Forecast: Margaret River Pro presented by Uluwatu
After four completed events, it finally feels like this year's CT is building some momentum. The early rounds of the Corona Bali Pro may have delivered some surprises - Florence, Wright, Wilkinson, and Wilson all fell in Round 3 - yet the surfing in the later rounds was the best we've seen all year. Each heat was hard fought with surfers going faster, higher, stronger. Can the specatcle continue?
The next stop is the cancelled Margaret River Pro, hastily rebadged as the Uluwatu Pro, with the Men's restarting at Round 3 and Women's the Quarter Finals. The waiting period has already begun - the first heat must paddle out within 72 hours of Keramas finishing - and then the competition completed by June 13th.
As Keramas only finished yesterday we'd have to assume the WSL will be looking at starting competition tomorrow - today being used to pack and ship the big top across the island.
That allows for nine days to pick and choose, and there'll be no shortage of swell though all of it will be mid-range: think 3 to perhaps 5 foot, Racetracks not OC. The tour goofyfoots have long cried out for a performance left and it appears they'll get their wish.
Tomorrow will begin around 4 foot before a long-range and inconsistent swell fills in throughout the day taking the energy up a notch to around 4 to 5 foot. This swell is courtesy of a distant storm that formed in the Southern Ocean late last week, and while not particularly strong it was broad and persistent, and will provide two days of mid-range waves before dropping out.
Following Tuesday's peak, Wednesday should begin around 3-5 foot and end around 4 foot, with Thursday down into the 3 foot range and the organisers looking towards the next swell cycle.
The Racetrack is still ridable at 3 foot though tidal variations start playing a large part in the quality of the wave.
By midday Friday another swell will fill in providing three more day of mid-range waves. This swell is the product of an even more distant storm, so the direction and period will be similar to the first swell though it'll be noticeably weaker. Friday is looking at a slow increase from 3 foot to 4 foot by close of play, Saturday will see 4 foot sets most of the day, before the swell slowly drops out through Monday, and is back down to 3 feet by Tuesday. Nothing particularly exciting in that mix.
There may be another swell on the last day of the waiting period, the 13th, however it's too distant to be confident. We'll watch the storm, and if the competition is still going by that point, then we'll post the forecast in the comments section below.
Comments
Where will the Comp zone extend? Do they get to take off at the top of point or only racetracks?
I assume they get access to the whole reef, but from memory the 2008 Search event had the scaffolding looking straight down on the Racetrack, it being the most dependable part of the reef, and I reckon they'll do the same this time around.
Size / tide
look at live cam today.
WSL still has the event window as April 11-22...they're a bit slow over there...
The WSL website is a mess regarding this Ulus event which could theoretically start tomorrow.
I looked for the start dates/window earlier and nothing, you'd think they'd have it up there by now.
I was hoping for pumping peak more variety better view and more scope.
Or cranking Temples at mid to high tide.
I can only deduce there is still some discussion with the authorities about when the event can begin.
You mean how much money the authorities can squeeze out of the WSL before they're permitted hahaha.
Small Ulus should be good at least..
And a great time for a Bintang on the cliffs..
Still nothing on the App or Websitr. Complete silence. I'd be very surprised if it starts tomorrow given it is 10.30pm now AEST. The surfer prob know....
It's incredible, isn't it?
Their original press release said "to start within 48 hours of the Keramas comp finishing" (I paraphrase). You'd think an organisation hell bent on looking professional would tighten up its PR/Comms act.
Still radio silence on the WSL site.
Hard to even find a mention of it.
They have a page with Uluwatu CT on it but still showing Margaret River pics and info.
No forecast info, no news etc etc.
Bizarre.
Just a theory, not so sure about it myself, but betting agencies say betting closes Friday June 8th. Maybe they’ve been told?
About two years ago the WSL schedule had just two days between Bells and Margarets, and that was transporting the whole gig across the continent.
Leaving five days to move from Keramas to Uluwatu seems excessive, especially as it would only leave them a further five days to run Men's and Women's.
Something is up. Something is not going to plan. I can’t see the lack of update on their website being an accident
Agree. Feels like something is amiss.
Ever tried to d business in Indo ? Nothing happens quickly except the cash leaving your wallet.
Ever tried to d business in Indo ? Nothing happens quickly except the cash leaving your wallet.
Did anyone else catch Jordys loose comment when they stopped surfing in pumping waves when he said can you believe we are stopping for a wedding. It was during his rd4 post heat interview. I don’t think he was supposed to say that.
That was interesting. Jordy has a habit of spilling the beans in interviews, especially when his emotions are running high.
Sounds like JJ is out but I guess they can't announce that since you wouldn't even know there was a comp on in Bali this week from their website....other than the one just finished. Event window opens April LOL !!!!!!!
A bit joggly but some 5 fters out Ulu this morn
WSL website is a shocker for navigating.
Some pages you can access the heat analyser, others you can't.
The other day I wanted to know the rankings, couldn't find it anywhere.
There was an athletes page, but no rankings.
Found a link down the bottom that said rankings - took me to the athletes.
Searched in google and found my way in.
Shambles.
They've fixed that one now but there is always something shit about it. Trying too hard to be fancy rather than simple and accessible.
Today and tomorrow have to be run, and there's nothing to see or hear..
Is there any action on the cliffs at ulus?
They’d need a day to set up the gear wouldn’t they?
http://balibelly.com/uluwatu/
Doesn't appear to be a mass of humanity like you'd expect?
I've bali's best have gotten better or I spy plenty of pros on the webcam
Just up - "Next Call June 8" so Friday it is then
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2018/mct
Next call 8th June, 7am SGT
Is June 13 , 14 , 15 and 16 still in the event window?
Nah, supposed to end on the 13th.
....but then it was supposed to start within two days of Keramas ending so I suppose anything could happen.
Yep so they've decided to run from the 8th til the 10th, missing the next few days which look better than Fri-Sun. Smart one WSL...
The WSL has just announced via their website that the contest will now only run till the 10th, meaning they have just three days to finish Men's and Women's.
"The Uluwatu CT Event Window Will Run June 8th - June 10th"
With only 3 days for mens and womens I don't this it will be 8th for "the call". They wont have much choice but to start.
BREAKING NEWS
Medina was harassed by tiger shark yesterday arvo, Ulu's has been cancelled !
Ha ha that's funny sunlover my wife is at ulus saying a lot of pros are out
in the water now, Brazilians winning the free surfs.
Bit of a bummer really the forecast dosent look great for a while.
What could have been a amazing return to Ulu is shaping up to be a rushed piss poor effort
Sounds like the local authorities gave the go ahead for the contest, sat back and waited until the WSL committed and announced the event, then come the actual date stepped up and said "Ok Mr. Sucker Billionaire, it's time to seriously grease some palms...hahahahaha". Sophie the Sledgehammer just can't surrender to Indo style business and the whole thing is turning into a farce.
Yep, this ^^
on the money
You put a women in charge well just watch the shit happen.
Fuck off, dickhead
anybody else find the 'athlete this athlete that' jargon a bit wearing? Usain Bolt is an athlete and I hear him being referred to as a runner or a sprinter, pick any other athlete from any other sport, skater, toboganer, swimmer, hurdler, footballer, all athletes but still have an identity linked to their sport. Surfer is again a derogatory term? Finally we might back on the fringe! Does surfing not look like you need to be an athlete or athletic to perform it at the top level?
Any major changes to the Forecast ?
Here's the latest forecast Udo: Bali Forecaster Notes
What the hell does that mean Evosurfer?
I'm glad the WSL are doing their best to make it happen. No-one guessed that Margs would turn out that way, at least they are having a dig to get the job done. I admire them for their initiative and bravery. Every prick likes to put the decision makers (who have their balls on the line) down. Do a better job yourself ya knobs.
John John’s out
yeah! Spewing! I'm feeling pretty excited by Felipe and Italo though. Those guys are incredible. I saw on "Better Backwards" Italo's perfect 10 and couldn't help but think it looked like Felipe. Who else could pull a wave off like that?
If a surfer is out, does your alternate automatically get rotated in in Fantasy Surfer?
Baliwaves have todays pics up
Owen Jordy Medina etc playing out Ulu.
FFS, I can't find anywhere that says JJF is out. Is this true?
WSL website still has him surfing his RD 3 heat.
Check Stab
yep he's out but zero on WSL. wonder if they will pretend he is going to surf kelly style. geez they are flogs
he posted on social media that he is out with a knee injury
Cheers Nick.
Now to my first question, does your alternate surfer get rotated in if a surfer pulls out in your Fantasy Surfer team?
(Paging Gary G, Gary G to the double entendre aisle.)
I think you only get the alt if your surfer doesn't surf at all.
JJF has started the event so I think we just lose him.
At least they will be no sharks, thats the main thing about the completion of this event. NO SHARKS, unless your taking your girlfriend to Single Finn dancing on a Sunday night. There will be plenty of sharks there.
Wow, this season just gets more and more stale. There's some amazing surfers but they're so boring to watch. Cookie-cutter Brazzos with no style and foolish claims. Not many outside the mould. Need more like Wade, Mikey, etc. that throw different (actual) style in. Though I do like watching Kolohe, not his surfing, his losing, you can tell it really shits him lol.
Mikey’s style is pretty average imo
It's more-so at least he's throwing in something different.
Admittedly the contests have been only sporadically engaging, but Italo and Felipe boring to watch??
Along with JJF when he clicks, they're the best things that have happend to pro surfing in 15 years. In fact it's even longer than that since the tour has seen such a leap in standards.
The WSL are hellishly lucky to have those three.
They're amazing surfers with crazy moves, but the moves have no style, those types all look the same and I find it boring to watch. Even say Parko and Jordy have some style. I think there's a vanilla brand of hi-performance surfing (including airs) is what I'm referring to. Julian's another boring one to watch (in comps at least). I guess it's something that can't be taught.
@ Stunet.
Big calls going on here.
Lots of interesting things have happened in the last 15 years.
The first being the return of the quad! Fiji Teauhpoo
Dane Reynolds snapper performance in 09 ?
The search events especially Mexico.
Competitors numbers reduction 44 to 32
Code red/ Fiji super heats 2012
M F Jbay shark incident/ attack. (Definitely an attack in my eyes.)
M F at pipe super heat with jjf and Robert.
MF at pipe in 2013.
JJ F at margarets main break. 2017.
Parko world title and winning pipe backdoor. 2012.
Parko man overboard Brazil.
Many more, written in copyright by lanky for true blue b.......
By 'best things' I mean best surfing performances - so nothing structural or circumstantial.
Like you say, there have been moments, Dane annihilating Parko in the Quarters at Snapper is one of them, but in the last 12 months there's been so many moments that it must be called what it is: a singular jump in standard. And I don't reckon we've felt such a shift since the Pottz, Kong, and TC old guard dropped off tour in the mid-90s and were replaced by Slater's Momentum peers.
The level has been significantly raised. Once again the old guys are going or gone (Slater himself, plus Fanning and Parko) and the young guys are taking the lead, throwing down dual air revs at traditional waves like J'Bay, taking traditional carves to supersonic speed, and boosting airs into orbit and landing them with aplomb.
That Toledo could do that backside rotor at Saquarema, you know, the one where he could've jumped four lanes of traffic, in a competition should sum the argument up. We're amongst crew with a certain bias against airs and against Brazilians, but jeez, if you like to see new things done on a surfboard then that was one almighty leap into the hitherto unknown.
The two most dominant competitive surfers of the last thirty years have left. Well one retirees and the other is m.I.a
As far as the airs go yes they have been bigger than big. Though as we see with jjf they come at a big price....
I honestly felt that competitive surfing went somewhat flat and quite in the 90's
I didn't seem to pay as much attention then so......
I see your points . I just tend to disagree I guess.
No big deal; )
You forget theres one who's no longer with us that matches up to the others.
You're totally correct. I await the documentary !
I personally watched Andy compete at trestle in 2010. It was something else. He was present, fired up though at one point in the event. On the second afternoon I over heard him talking about JJF in the event. I recall him saying " it's over for him and JJF is the future."
Every day Andy had been arriving with two boards, though on the last day he arrive with only one. When someone asked about his back up board he replied" you live by the sword " . He ended up breaking the board in the semis also that day!
I seriously watched him sprint across the rocks with a borrowed board under his arm .
Sureal to think he was gone six months later RIP.
Thats great story LD thanks for sharing.
What a racist, pig-headed comment. Felipe and Italo have amazing styles. You sound like a typical Aussie "Local Boardriders" kook that thinks every up and coming grommet on his beach is the most important human on Earth. I really hate that Aussie Phalanx mentality. So ignorant and ugly. Those Brazzos are NOT spoilt East Coast Australian knob heads like yourself.
You need to get on the stab magazine forums , your wasting your talent here.
"You're"
Gee Timmy, you must be Feeling The Burn like you've just had a protracted and sweaty session in front of the mirror with Gary.
*fire emoji*
*eggplant emoji*
*winking emoji*
Hahaha love your work , lucky I have thick skin!!!!!!!
ahh but billie, can you tell us which 'your' should be 'you're' and which 'your' should be 'your'? and does anyone here actually give a shit on an internet forum?
Meanwhile..
Wow...please surf like this in the comp, please surf like this in the comp, please surf like this in the comp.
On fire, ya reckon?
Fuck, incredible eh!
Define: Skatepark
Seems like only yesterday people were saying this year is Felipe's and no one can touch him.
Well, it may have been last week come to think of it.
Incredible stuff. Remember when airs were hail mary's or end section moves at best. Well that game is gone. Can't believe how he pulls these off then continues to surf out of the with speed and style. Mind blowing to watch. Love the airs but digging is turns and speed just as much. Full package. Sure i love seeing Mikey have a dig and taking scalps but there is plenty of air in-between Italo and Mikey - its a big gap.
WSL needs Mikey Wright and Mason Ho
Agree Evo, not so much Ho but I like Mikey's freshness, Ho plays the dick a bit too much for mine. I watched Mikey take on serious Jakes a few months back, he's certifiably nuts. Both him and big bro were out there and Mikey was sitting 10m deeper than anyone. He went down the mineshaft on a couple and I'm not sure how he didn't die. The brazzos are like spinning tops on speed.
Heres some footage of Mikey and owen surfing Jakes, we missed the big day as it was raining ealry and my brother (who films) needed some sleep. Apparently on the big day mikey was air dropping into bombs and making it out on a not so perfect but big swell.
This footage was of the next day a lot smaller and messier. But still Owen managed to find the best quality waves.
Mikey on the big day.
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What's the call?
next call 8:30 am local time
Thanks
Halfway through Friday with no start yet. Hard to see how they can get through everything they need to in less than 3 full days.
On hold........
can't help but feel like they've shit the bed with this one a bit.
Website says Day 1 of 4. Maybe they bought some extra time... literally