Fresh Friday for March 10th 2006

Pro Surf Ramblings

The first contest of the season for the 2006 ASP WCT finished up Thursday night. Taj Burrow and Kelly Slater surfed in 2-3 feet, glassy surf at D-Bah, Gold Coast, Australia.

Australian Taj Burrow caught the first few waves with average scores, but Kelly Slater punched through the heat with another win!

In the semi-finals, the whole Nation of Brazil was resting on the rookie, Adriano De Souza.

The Brazilian Souza caught a couple really good scoring waves and pulled off an amazing aerial 360. Souza looked to win the heat early, however, Taj was more fluid and beat the Brazilian towards the end of the heat. I’m sure the very passionate Brazilians felt that Souza got ripped off. I was leaning towards that as well, until they showed the slow motion waves that Taj Burrow caught. Taj just looked better on the wave where Souza was technically the better surfer but lacked style. Taj's patience paid off and waited for the better formed set waves which scored higher with the judges.

As we all know, surf contest are subjectively judged and they were more than likely leaning towards the Australian to win. Taj did enough to pull off the win against the Brazilian Souza, thus the judges gave it to him.

Kelly Slater was larger-than-large and beat the giant killer, Bobby Martinez in his semi-final heat. Martinez, a rookie, made it through by dropping off some tour veterans, including Damien Hobgood and Joel Parkinson.

Down to the Finals, Taj and Kelly traded similar waves and it boiled down to the final minutes of the heat. Slater on his 5’10” small wave board ripped like he was back home in Cocoa Beach and took the trophy. With his Mom attending the contest it must of made him flashback to those days at Sebastian Inlet and winning contest there.

The big question now is if Kelly Slater continues the run for an unprecedented 8th World Title. A previous comment from Mr. Slater is that he isn’t looking that far in the future and is focused on each individual heat and contest.

If this contest is Slater’s Last Wave which was coined by Florida Today Newspaper, then it would be sad to say goodbye like this. You never quit on a sour note, but when is a good time to retire? Only the Greats of their sports know.

Kelly Slater dominated the first WCT contest and each heat he surfed looked like he was on a mission. Is it a run for Number Eight…or was it going out while on top? Only Kelly Slater holds that futuristic answer, however, he holds the 2006 Quiksilver Pro Trophy over his head today.

In the post contest interview Kelly Slater said, “Really stoked to win, just having a good time, Taj was the man to beat, surfing incredible, stoked to be in final with Taj. Thanks Quik, 11 years since he won a Quiksilver contest, so stoked on that. Thanks everyone for making me feel at home. Mom with me, friends and brothers on-line watching. Thanks to the sponsors. Take Care!”

A Last Wave?

Below are photos from http://aspworldtour.com/

We Are Water Happenings

Thanks to the ASP, We Are Water…WeAreH2O.Com met the requirements for access to their media photo and news release. We Are Water looks to provide more ASP contest coverage each week on these Fresh Friday articles. The ASP’s photos will help tell the tale of the history that is being unfolded. Thanks ASP!

Dermot has An Irish Summer Part Two on the Swell Memories link. Reading about surfers in other areas can make us reflect back to surfing at home. Dermot relates a very personal experience and makes it our own.

I think I’ve lived nine lives vicariously through this statement since editing the story, “I came back to Florida after that Irish Summer a different person and a different surfer.”

Surfing is fun…and being a surfer is even better!

An Irish Summer Part Two

This past week in Central Florida there showed a few rideable days. A nice sized low pressure system formed off the coast and spun some chunky and choppy surf our way.

We’ll take it!

I think we are all looking forward for bigger and better swells. March typically validates into a good surf month for Florida. A transition from Winter to Spring and the storms move further into the Atlantic Ocean. We can see very powerful storms in the North Atlantic during March and kick back swells towards us.

I’m ready…Are you?

Spring is in the air and we have had incredible Chamber-of-Commerce Weather with immaculate blue skies. Yet, with little nip in the air and water, signs of spring abreast.

Daytona’s Bike Week is rumbling along and soon to follow the University’s Spring Break. This is a good time to be in Sunny Central Florida! Birds are nesting, flowers are shedding their pollen, and low pressures are forming off the coast…Here’s to a great Spring swell Season!

Fresh Friday out.

March 10th 2006

Dave Reid
Sales@WeAreH2O.Com