Going for your guns at Nazare
In just three hours time the hooter will sound on the first big wave paddle competition at Nazare. It's a daunting prospect both for the WSL and their forecasting team, who want a big swell but not too big, and the surfers, many of whom have never paddled Naz before. Heck, some of them haven't even tow surfed it before.
When it comes to its playing field, Nazare makes Sunset Beach look like Aussie Pipe. It's enormous. And the random nature of those intersecting vectors, where waves double in size and feather for 300 metres, makes positioning a crap shoot.
So for a viewing spectacle it could go either way: whole heats may pass with few waves attempted, or competitors will maximise the chance of entry - and the chance of being cleaned up - by sitting further inside. Obviously that'll be much more entertaining.
It's currently just past 5am in Nazare. The air temperature is is 2 degrees and the wind is blowing 7kts from the north-northeast. Which isn't a bad direction, though there were north-northwest gusts through the night so daylight should reveal some residual lumps. It's expected to remain from the north but pick up throughout the day.
It's too late now for it to be called off so competitors wil be paddling out regardless. And here's just some of the equipment they'll be using.
Damo Hobgood, pictured here with his 11 foot Christenson gun, is in the first heat of the day.
Greg Long is also in heat one. His longest board is a 10'0" Christenson.
Twiggy is in heat two.
Two-time Jaws winner Billy Kemper is in heat three. Pictured here with a 10'0" Pukas.
Christian Morello is also in heat three and also riding a Pukas gun, his measring 10'4" with a sweet resin tint.
Will Skudin from New York is in heat four.
Comments
Morellos board looks amazing. I love the little swallow tail on it
Interesting to see how a couple have gone with a local board (Pukas) instead of bringing in their own equipment. I think Twiggy has an existing relationship with Pukas, but Kemper would surely have a Hawaiian shaper as his go-to, wouldn't he?
They have learnt to eliminate the cargo and the boards are pumped out via pukas & twig surfboards
So looking forward to this!!!
Its on .
Twig has a special beachie gun
terrible spectacle, big waves need a lineup.
Totally disagree FR it's amazing bloodsport (I think taking a 20ft wedge on the head with no channel and a nasty sweep towards the rocks gets danger points)! Koa Rothmann and Kemper got absolutely annihilated.
I tried to watch it.
For five minutes it was like wow those guys are crazy and you can see the size and power of that whitewater.
But then five minutes latter after seeing a few waves ridden , i was over it.
Always feels so distant and detached from the action because you are so far away.
And no offence to anyone but European accents just drive me crazy so it didn't help after i muted the volume.
I wondered what Ricky Gervais has been up to. Is this Nazare thingy his latest comedy series?
Anyway, Potts said the real monster wave was caught by that Japanese athlete at
suss Pipeline.
These guys are next level.
Anyone catch the Tom Butler wipeout?
What an arse-kicking! I was scared we were going to be witness to an online drowning.
Im with you zen ..i was thinking the same re a drowning...fuck those cunts are going hard phew !
Gonna have to do away with the comp rashies ...apart from having to be knife modified on the beach to allow easy use of the c02 caninsters ...one of those things will come loose and drown someone soon.
I want to see the after comp Kai Lenny show
Who ever the clown was who stated that this place didn't really count as a genuine big wave spot and basically described it as a soft beach break I'm calling him a total dick head. This
joint is heavy as anywhere in the world. I think it was big ego Bradshaw many years ago.
Jamie Mitchell smoked them in every heat. Absolute standout.
Kenny would have gone !
I think they said Kenny's done his shoulder. Or maybe it was his knee. Or neck. Or back. Or hip. Plus they said he caught a virus. Kenny's gone. The specialist said its really serious. Pretty much unfixable. Unbearable pain. He can barely move.
Hang on, I just heard he had shower and it came good! He went for a walk with his aunty who does does Tai Chi too. All fixed! Its a miracle!
Jamie Mitchell, guts effort!
Awesome Jamie, totally earned it.
Well done.
Yeah well deserved JM, charged in the final. They all deserve a medal though. Quality viewing despite the usual wsl waffle, a good first attempt for the event, be interesting when the waves really turn on.
'The siren sounds and at the first bounce of the 2017 AFL Grand Final an athlete (he weighs his food) wins the tap against another athlete (he trains) and taps it to an athlete running through the centre. We have penetration. Athletes are moving on the other side of the ground (they could dominate any sport and also weigh their food), however no penetration. An athlete (he's next level, weighs his food and trains) marks the ball 3 meters out, straight in front. That athlete penetrates and kicks the goal athletically! That was an absolute monster 3 meter kick, that was a monstrous kick, that was huge! An absolute massively monstrous kick by the athlete (who trains, weighs his protein and could dominate any sport)! These kids! Rosie!
'The bell sounds for round one, an athlete (he weighs his food) moves to the centre of the ring, the other athlete (these kids train) attempts penetration, but no penetration, just a quick in out! A tapping jab lands on an athlete (he could dominate any sport), we have attempted penetration! That was a monster tapping jab! That jab was massive, an absolutely massive, monstrous athletic (these kids train) monster of a jab! Rosie!'
Where have we heard all this before? Ah yes, 'Muhummad bugs' and the 'Bronzed Aussies' ride again. Version 1,000,000,523,752.63 now playing.
And the shrill, desperate, pleading bleat again rings out, although now in the right royal dulcet tones.
'SOMEBODY FUCKING PAY US!!!'
'Know the real story ..any truth in it ...email it to the editor'
Ross Clarke Jones can't speak highly enough of weight training, in gyms. He miraculously fixed his debilitating, 'horrific' knee injury using Kieser Machines and methods (Arthur Jones, Nautilus). In his own words 'I Kieser to keep surfing.' Despite previously being trained (although secretly) into the 'worlds greatest athlete' by Brutus, who hated but loved weight training, and openly denouncing training muscles, in the worlds greatest movie, (Drifters on the Storm Riders in the Desert Storm in a Tea Cup) Clarke Jones says that he wishes he'd done it much earlier, as it would have had such an impact on his surfing. Better late than never.
The above highlights among many things how useful, successful and efficient the results from correct machine weight training in a gym facility are, and not just for 'athletes', which, is the exact opposite to 'expert' advice asserted on this site. Still, as is often the case, even the most brilliant machine can be dangerous in the hands of inexperienced, ignorant, or just plain stupid users. Likewise the results of experienced, correct weight training in gym facilities are shown to dramatically enhance and prolong surfing performance, again, the opposite to the advice on this site. Although much of that obviously incorrect advice was espoused by the infamous, swellnetted 'Smashed Crab Yogis' brigade.
We have Penetration. Although perhaps a quick in out.
This is the best Christmas present ever. I knew you couldn't stay away too long you big muscly hunk of beef
It's a Xmas miracle, Goofy! Or is that Festivus? First the 'airing of grievances' then the 'feats of strength' comin' right up! Huzzah!
Jamie did GO!
After putting on a good show, the WSL have again made it tricky to find highlights and whatnot, but here's something worth checking out. Nic Lamb charging crazy hard.
Why no heat replay?
watched first heat then the end of the final......
It's hard to sell a product if it doesn't exist !
Why no heat replay?
watched first heat then the end of the final......
It's hard to sell a product if it doesn't exist !
i think i saw G Mac get interviewed at one point, and he spoke about he and Damien Hobgood going back over the falls on a ski on the way out, but I didnt see it live or hear anymore of it (fell asleep). I cant find anything about it online today. anyone else see or hear that? got any links? (maybe i was dreaming :)
I saw it Willy (the interview) GMac said they were stroking out and they were looking pretty good and then Damo slipped off his board (they were right next to each other) they lost that bit of time and in that instant they were cleaned up. That's from what I can recall anyway. They didn't show a replay throughout the webcast. Maybe they didn't catch it on vid? Happy to stand corrected.
thanks, that makes more sense - no ski, i'd still be keen to see the vid tho, like u said, prob no footage.
PS Nic Lamb getting flogged two in a row- takes a special kind of maniac to back up for another one of those.
Total respect.
Gary really loves the big wave tour for the general Eliteness (TM) of the athletes.