November 28, 2007
Surf City? Magazine ranks Santa Cruz sixth in the world. According to a news article by reporter Jennifer Squires, “If the wetsuit-clad surfers, the contests and the legal battle over the title “Surf City, USA” weren’t enough to convince you Santa Cruz is a swell-shredding hot spot, next month’s Transworld Surf magazine should do the trick.” The reporter digested another news source’s story and rankings of the top waves in the world. Transworld Surf chose its top ten list of great surfing destinations, and only one in the US made the cut. Here is the list:
Top spots for great waves
1. Rincon, Puerto Rico
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Kuta Beach, Bali
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
5. San Juan del Sur, Puerto Rico
6. Santa Cruz
7. Hossegor, France
8. Haleiwa, Hawaii
9. Thurso, Scotland
10. Ragland, New Zealand
SOURCE: Transworld Surf magazine
Transworld Surf stated its criteria were consistency of waves, but in Santa Cruz they also liked the nightlife, localism and low crime. The news reporter summarized her take on the selection as this: “No other mainland U.S. beach town made the top-10 cut, including self-proclaimed “Surf City, USA” Huntington Beach.”
Micah Byrne beat Michael Hoisington, junior Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL) and Federico Pilurzu (Tamarindo, CRI) to win the 2007 Vans Pier Classic.
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star competition brought a few days of solid waves mixed with some so-so surf. “It was a long week,” Byrne said, adding that he was stoked and pumped. Byrne finished third in the previous Vans Pier Classic.
Eric Geiselman, last season’s ASP North America Pro Junior Champion, took to the waves, claiming victory at the Ezekiel Pro Junior contest, beating out Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA), Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL) and Chad Compton (Ventura, CA). With less than three minutes remaining, Geiselman’s solid righthander stole the title from Waring who led the heats until that time.
Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL), who finished runner-up at the Billabong Sebastian Inlet Pro Junior earlier this month, has taken over the ratings lead from Tommy Bursian (San Juan, PRI) in the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series with his 3rd-place finish in the Ezekiel Pro Junior.
The next event on the 2007 ASP North America Tour — Lost Easter Pro Junior (ASP Grade- 1) at Cocoa Beach from Apr. 6-8, 2007. Following that will be the Body Glove Surfbout at Lowers (ASP WQS 4-Star) from Apr. 24-28, 2007 featuring the Oakley Pro Junior (ASP Grade-2).
Vans Pier Classic Drill Down
Quarterfinals: 16 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals)
Quarterfinal 1: Brad Ettinger (USA) 13.70, Kyle Knox (USA) 11.00, Ted
Navarro (USA) 10.25, Dillon Perillo (USA) 7.50
Quarterfinal 2: Michael Hoisington (USA) 14.00, Eric Geiselman (USA)
11.75, Michel Flores (BRA) 11.25, Eric McHenry (USA) 8.85
Quarterfinal 3: Federico Pilurzu (CRI) 14.50, Cody Thompson (USA)
11.40, Jason Miller (USA) 11.40, Pat O’Connell (USA) 8.60
Quarterfinal 4: Chris Waring (USA) 14.25, Micah Byrne (USA) 13.50, Cory
Arrambide (USA) 12.90, Jeff Deffenbaugh (USA) 12.54
Vans Pier Classic Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance
to Final)
Semifinal 1: Eric Geiselman (USA) 14.00, Michael Hoisington (USA)
13.15, Brad Ettinger (USA) 12.05, Kyle Knox 9USA) 10.15
Semifinal 2: Federico Pilurzu (CRI) 14.50, Micah Byrne (USA) 11.60,
Cody Thompson (USA) 11.10, Chris Waring (USA) 9.25
Vans Pier Classic Final
1 – Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL) 13.65
2 – Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA) 13.40
3 – Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL) 9.70
4 – Chad Compton (Ventura, CA) 9.65
Vans Women’s Pier Classic Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd
advance to Final)
Semifinal 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 19.40, Ornella Pelizare (ITA)
13.00, Marii Bakker (JPN) 9.25, Jamie Hannula (USA) 6.10
Semifinal 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 18.50, Christa Alves (USA) 11.50, Lexi
Von der Leith (USA) 8.90, Maria Gonzales (USA) 7.75
Vans Women’s Pier Classic Final
1 – Ornella Pellizari (Mar de Plata, ARG) 13.75
2 – Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA) 9.90
3 – Sage Erickson (Oxnard, CA) 8.35
4 – Christa Alves (Cocoa Beach, FL) 6.85
Ezekiel Pro Junior Quarterfinals: 16 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd
advance to Semifinals)
Quarterfinal 1: Cory Arrambide (USA) 12.50, Jamie Parkhurst (USA)
11.85, Jason Harris (USA) 10.75, Matt Pagan (USA) 9.55
Quarterfinal 2: Eric Geiselman (USA) 17.00, Travis Beckmann (USA)
11.75, Cody Thompson (USA) 9.60, Jesse Heilman (USA) 9.50
Quarterfinal 3: Dillon Perillo (USA) 14.50, Bruno Rodrigues (BRA)
10.95, Andrew Doheny (USA) 10.00, Blake Jones (USA) 8.70
Quarterfinal 4: Chad Compton (USA) 11.75, Chris Waring (USA) 10.50,
Kilian Garland (USA) 9.75, Dane Ward (USA) 8.75
Ezekiel Pro Junior Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance
to Final)
Semifinal 1: Eric Geiselman (USA), Travis Beckmann (USA), Cory
Arrambide (USA), Jamie Parkhurst (USA)
Semifinal 2: Chris Waring (USA) 12.75, Chad Compton (USA) 12.65, Bruno
Rodrigues (BRA) 11.90, Dillon Perillo (USA) 9.75
Ezekiel Pro Junior Final:
1 – Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA) 14.00
2 – Federico Pilurzu (Tamarindo, CRI) 11.75
3 – Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL) 8.85
4 – Michael Hoisington (Huntington Beach, CA) 8.00
Hawaii’s state tow-in license and certification program was introduced to Monterey Bay surfers and tow-in companies recenty. Concerns about the health of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have included proposals to ban personal watercraft that are used to tow surfers to Mavericks Big Wave contest, Ghost Tree and other coastal locations that enjoy monster waves a bit too far for surfers to access normally. The Association of Professional Towsurfers and Windward Community College of Oahu, part of the University of Hawaii system, brought the Hawaii state tow-in license and certification course to Santa Cruz County’s Capitola per request of of local tow-in companies and surf organizations seeking a licensing method to help preserve one of the most exciting sports on the California coast. Mavericks annual Big Wave competition held each year between January and March is one such example of the interest in riding the big waves. In recent years sponsors have been acquired and even a film, Riding the Big Wave, documented exactly what surfers are fighting to save.
The goal of the course is to get certification in Hawaii, but it’s also a model for California that would mitigate rather than outlaw tow surfing. Offshore oil drilling, cruise ship discharge and the use of personal watercraft to catch big waves have been several issues discussed as efforts to preserve the health of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have come into focus in recent years.
Jalama and Cojo Ranch Land Sold - While surfers have had to paddle in or take boats to reach this difficult-to-access stretch of coast nearly 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, the waves are great and many say are well worth the effort. Privately owned ranches that the Bixby family of Long Beach have owned since the early 1900’s have been liquidated and sold to L.A.-based developers, Coastal Management Resources. Eclipsing other ranch sales in California such as the $94 million deal made by telecommunications mogul Gary Winnick for a Bel-Air estate in 2000 (the largest residential real estate deal to date in the U.S.), or Oprah’s $50 million Montecito estate just south of Santa Barbara, all eyes are on the prize - 2500 acres (roughly 38 square miles of land) costing between $120 million and $155 million. With escrow yet to close on this gated piece of property, what will happen once it is sold? Easements for Vandenberg missile launches exist in portions of the ranch, and California Coastal Commission and a host of environmentalists will be watching and no doubt, participating in its development. As for surfers, some speculate that coastal access and public parking may one day exist on this property north of Hollister Ranch, but for now, it’s still a paddle or boat ride to get in. The waves belong to you, if you can reach them.
Foster’s ASP World Tour Schedule 2007
ASP Banquet Gold Coast, Australia Feb 24
Quiksilver Pro Snapper Rocks Qld, Australia Feb 27-Mar 10
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Vic, Australia Apr 3-13
Billabong Pro Teahupoo, Tahiti May 4-14
Globe Pro Fiji TBC May 20-21
Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere in Chile June 20-July1
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, South Africa July 11-22
Boost Mobile Pro Trestles, California Sep 11-15
Quiksilver Pro France Hossegor, France Sep 22-Oct 1
Billabong Pro Mundaka, Basque Region, Spain Oct 2-14
Nova Schin Festival Imbituba, Brazil Oct 29-Nov 7
Billabong Pipe Masters Pipeline Hawaii Dec 8-20
ASP Women’s World Tour Schedule
Roxy Pro Snapper Rocks, Australia Feb 27-Mar 10
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Australia Apr 3-8
Roxy Pro TBC Apr 21-26
Billabong Girls Praia da Tiririca, Itacare, Brazil Aug 20-27
Rip Curl Girls Festival Santander, Liencres-Spain Sep 4-9
Havaiianas Beachley Classic Manly Beach, Australia Oct 8-14
Roxy Pro Sunset Beach, Hawaii Nov 23-Dec 6
Billabong Pro Honalua Bay, Hawaii Dec 8-20
The 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour Lineup includes: Kelly Slater (USA); Andy Irons (HAW); Mick Fanning (AUS);Taj Burrow (AUS); Bobby Martinez (USA); Joel Parkinson (AUS); Damien Hobgood (USA);Tom Whitaker (AUS); Taylor Knox (USA); Dean Morrison (AUS); Tim Reyes (USA); Phillip MacDonald (AUS); Cory Lopez (USA); Bruce Irons (HAW); Bede Durbidge (AUS); C.J. Hobgood (USA); Fredrick Patacchia (HAW); Daniel Wills (AUS); Greg Emslie (ZAF); Adriano de Souza (BRA); Chris Ward (USA); Shaun Cansdell (AUS); Travis Logie (ZAF); Michael Lowe (AUS); Luke Stedman (AUS); Mark Occhilupo (AUS); Pancho Sullivan (HAW); Jeremy Flores (FRA); Michael Campbell (AUS); Ricky Basnett (ZAF); Royden Bryson (ZAF); Dayyan Neve (AUS); Troy Brooks (AUS); Neco Padaratz (BRA); Josh Kerr (AUS); Ben Dunn (AUS); Bernado Miranda (BRA); Gabe Kling (USA); Victor Ribas (BRA); Leonardo Neves (BRA); Kai Otton (AUS); Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA); Adrian Buchan (AUS); Raoni Monteiro (BRA) and Luke Munro (AUS)
2007 ASP Women’s World Tour Lineup includes: Layne Beachley (AUS); Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS); Chelsea Georgeson (AUS); Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS); Sofia Mulanovich (PER); Rebecca Woods (AUS); Claire Bevilacqua (AUS); Silvana Lima (BRA); Megan Abubo (HAW); Rochelle Ballard (HAW); Samantha Cornish (AUS); Jacqueline Silva (BRA); Stephanie Gilmore (AUS); Melanie Bartels (HAW); Amee Donohoe (AUS); Caroline Sarran (FRA) and Roseanne Hodge (ZAF)
Some of the surfing and photos coming out of Shark Park show strong waves (up to 60 feet!) and a great year for surfing in early 2007. It’s strictly a tow to get you out there on the Central California Coast. If you’re in the top of your game and are among the finest surfers, you probably know who to contact. If not, check out towsurfer.com.
During the 1920s and early ’30s, Big Corona (in Corona del Mar) was considered among the best surfing spots in California and attracted legends such as Tom Blake (Californian) and Hawaii’s own Duke Kahanamoku. The Corona del Mar Surfboard Club was the first mainland surf organization and also held the first major surf competition in mainland America, the Pacific Coast Surf Riding Championships in 1928. Organized by Blake, contestants paddled 500 yards offshore, rounded a buoy and rode a wave back to shore, in what appeared as a race more than a contest. Contestant Duke Kahanamoku didn’t show up and the 15 or so others that included Blake were not surprised.The Surfboard Club contest didn’t offer huge purses as do competitions today. It was mostly the challenge that drew surfers into the rigorous contests that utilized extremely long and heavy boards (by today’s standards). Blake won the event by carrying his 120-pound paddling/surfing board to water’s edge, then as his competitor took off, he retrieved a smaller 9′6″ board. He threw that on top of his paddleboard and climbed aboard. Once around the buoy, he discarded the paddleboard and surfed past the competition.
Pravda Surf, a Huntington Beach, Calif.-based custom surfboard design studio, released the video, “Surfboard Shaping and Design for Beginners.” Surfboard shaping, tool instruction, template-making and design information are provided in this ‘how-to’ product that do-it-yourselfers can sink their shaping tools into. The video offers instruction specifically geared toward novice shapers; techniques that require only commonly available tools; mistakes commonly made by beginning shapers and how to fix/avoid them; shaping instruction for both polyurethane and EPS foam blanks — essential in the post-Clark Foam shaping environment; and 15 printable surfboard templates. The video was released on Jan. 1, 2007, and retails for $29.95.
While the better known Rincon Pit Crew’s following is large, the Wedge Crew clings fiercely to one special location and a way of life. Responsible for preserving The Wedge and keeping it open to body surfers, the (Wedge) Crew members are a smaller group of ocean enthusiasts who don’t ride surfboards or boogie boards. They head into the water with only bodysuits or swimwear and extremely durable fins. The Wedge, located at the end of Newport peninsula at West Jetty View Park in Newport Beach, is their playground for this sometimes dangerous sport. Ideal conditions for body surfing develop at this location during the summer months, but also offer hidden dangers for those not trained, or those caught off guard. Nearly every year a body surfer at The Wedge gets slammed into the beach, becoming permanently paralyzed from injuries. Crowds gather at The Wedge to watch the unpredictable waves and fearless body surfers willing to face their fury. Tourists traveling from around the globe have heard about this famous spot. Just watching can be a thrill–as you stand at the shoreline where the waves pound into the beach right next to your feet, the powerful sound nearly knocks you over!
I met a fantastic surfing photographer recently at Rincon. He’s a member of the Rincon Pit Crew and his name is Woody Woodward. This long time surfer and skateboarder who’s based in Santa Barbara goes to Rincon often to capture great surfing and waves, but also travels around the world for the perfect surfing shots. Once a competitive skateboarder, Woody enjoys Rincon surfing not only because of the consistent waves, but also because of the vibes. He often wears a Rincon Pit Crew t-shirt with a logo that includes a beautiful artist’s rendering of a wave. You’ll see the logo on shirts and stickers in car windows in the parking lots of Rincon. Woody has lots of friends out there and says hello to all of them.
Where is the best surfing? On the left is a picture of Surfers Beach in Half Moon Bay where locals think the surfing is just fine. If you drive along the California coast, there’s no set answer. It just depends on the day, the waves and geographic setting. We went by The Wedge in Newport Beach, for instance, and during the past several days there have been no waves and no surfers. Mavericks Big Wave surf championship recently announced its 2007 season is open and contestants are waiting for the big ones. They have a window of several months to wait for the conditions to culminate in waves that can be as big as 50 feet! The invitation list is out and the surfers will be notified when they need to arrive to compete within a short window of a few days. In this amazing contest, thousands of people drop everything to come watch. When it happens, San Mateo County’s Half Moon Bay suddenly becomes inundated and the hotels completely booked. The custom Maverick’s brew is served up as guests watch from the restaurant of the namesake, where videos, surfboards and even menu items reflect the love of surfing. 2007 should be an exciting year for both pro surfers and amateur up and coming competitors and teams, especially with the news that although the world’s oceans are suffering water quality issues, locally the California beaches have ranked pretty high overal for water quality in the past 12 months. With few storms to create runoff to date, there’s plent of surfing for all to enjoy.