North Shore: getting spoiled
Friday - February 02, 2007
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Freddy P. Junior is no stranger to the monster barrels of the
Banzai Pipeline
Howzit, surfers and beachgoers!
There went the first month of 2007! What a month it was ... there were 11 totally separate episodes which included a giant east swell of 6-10 feet. Four of the northwest swells yielded warning level conditions of 25 feet (crest to trough). Two of these reached up to 30 feet in the face; the one we just had Tuesday (1/30) hit nearly 40-foot faces on some outer reefs - nearly double the warning criteria! Wow! We had plenty of swells for regular to advanced surfers that hit around 6-8 feet local scale (three times overhead). Now that’s a busy month of wave riding.
Are we spoiled or what?
The down side is that many fronts moved through bringing Kona winds and rain. In fact, you may be reading this as it’s raining. If you want to know why, read last week’s surf column at midweek.com in the sports link. The stormy surf didn’t allow for the final two big wave riding events of 2006/07 to go - the Quiksilver/Eddie Aikau Big Wave invite and the Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Championships. We had the size on the outer reefs ... but not the smooth, long lines needed for such heroics.
Speaking of heroics ... we are still looking for monstrous levels at the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro. It has completed one day of competition (round 1) and has two more to go. They have until Feb. 8 on the permits. Yes, they’ve
had the size - too much size for Pipe, in fact. We need the surf to come down and clean up. It looks like late this weekend we may have a chance. Not to worry - these surf dudes are gonna get their chance, but you don’t wanna miss yours! Get down there to blow your own mind. I’ll tell you if it’s “on or off ” until it’s over ... at 596-SURF, 638-RUSH and SURFNEWSNETWORK.COM.
This month kicks off the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) ... yep, the time has come again!
The crew starts down under on Feb. 27 at the gold coast for the Quiksilver Pro. Will Kelly Slater go for No. 9 or retire? Will Andy Irons reach No. 4? Will a newcomer enter the World Title ranks? One thing I do know: This is going to be exciting. I have butterflies just dreaming of the Dream Tour: the Fosters Association of
Surfing Professionals (ASP).
While I’m on the subject of competition, let me remind you that our body surfing enthusiasts will get their chance in the first-ever Presidents Day/Pyramid Rock Body Surfing Championship. Indeed, the purest form of wave riding will go off all Presidents Day weekend, Feb. 17-18. It’ll be a blast as folks bust out their fins and roll into some tubes. It’s an awesome cause! This
event is a benefit for the families of fallen and injured military members. You can get your entries from SNN or call 254-7655 for da scoops.
Remember the HSBA Hawaiian motto: Hopupu i ke kaha nalu: “To be extremely emotionally excited about bodysurfing. To bring body surfers together.”
Yes, the ocean brings us together in ways like nothing else can. She surrounds us with her presence. The ocean is what makes Hawaii a place all its own. The ocean helps to create that sense of aloha and togetherness. We are dependent on the ocean and each other - but that’s why the feelings, the love, can be so strong.
Stoked you’re here!
Be sure to check back here next week to see who won the Monster Energy and how!
GQ, dropping in 4 U!
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