After a seven year hiatus the Women's World Tour returned to Fiji and into perfect reefbreak waves.
After a seven year hiatus the Women's World Tour returned to Fiji and into perfect reefbreak waves.
Yesterday the surfers got down to the money rounds at Bells and the usual suspects began their run to the Finals.
Yesterday the surfers got down to the money rounds at Bells and the usual suspects began their run to the Finals.
You already know what happened, but here are the photos to relive it. And what an amazing gallery of photos they are!
You already know what happened, but here are the photos to relive it. And what an amazing gallery of photos they are!
The second day of competition is done and the world title still hasn't been decided. The pointy end of the contest just got pointier! Momentum swung toward Slater today when he won his Round 4 heat, thereby jumping to the Quarters, while ol' Mick lost his Round 4 heat and now draws deadly C.J Hobgood in Round 5
The second day of competition is done and the world title still hasn't been decided. The pointy end of the contest just got pointier! Momentum swung toward Slater today when he won his Round 4 heat, thereby jumping to the Quarters, while ol' Mick lost his Round 4 heat and now draws deadly C.J Hobgood in Round 5
The first day of the Pipe Masters hummed along just swimmingly - coupla barrels here, coupla barrels there - as Pipe and Backdoor put on their friendly faces. Any drama came from the qualification shuffle as surfers fought for the last few places on next year's tour.
The first day of the Pipe Masters hummed along just swimmingly - coupla barrels here, coupla barrels there - as Pipe and Backdoor put on their friendly faces. Any drama came from the qualification shuffle as surfers fought for the last few places on next year's tour.
"I was building confidence through each heat," said Ezekiel Lau after his win at Sunset. "It seemed like things were going in my favor and I was just getting the waves I needed at the right time."
"I was building confidence through each heat," said Ezekiel Lau after his win at Sunset. "It seemed like things were going in my favor and I was just getting the waves I needed at the right time."
The surf dropped from Saturday's peak, but in exchange for big wave drama, spectators at the World Cup were treated to the top seeds making an entrance and upping the performance levels.
The surf dropped from Saturday's peak, but in exchange for big wave drama, spectators at the World Cup were treated to the top seeds making an entrance and upping the performance levels.
"I just stood up and looked down the line and I just saw this thing that was perfect. I just stood there and kind of looked at the scenery. It’s one of the best places to be on earth, in the barrel. I’m just living in the moment."
"I just stood up and looked down the line and I just saw this thing that was perfect. I just stood there and kind of looked at the scenery. It’s one of the best places to be on earth, in the barrel. I’m just living in the moment."
The first day of the Vans World Cup of Surfing kicked off in fine Hawaiian style: six-to-eight foot of not-too-heavy North Pacific power was on offer at Sunset. Light trades completed the pleasant scene.
The first day of the Vans World Cup of Surfing kicked off in fine Hawaiian style: six-to-eight foot of not-too-heavy North Pacific power was on offer at Sunset. Light trades completed the pleasant scene.
The first event of the Triple Crown, the Reef Hawaiian Pro, suffered out of control conditions at the beginning of the waiting period, abject flatness through the middle, and then bog average surf at the end. At least the sun was shining.
The first event of the Triple Crown, the Reef Hawaiian Pro, suffered out of control conditions at the beginning of the waiting period, abject flatness through the middle, and then bog average surf at the end. At least the sun was shining.
Fair to say most people gave their attention to Mick's world title run yesterday: would he claim it in Portugal? Most people that is, but not all. When Kai Otton was asked after his Round 5 heat if he'd be throwing the title-deciding Quarter Final against Mick, his reply was telling. "No way, I want to win one of these comps myself!"
Fair to say most people gave their attention to Mick's world title run yesterday: would he claim it in Portugal? Most people that is, but not all. When Kai Otton was asked after his Round 5 heat if he'd be throwing the title-deciding Quarter Final against Mick, his reply was telling. "No way, I want to win one of these comps myself!"
The biggest air in contest history? The second biggest..? Who knows, but Julian Wilson's Round 3 oop against CJ Hobgood was a fine effort, and if it didn't eclipse John John's Balinese version it went awfully close.
The biggest air in contest history? The second biggest..? Who knows, but Julian Wilson's Round 3 oop against CJ Hobgood was a fine effort, and if it didn't eclipse John John's Balinese version it went awfully close.
