It was the defining moment of the Quiksilver Pro final: Joel Parkinson, standing tall in a clean Kirra barrel, sticking his middle finger up at Kelly Slater who was just about to drop in on him.
Of course the photo has a back story...
"I said hello, Eugene. Does any of this ring a bell, Eugene?" - Hey Eugene, Pink Martini.
Sure it looks pretty shitehouse on the webcast, you Bells Beach naysayers. It seems burgery and high tide Rincon runs mostly aimlessly along the flat reef. The Bowl shifts contours unpredictably along a boil-riddled lineup into an uncompromising shorebreak that makes hyped aerial surfers look inept. Under an unfavourable pattern weak gurgle can set in for weeks. You wouldn't travel to surf it, not unless you call Kansas, Berlin or Stockholm your hometown.
"It's not easy being green. It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things." Kermit the Frog.
I spent the morning on the beach, enjoying some unattended, knee-high, glassy babyfood and toking on some mellow Autumn harvest bush weed, which seemed a reasonable enough antidote to the Hobbesian hystericism consequent to being a part-time surf journo these days.
Cough, cough. Excuse me. This stuff tickles the throat.
"The truth or falsity of a belief does not in itself determine whether it will spread." Peter Singer
Pipe surfers had just a small window of opportunity to fill their quota this morning. According to Swellnet photographer, Jack Dekort, morning wind conditions were close to perfect with just a light offshore puffing. For a few hours Pipeline pumped with Kelly Slater, amongst many others, putting on a great display of surfing on his quad. It was a short-lived session, however, with the wind swinging onshore around lunch.
Here's Jack's shots, taken while the wind was offshore and the session in full swing.
Pipe surfers had just a small window of opportunity to fill their quota this morning. According to Swellnet photographer, Jack Dekort, morning wind conditions were close to perfect with just a light offshore puffing. For a few hours Pipeline pumped with Kelly Slater, amongst many others, putting on a great display of surfing on his quad. It was a short-lived session, however, with the wind swinging onshore around lunch.
Here's Jack's shots, taken while the wind was offshore and the session in full swing.
Give me a 8 for a switch stance wave at pipe today ?????
Last week Kelly Slater issued a statement rebuking an article I wrote on Swellnet
Taj has Johnny. Parko has Louie. Kelly has a big bald bloke sporting a red-tinged goatee and servo sunnies to deliver him a quick pat on the bum before he goes into battle. Seems to be working for him...
Taj has Johnny. Parko has Louie. Kelly has a big bald bloke sporting a red-tinged goatee and servo sunnies to deliver him a quick pat on the bum before he goes into battle. Seems to be working for him...
