers rated 1-27 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings automatically re-qualifying for the 2009 tour. Bede Durbidge (AUS) finished runner-up to the World Title holder, Kelly Slater, who won it back in October.  We will have to wait and see if Slater comes back for a 10th ASP World Title.  I bet he does.  What do you think?

World Surfers Numbered 1-10 respectively:

Kelly Slater (USA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Taj Burrow (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Bobby Martinez (USA) Jeremy Flores (FRA).

World Surfers Numbered 11-27 respectively:

Luke Stedman (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Andy Irons (HAW), Chris Ward (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW), Mikael Picon (FRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Ben Dunn (AUS).

Top 15 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfers in ranked order:

Nathaniel Curran (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Gabe Kling (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), David Weare (ZAF), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF),  Tim Boal (FRA), Dustin Barca (HAW) Tiago Pires (PRT), Phillip MacDonald (AUS) and Drew Courtney (AUS).

3 2009 tour wildcards, as decided by the ASP in conjunction with the surfer’s union:

Injury applicants Dean Morrison (AUS) and Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and WQS NO. 16 Marlon Lipke (DEU).

Complete 2008 standings and event list for the entire 2008 ASP World Surfing Tour

Chris Ward, Kelly Slater and Pipeline Master Gerry Lopez

Kelly Slater has Mastered the Banzai Pipeline once again.

Nine-time ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater, just won the 2008 Billabong Pro Pipeline Masters a record sixth time.  This victory was Slater’s sixth tour event win of the 11 event 2008 ASP world tour.  What a great accomplishment for Slater!

The 2008 ASP World Tour has been a dream season for Kelly Slater.  Not only did he set another surfing record this year with his 9th ASP World Title, but he also won 6 out of the 11 ASP Tour events.  Slater clinched the 2008 ASP World Surfing Title back in October at the Billabong Pro Mundaka.  He could have opted out of the Billabong Pro Pipeline Masters event and ended his tour back in Spain.  However, I do not think Slater wanted to end his dream tour without taking a crack at the Pipeline event he has won 5 times and did not want to disappoint his fans. 

Slater has made the Pipeline Masters final 10 out of his last 17 times he entered it.  He won the event in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 and again in 2008.  Ironically enough, Slater’s 9th win comes 9 years after his last Pipeline win.  Plus, this year Slater won his 9th ASP World Title.  I guess Slater’s lucky number in 2008 was the number 9.

Do not forget about the 2008 Billabong Pro Pipeline Masters Triple Crown of Surfing.  The final rounds of the Pipeline Masters surf competition conclude today.  

A new Pipeline Master will be crowned after the final today, as well as, a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champion. The champion should be crowned around 2pm, local Hawaiian time.  The race for the Triple Crown is between three Australians: Joel Parkinson, Tom Whitaker and 2007 Triple Crown Champ Bede Durbidge.

Look for Kelly Slater to make it into the finals!  He is killing it right now in the quarter finals against North Shore local, Jamie O’Brien.

More coverage and live action:  http://billabong.wetsand.com/ 

ASP website:  http://www.aspworldtour.com/2008/

The ASP has their new 2009 global surfing schedule. Find out where your favorite surfers will be surfing in 2009!

There have been some changes to the 2009 ASP surfing format and some location changes. The 2009 ASP Surfing Tour will start in Australia on February 28 and the season will end on Hawaii’s North Shore around the middle of December. One notable event stop not on the 2009 ASP contest lineup is the Tavarua, Fiji Globe Pro. The nine time ASP winner, Kelly Slater, has owned this contest and if he decides to surf the 2009 season, he will definitely miss Fiji. Fijians, ASP surfers and ASP followers will bypass the famous surf breaks of Fiji. The most famous spots like Restaurants and Cloudbreak will surely be missed. Read more……

Find all the 2009 ASP Tour schedules

Wow!  The California Coastal Commission, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), and the MBNMS (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary)  finally made their decision this past week.  They made a decision that will likely disappoint a lot of surfers and a lot of people involved in the surfing industry.  Personal Water Craft (or PWC) use is now restricted in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  This means PWC surfing for Ghost Tree and Moss Landing are off limits.  The ban will take place in early 2009 in all areas of the sanctuary, with the exception of 4 pre-existing zones near boat harbors, as well as a seasonal fifth zone designated specifically for tow-in surfing at Mavericks.  Read more…

I think this ban will only keep out the honest weekend warriors, but will not keep out the pro tow-in surfer teams.  I found the current punishment for violating the ban pretty interesting.  The current penalty for PWCs breaking the MBNMS law is only $500 for first-time offenders and a higher amount for repeat offenders.  This is just pocket change for any pro-surfer or any other surfer making the cover of SURFER Mag or Surfing Mag.  Think about it……$500 fine vs. +$50,000 for making the SURFER mag cover, XXL biggest wave competition check, potential sponsorship.  I think the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages of paying a fine for your shot at an epic Ghost Tree swell.

Ghost Tree is located off of Pescadero Point along the famous Pebble Beach 17-mile drive.  Pebble Beach is located on the western side of the Monterey Bay Peninsula.

Ghost Tree Monterey Bay Peninsula

More information:

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/jointplan/

http://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2007/8/F4c-8-2007.pdf

A Brazilian just broke the world record for surfing on the longest surfboard after riding a 30 ft. (9.16 meter) longboard for more than 10 seconds.

Rico de Souza, who broke his 2006 record, has done it again. He broke his 2006 record on a 26.4 ft. “shorter board.” I wonder what his next world record longboard will measure??

Watch Rico de Souza surf his world record longboard

A second world record surfboard (4:44min) video with more surfing and cooler music

I was searching around the net for surf forecasts and found some interesting swell predictions.  The experts are predicting a strong North Pacific storm for the end of next week.  Northern California, the Central Coast, and Southern California will all see increased wave heights and stronger waves.  NorCal and the Central Coast should look for the swell to peak on Friday.  The swell will continue down the coast and light up all the surf spots from Point Conception to Baja California.  Looks like late Friday and Saturday will be the best bet for Southern California.

Check the California surf forecasts

Congrats to the Aussie, Bede Durbidge, for winning the 2008 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil.  This was Bede’s 3rd career ASP event win and moves into 2nd place in the 2008 ASP World Tour standings.

There is only one more stop on the 2008 ASP World Tour.  The next and last stop this year will conclude at the world famous Banzai Pipeline, Oahu-Hawaii.  The Billabong Pipeline Masters will go down December 8-20, 2008.  Bede Durbidge will be rolling into the North Shore with tons of confidence.  Not only did he just win at the 2008 Hang Loose Pro, but he will be defending his 2007 Billabong Pipeline Masters victory at this years final tour stop.  Look for Bede to lock up his ASP second place finish this year by winning at Pipe.

Top 10 2008 ASP World Tour Surfers After The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 8042
2. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6780
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 6324
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6180
5. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5860
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5748
7. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 5370
8. Mick Fanning (AUS) 5310
9. Bobby Martinez (USA) 5282
10. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5214

The 2008 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro starts October 28. The event is jam packed with local Brazilian surfers and only some of the top 45 ASP pro surfers. Some top names have opted out of this years Santa Catarina Pro. Some missing notables include 9-time world champion Kelly Slater, World #3 Joel Parkinson, 3-time world champion Andy Irons, his brother Bruce Irons, 2-time defending Santa Catarina Pro winner Mick Fanning, Bobby Martinez, and Luke Munro.

The ASP World Tour #2, Taj Burrow, has been very consistent in Brazil. He won 3 of his ASP World Tour career events in Brazil and looks to add a fourth one. With so many top ASP surfers out of this years competition, Taj Burrow will surf against the best Brazilian talent.

Live Coverage

ASP World Tour

Do not miss the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz, CA. The event takes place October 21-26, 2008.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic is an ASP 4-Star event and is event #40 on the ASP WQS Men’s Tour. Catch the action at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California.

Round 5 was completed Saturday, October 25 and will start up again Sunday, October 26. A couple of local Santa Cruz surfers look to keep this years title in Santa Cruz.

Watch the live action

There is a big storm in the South Pacific generating some really nice SSW-SW swell for Southern California, Baja Mexico, Mainland Mexico, and Central America.

The swell predictors are forecasting great swell for October 22-25, depending on your location. Southern California surfers should look for the new swell to peak during October 24-25. Shoulder-head high+ surf should be the story for Southern California, while Southern Baja and Central America receiving solid, overhead surf.

Check out the long range surf forecast for Southern California

Go to wavewatch.com for your local surf forecasts

Kelly Slater has already won the 2008 ASP World Surfing Tour Title, but there are still 2 surfing events left on the surfing world tour.  The race for the top 10 ASP World Tour rankings is still up for grabs.  There are 6 Australians in top 10 contention.  Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, and Bede Durbidge are battling it out for the top 3 spots after 2008 title holder, Kelly Slater.  There is only 1 Brazilian (Adriano de Souza) in the top 10 rankings and look for him to step up his sufing in the next contest.  Adriano will be surfing in his “backyard.”

The next ASP Tour surf stop takes place at the Hang Loose Pro in Santa Catarina, Brazil.  Adriano de Souza’s home turf is Brazil and he is from Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Sao Paulo is two states above Santa Catarina and both states offer a long coastline of surf spots.  Adriano is “Brazil’s Favorite Son” and he has gained significant recognition on this years ASP World Tour.  He has already earned $101,000 on the 2008 ASP tour, compared to Kelly Slater’s tour earnings of $185,100.  One of Adriano’s fellow Brazilians, Bruno Santos, won the 2008 Billabong Pro Teahupoo, Tahiti.  Bruno Santos won the event as a wildcard and had to surf his way through the Von Zipper Trials.  He eventually made it into the main draw of the 2008 Billabong Pro Tahiti and defeated local Tahitian, Manoa Drollet.

I have not been to Brazil yet, but if anybody has surfed this area or visited this area, please comment on this blog and talk about your experiences.  Thanks!

Look for Adriano de Souza to make some surfing noise on the ASP World Tour stop #10.

The Hang Loose Pro Santa Catarina, Brazil takes place October 28 - November 5, 2008.

CJ Hobgood beat fellow surfer Joel Parkinson at the 2008 Billabong Pro Mundaka, Spain.  This was stop number 9 on the 11 event ASP Tour.  Who will make it to the top 10? Second place? Third place? 

There are 3 Australian surfers battling it out for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in the overall ASP Tour standings.  The next 2 events will be fun ones to watch.  Next up is the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Santa-Catarina, Brazil.  Then the whole 2008 ASP season concludes at the Billabong Pipeline Masters and the Banzai Pipeline, Oahu-Hawaii.  Pipeline is where second and third place could be decided.

 Billabong Pro Mundaka Final Results:
Final: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 18.50 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.83

Billabong Pro Mundaka Semifinal Heat Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.80 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.50
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.66 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 6.70

ASP World Tour Top 10 after Stop No. 9 of 11 – Billabong Pro Mundaka
Kelly Slater (USA) 8042 points
Taj Burrow (AUS) 6324 points
Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6180 points
Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5990 points
Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5748 points
C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5760 points
Adrian Buchan (AUS) 5730 points
Mick Fanning (AUS) 5310 points
Bobby Martinez (USA) 5282 points
Luke Stedman (AUS) 4696 points

Kelly Slater Wins Number 9

Slater only needed a ninth place finish to wrap up the 2008 ASP surfing season.  Kelly Slater has done it again.  Or should I say, he has done it 9 times again.  Slater won his 9th ASP World Surfing Title at the Billabong Pro Mundaka, Spain.  That is better than Lance Armstrong. He only needed to advance past round 3 of competition and that he did.  He ended up beating local Basque surfer Eneko Acero with a combined score of 14.96 vs. 10.00.  Then Tom Whitaker (AUS) knocked Kelly Slater (USA) out of the Billabong Pro Mundaka contest with a perfect 10 and an 8.00 during Heat #4 of Round 4.  In 2006, Slater won his 8th world title at this same surf spot.  There are only 2 ASP surfing events left in the 2008 season.  Who will come in second? Third?

The event could finish Saturday with the quarterfinals already decided.

Round 4 Billabong Pro Mundaka Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.27 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 16.43
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.00 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.73
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 5.83
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 18.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.43
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 11.17
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.50 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.50
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.94 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.80
Heat 8: Luke Stedman (AUS) 15.00 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 8.63

Upcoming Billabong Pro Mundaka Quarterfinal Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)

Kelly Slater will surf against Basque wildcard Eneko Acero in Heat 8.  The contest officials will likely start the contest at 8:30am (local Mundaka time) tomorrow morning.  If Slater wins he will clinch his 9th ASP World Titl.  Contest officials also expect to run overlapping heats again.  With only a certian amount of surfable waves during the contest waiting period, the officials need to complete as many heats as possible.  Thursday had the most heats ever surfed in one day of an ASP surfing event.  Slater and Acero will paddle out an hour and 20-minutes after competition starts Friday.

The contest is LIVE on www.billabongpro.com

The 2008 Billabong Pro Mundaka, Spain has started.  The first contest rounds were surfed this morning in 2 foot A-frame peaks.  Not the normal firing left-handed barrels that Mundaka spits out on a solid swell.  Too bad the surfers had to wake up to such fickle waves.  Hopefully, the forecasted swell fills in Thursday and pumps out some better scoring waves.  Watching 3 and 4 point scores on waves aren’t as fun as watching 8’s or 9’s!

Watch out for the 4 Euskadi (Basque for the Basque region of Spain) surfers in this years event.  There are a total of 8 non-tour surfers competing because 5 full-time ASP World Tour surfers could not make the event.  The 8 non-tour surfers are comprised of 5 replacement surfers and 3 event wildcards.

Watch the surf contest live www.billabongpro.com/mundaka08