Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
I don't think you could ask for a better final day in professional surfing. Kelly versus Joel Parkinson and Jon Jon Florence versus Dane Reynolds, followed by a Dane and Kelly final. Some big names were also beaten early, meaning the world title race is now wide open! Joel has moved to number 1 with his 3rd place finish in France and Kelly slots in at number 2. This means poor Mick fanning has slipped to 3rd, followed by John John and Taj Burrows.it is super tight between the top 3 and you can believe that Portugal is going to be a huge fight for points.
Hats off to Dane Reynolds making the final as a wildcard. The guy ripped France and Kelly was the only guy ever looking like beating him. Kelly is a machine! With his 51st win on tour, he puts himself right back in the hunt for world title number 12 and solidifying his place as the greatest athlete of all time.
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.26
2 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.00
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.70 def. John John Florence (HAW) 15.60
SF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.27 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.93
CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro France):
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 46,200 pts
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 45,450 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 43,000
4. John John Florence (HAW) 39,150 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 31,900 pts
I can only chuckle away thinking of the last year of surf media and commentary. No one denied that John John Florence had the talent or the desire to be a world champion. It is just that such a song and dance have been made over Gabriel Medina and Kohole Andino. The entire surf media have been claiming these two young and phenomenal surfers as the future, with little to no similar treatment of John John. They would reply, sure John John is amazing at Pipeline and will be a definite threat at Fiji and Tahiti, but that is really, is it not? Well surf media and the world, John John just gave notice in the beach breaks of Brazil, it does not matter what the waves are doing, he wants to win and he wants a world title! Joel Parkinson swooped to the finals with his usual tube riding and incredible turns, but he had nothing to give against John John in the final, where he found himself in combo land after just 4 minutes. The old guard are starting to show chinks in their armor especially when the waves are asking for massive punts and technical aerials. John John has these on demand along with his phenomenal tube riding skills.
The results in Brazil see Joel Parkinson take the lead in the World Title race, with good mate Mick Fanning right behind him and Josh Kerr rocketing into 3rd place. John John's win takes him into 6th place on the rankings just in front of our own Jordy Smith. Heading to Fiji and the possibility of giant Cloudbreak and endless tubes, John John must be a favorite and no one on tour is going to want him in their heats with his confidence this high! I cannot wait for the event, though it is going to be night owl hours for those of us watching in South Africa.
Congrats John John!
The votes are in, the judges have made their calls and the 2012 Innersection Video winner is, Albee Layer, from Maui. The guys from Maui have been dominating this competition and one wonders if they got Taylor Steele a holiday home on the Island? Jamie O'Brien came in a close second and I have to admit to thinking his entry was better! The footage from giant, Nias, alone was enough to win me over. But, congrats to Albee, I am sure he must be one stoked dude!
The gorgeous Miss Zag 2012, Nicole Naude (Photo: Zigzag)
We all love our home grown SA beauties, especially the ones who love the beach and wearing Bikinis! So I thought why not introduce you to the lady that walked away with the Miss Zigzag Title. Ladies and gents, it gives me great pleasure in introducing, Nicole Naude, Miss Zag 2012...
Kai: Hi Nicole, tell the readers a little about yourself:
Nicole: I was born in East London. I am a student, studying drama and psychology. I am currently living in Durban and have been since the start of High School.
Kai: First off, congrats on winning Miss Zag! How did you end up entering?
Nicole: Thank you so much. A few of my friends had entered and when I read what the competition was all about, I decided to enter as there was nothing to lose and the prizes sounded amazing. I created a profile and if people liked what I was all about then they could vote for me.
(Photo: Zigzag)
Kai: Do you surf? Nicole: I have started surfing, I actually started learning properly before I won Miss Zag and it was such a blessing to have won a board because I have now been continuing my new hobby .
Kai: Do you read Zigzag? Nicole: I do read ZigZag at friends houses. To be honest I am not a person who really purchase magazines.
Kai: What were your thoughts on the other ladies that entered? SA looking good on the Bikini stage?
Nicole: The ladies who entered were all beautiful and had awesome bikini bodies so seeing all the girls really gives a feeling of pride in our ladies in SA and how well they look after themselves.
(Photo: Zigzag)
Kai: What are your plans moving forward? Nicole: I am finishing my 3rd year at UKZN this year and then moving to Cape Town at the end of this year where I will be studying through correspondence and modelling and working. I plan on seeing how I do in the industry in a new city and by thrown into a foreign place to me, I intend on growing as a person and to have a bit of an adventure.
Kai: Are you single? Nicole: Haha, yes I am single.
Kai: Do you prefer surfers, bmx, skaters or snowboarders? Nicole: Hmmm, I would have to say surfers.
Kai: How does a guy impress you? Nicole: A guy just needs to be himself and a whole lot of fun. A guy who can be my best friend and make me laugh is always awesome. As much as guys think a gift is impressive, I am not into flowers or chocolates- doing something thoughtful and sweet means way more to me.
(Photo: Zigzag)
Kai: Favorite place to eat out? Nicole: Anywhere that serves sushi or a really good quality meal, there are so many to just name one.
Kai: Favorite place to go out for a good time? Nicole: I enjoy going to Czar or Boulevard in Durban.
Kai: Favorite surfer? Nicole: Julian Wilson
Nicole: Thank so much
Kai: No thank you! Look forward to seeing you in the Cape line up soon, albeit in a westuit and not a bikini!
Check out the behind the scenes shoot with Nicole...
Ok, so we thought he might not even surf on tour this year, but Kelly declined that rumor and simply stormed through to win the first event of the year. Beating Taj Burrow in a super close final, you could see the anguish in Taj's body language after the final siren. On paper, Taj was the most consistent surfer in the event, with not one heat loss till the final and an average heat score of over 16 out of 20. But Kelly pretty much mind fucked him in the final - check out Kelly's stall spraying Taj in the face in the heat video!
Kelly back on top! (Photo: ASP)
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Slater said. “It’s pretty easy. You go out and surf Snapper by yourself, it’s pretty fun. To get to surf a contest is a bonus. I’d like to thank my girlfriend and everyone at Quiksilver for throwing the event. Everyone loves this event because the waves are so fun. I don’t think I’m the only one that thought Taj was the standout of the event. At some point had to stop getting 9s and I just picked the right heat.”
“I’m excited about the tour for 2011,” Burrow said. “It was a fun event and it’s just a bummer the waves didn’t hang in there at the end. I couldn’t better a 3. Hats off to Kelly, he built a house and it worked. I’d just like to thank everyone that organized the contest, it was awesome.”
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, 2010 ASP World Runner-Up, surfed with style, punch and bite throughout the duration of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, securing exciting last-minute victories over Joel Parkinson (AUS), 29, and Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, to advance through to the Semifinals. However, the big South African was unable to overtake Burrow in a repeat of last season’s Final.
“It’s disappointing when everything seems to be going well and the surf doesn’t cooperate,” Smith said. “Taj (Burrow) surfed amazing though and it’s still a good start for me. I’m looking forward to the next event and I’ll just put my head down and work hard until then.”
I am now so excited for Bells, I literally have to take valium! Check out Kelly's final day below.
