Red Bull Cape Fear waiting period starts today
The Red Bull Cape Fear is shifting bases, from Cape Solander in Sydney to Shipsterns Bluff in Tassie.
The waiting period begins today and runs for five months, right up to New Year's Eve if need be, to ensure the contest gets run.
“Surfing a wave like Shipstern Bluff gives a sense of satisfaction and relief,” says 3x World Champion Mick Fanning, who's been invited, “but it’s a whole different ball game in an event like Red Bull Cape Fear. Last time the event ran I watched every second. I was in awe of the athletes and their performances. To test myself against the ocean but also against my favourite big wave surfers will be a real honour and I’m going to relish the challenge.”
The last time Cape Fear ran was in the unprecedented north-east swell of June 2016, a day when no-one would've paddled out unless the contest was being held. Russell Bierke won that event and has been invited back. The other surfers to join him are:
- Mick Fanning (AUS)
- Russell Bierke (AUS)
- Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)
- Jamie O-Brien (USA)
- Kai Lenny (USA)
- Pedro Scooby (BRA)
- Laurie Towner (AUS)
- Ryan Hipwood (AUS)
- Nathan Florence (USA)
- Billy Kemper (USA)
- Daniel Griffiths (TAS)
- Shaun Wallbank (TAS)
- James McKean (TAS)
- James Hollmer-Cross (TAS)
- Tyler Hollmer-Cross (TAS)
- Michael Brennan (TAS)
- Zebulon Critchlow (TAS)
- Brook Phillips (TAS)
- Marti Paradisis (TAS)
- Alex Zawadzki (TAS)
(Homepage photo of Tyler Hollmer-Cross by Andy Chisholm)
Comments
Just wondering if people are for or against this contest running at shipsterns bluff.
Seem there was a lot of kick back last week about the contest in W.A
How's everyone feeling about this venue ?
Geez the last one was bonkers !
Why no Koby ?
Why would Koby be in it?
Are you serious? Most entertaining surfer in the last event. Most people wouldn't have paddled out if it wasn't for his "advice" .
Some serious contenders missing from list!
Being less user-friendly may have something to do with any lack of protest. That and all the Tassie fellas are in the comp.
The latter is a master stroke first employed by the late Roy Norris who ran the Konica Skins at Sandon Point for ten years. Roy realised the only way to use the wave and circumvent local anger was to include the locals, let 'em surf against the best in the world at their own wave, and those that don't surf can get jobs around the comp.
None of that is part of WSL operations.
Different environment LD. And Red Bull will probbably block off the trail like they did at the last contest. Better to watch it on the box anyway. Should be great to see.
Fanning an interesting inclusion.
Hope they don't block off the trail would be great to go for a bush walk and watch live
That was i wondering. Judges panel will be on boats i would assume? Never been down there
Considering these comps are purely barrel or death, they should add lids like the Thomas' and Wards' etc. Those lads paddle mental shit out there.
I don't think the local boys are exactly camera shy. They will be frothin. They know the step so well they should be required to surf blindfolded.
This will be fantastic to watch, Matthews and his mates let the ‘locals’ in on the first comp, next year it’ll be 4 ‘locals’ and then none. Then all the boys will be bitching!
I hope its flat and blows west for the next 5 months. We don’t need this in Tassie. Keep the hype in Sydney!
Shut ups and drink your red bull
Have you tasted that vile shit! No thanks!!
I thought Fanning had retired ! Welcome back Mick. I am sure you are still a great bloke.
Didn't you see the interview of mick with parko?
I think Parko said >" you're going to pull a Johnny Farnam aren't you? "
LOL......
whats with differentiating TAS from AUS? just to show locals are being supported? or is this turning into a USA and HAW thing?
Boo hoo, too many hurt feelings
It’s so the good people of Tasmania know who to barrack for.
It'll be alright mate, clearly everybody has a price.
Tasman Able/keyboard warrior
Some pretty aggressive and hateful comments there.
I think this event is amazing and am so excited to see these brave lads charge a wave that most of us simply don't have the courage to tackle. Respect.
It's pretty easy to hide behind a keyboard and throw out criticism. Don't you think there's enough negativity around already? It's probably just better to focus on the good stuff and leave your bad vibes to yourself.
Would you have the same response if it was a Booger comp? I bet not! Just cause it’s the lords, no one is allowed to criticise. Yeah I had a dig at a few guys, only to put it out there .
As far as I can see the flood gates are now open for comps at wherever and whoever wants to run one. Have you been to Fortescue reef since the Joey comp years ago?? Different beast altogether, but it shows how comps and exposure draw more crowds.
If the lids decide they want to run a comp at stern or the yard now, I’ll support them 110%....but the lords wouldn’t let that happen.
It’ll be interesting to see if the local school down there gets any visiting pros swinging in for a chat, the peninsula has some of the states best waves and the school has about 3-4 grommies that surf, never has the ‘surf industry’ supported the kids down there despite all the comps held in their back yards.
Think what you like of me, keyboard warrior, flogger, dipshit. I couldn’t care less, this gradual disintegration and over exposureof our special places sucks and there are people that can be blamed for it, and they expose expose expose for their own fame and fortune. They had a choice to charge big waves, I happy they do, but they also have the choice on whether or not to film/photograph and expose. I have much more respect for the guys that surf big waves and no one ever hears about.
Becky, how are you old mate? You still the maddest rooter north of the Bass straight? Hope your rash cleared up pal
Does that mean we have to do the cheers mick thing again. If red bull close a national park? access to the public they can join the faq. Locals half the field, interesting. Is it paddle or tow or depends. Hope the locals smoke em
It will have to be huge to raise more than a yawn. Shippies brief drop and step skip has been so overexposed. We want 40 foot Uluwatu for 2 kilometers or 200 foot nazarre to excite our jaded eyes these days.
I think the format will make it more interesting than a wsl event
Kobe's has gone all Cape Queer
Maybe Tassie has a no dickheads policy
No West Australians
"Guys, wake up, stick with your day jobs, and don’t stuff it for the rest of us. Next Gibbo will be sprouting a top knot and organising a comp at Bone Yard’s. I’m suprised of a few of the names on that list. But Mikey!! Wouldn’t have thought you’d have put your hand up to a shitty comercial venture that promotes such a vile company such as this. Sell outs. The lot of ya!"
Some very valid points there Abel but your continued diatribe in your subsequent posts begin to sound like jealousy.....someone who is pissed that they've missed out on being the centre of attention.....I'm no fan of bringing commercialism to the state and would far prefer to keep Tas under the radar as much as population booms, mass tourism and social media trends allow (including the incessant pushes by the photographer you mentioned) but there's a distinction between articulating this and making personal attacks. No bull.
Take it as you will Fozza
Is that you Delly? Good use of the word “tripe”. Been a whilst since I’ve heard someone use that term. Mind if I start using that around the Meccabowl? Or is it strictly a south arm word?
Mikey big player over exposing in patagonias never town? I guess everyone wants to appear relevant
This is going to be mental. Strong local lineup of guys that are always pushing it in the lineup during these swells. As an up and coming shaper from Tassie Ill be doing all I can to be there. Just need to get on a boat...
i reckon you are out of luck on that one. Water police wont be letting anyone not involved in and rumours of road closures towards storm lea way........
yeah I saw on RCJ's instagram the park will be closed to the public.. kinda makes sense given public liability and the terrain down there. .
I'd like to see this as a roaming event - Solander, Shippies and the Right. An absolute slab fest. Its hard to fathom that Solander will get another swell like the 2016 NE from hell - so its going to be hard to top that. Adding new venues is a good idea - as is keeping a very local component with 50% of the competitors. One of these gnarly slabs is g/teed to get something serious over the waiting period each year.
The biggest mystery of all is who actually likes the taste of red bull? Tried it ...... once ....
With their clever marketing imagine if it tasted good.
Ha ha!!
It is such a PUTRID beverage isn't it! Not convinced that it does much to help alertness either with the handful of times I tried it on long drives. Marketing bullshit.
...but the masses still guzzle it down cause it's COOOOOOOL eh!
100% and it can't be good for you either.
Good with vodka
It's weird to see a few of those Tassie names there, i use to hang out in and out of the water with Zeb and Brook about 15 years ago, they were ok surfers then but not great and didn't ride waves like this back then, they were both kind of look at me ego type surfers though, so not surprised they have challenged and push themselves to surf these kind of waves, good on them, id be scared just watching from the boat.
Southern turds
Why isn’t Justin Jugghead in it ?
Good question. Fella didn't waste his spot last time around.