Everyone was riding nine-foot-plus boards till 1967. This tiny board was so small and heavy, with George's deep hull front end. We rode it at Alex shore break, and found it very challenging, discouraging actually. If only we'd persevered with it. We may have started the Shortboard Revolution three years early.
Fair to say most people gave their attention to Mick's world title run yesterday: would he claim it in Portugal? Most people that is, but not all. When Kai Otton was asked after his Round 5 heat if he'd be throwing the title-deciding Quarter Final against Mick, his reply was telling. "No way, I want to win one of these comps myself!"
Fair to say most people gave their attention to Mick's world title run yesterday: would he claim it in Portugal? Most people that is, but not all. When Kai Otton was asked after his Round 5 heat if he'd be throwing the title-deciding Quarter Final against Mick, his reply was telling. "No way, I want to win one of these comps myself!"
The biggest air in contest history? The second biggest..? Who knows, but Julian Wilson's Round 3 oop against CJ Hobgood was a fine effort, and if it didn't eclipse John John's Balinese version it went awfully close.
The biggest air in contest history? The second biggest..? Who knows, but Julian Wilson's Round 3 oop against CJ Hobgood was a fine effort, and if it didn't eclipse John John's Balinese version it went awfully close.
The new Surfing Australia boardrider comp got off to a freight-training start last weekend. Waitpinga, on South Australia's south coast, turned on blue moon barrels for competitors and non-competitors alike.
The new Surfing Australia boardrider comp got off to a freight-training start last weekend. Waitpinga, on South Australia's south coast, turned on blue moon barrels for competitors and non-competitors alike.
Wildcards are a curious anomaly, their existence is partly to appease local surfing communities and partly a value add for the company ponying up the prizemoney.
Which is all well and good till they interfere with world title campaigns.
Bet you weren't expecting that, eh? Know I wasn't. Slater goes down in Round 2 to a local wildcard registering his first 25th of the season. With that result he almost certainly hands the world title to Mick Fanning (if Mick gets third or better he wins at Portugal, if not the decider happens at Pipe).
Bet you weren't expecting that, eh? Know I wasn't. Slater goes down in Round 2 to a local wildcard registering his first 25th of the season. With that result he almost certainly hands the world title to Mick Fanning (if Mick gets third or better he wins at Portugal, if not the decider happens at Pipe).
