Mr Price Pro - Day 5 - Monster Tubes light up Ballito

Flying out of Cape Town this morning at some ridik hour, I could hardly have expected what awaited me in the sleepy coastal town of Ballito, just north of Durban. I had literally just walked onto the beach as the whole crowd started screaming, swung my camera onto the ocean and caught, John John Florence, as he caught one of the heaviest tubes I have ever watched. It was mental! My picture below, with the ASP photogs angle below. I just wish I had got there earlier to see Jordy's heat, as he apparently got 2 of these beast tubes. Looking forward to the final day tomorrow and hopefully a repeat of Jordy's victory...

The front angle of John John Florence's amazing tube (Photo: Captain Kai)

 BALLITO, KwaZulu Natal/South Africa (Friday, July 8, 2011) – The ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito is set to go down in history, as Surfers Beach once again delivered flawless two-point-five-meter (8ft) barrels that had surfers calling some of the best waves ever surfed in, or out of competition.
Two rounds of 12 (non-elimination and elimination) were completed with the winners of the non- elimination round advancing directly into the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight surfers battled through the repo charge rounds for four remaining spots in this year’s competition.
Defending champion and current ASP World No. 5 Jordy Smith (Durban) showed exactly why he is a world title contender. Dusting off an old 6’4 ‘gun’ (big wave surfboard) that his dad brought down for him the day before, Smith rode two of the heaviest barrels of the day, advancing into the quarterfinals in first place.
“I knew that one wave was a pretty heavy wave and I thought either I’ll get a massive score or I’ll get a massive beat down and as it turned out I got both,” Smith said.
Smith posted the highest individual wave of the day, a 9.80 (out of ten) for a throaty, set wave barrel, bursting through the suicidal closeout section to advance in first place ahead of Kieren Perrow (AUS) and Shaun Joubert (RSA).
“We weren’t really battling each other out there, we were battling the ocean trying to find those perfect waves,” Smith said. “It is definitely difficult but when you get a good one, it is worth it. I’m stoked to advance straight into the quarterfinals but I wouldn’t have minded getting a few more 9.8’s either.”
Pipeline specialist John John Florence (HAW) was right at home in the double-overhead surf, armed with one of his tried and tested ‘Pipe’ quiver, the 18-year-old netted the day’s highest heat total of 18.43 (out of 20.00) to earn his place into the quarterfinals.
“It’s a lot like the barrels at Backdoor (right hand waves at Pipeline), it’s big and round and maybe a little bit faster and longer,” Florence said. “I came here a few years ago and it got pretty big so I brought my Pipe boards and I’m happy I did.”
Air-dropping into an enormous barrel, disappearing for several seconds, Florence emerged cleanly to post a 9.50 (out of ten) taking the win over Kai Otton (AUS) and Jano Belo (BRA).
“I was paddling back out when I saw that wave standup and I just air dropped straight into it, the waves are amazing and I cant wait to get back out there.”
ASP World No. 27 Patrick Gudauskas (USA) looked perfectly in-tune with his equipment posting a faultless performance against proven big wave surfer Kieren Perrow (AUS).
“These waves are just unbelievable, it’s one of the most enjoyable events I’ve surfed in so I’m frothing,” Gudauskas said. “I knew this wave had some juice and I’m riding a step-up designed for a more hollow, powerful wave so I’m lucky I packed it.”


Landing a critically late air-drop, Gudauskas slotted stylishly into an expansive cavern to top Perrow’s 9.27 with a 9.40 (both out of ten) and advanced into the quarterfinals where he will take on Brazil’s Junior Faria when the competition resumes.
“Kieren is one of my favourite barrel riders and when I saw his nine-point ride I was stressing,” Gudauskas said. “I knew I needed a good one and luckily I stuck that drop, the wave stood up and I came flying out.”
Junior Faria (BRA) found his feet in some of the toughest conditions of the morning, tucking into a rare double barrel opener for a 9.33, to advance into the quarterfinals ahead of Gudauskas and Jesse Mendes (BRA).
“It’s really heavy, you cant just choose any wave to get scores because you’re going to take a long time to come back, even with the skis,” Faria said. “It’s a matter of finding one good wave in thirty minutes.”
Heath Joske (AUS) completed a dream heat, riding another of the day’s standout barrels to advance with a near-perfect 9.23 ahead of Wilson (AUS) and Blake Thornton (AUS).
“The waves are absolutely pumping,” Joske said. “These are waves surfers dream of surfing! You cant ask for better conditions, its amazing.”
ASP World No. 30 Julian Wilson (AUS) could hardly contain his excitement when he laid eyes upon the ocean this morning. Holding nothing back Wilson made his way through repo charge round defeating Jano Belo (BRA) for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I came over with 12 boards because I’m here for three weeks and I didn’t want to run out, “ Wilson said. “I think that’s why I was so excited this morning because I had the right equipment. The waves were phenomenal! I saw some of the best waves of my life this morning, I saw one that was like 8ft Kirra (Australia) so I’m so stoked I came to this event.”
Fresh off a victory in Portugal, Wilson’s new found form could see the ASP World Tour rookie prove unstoppable in Ballito tomorrow.
“I had a tough start to the year and things just feel like they are clicking together now,” Wilson said. “I’ve been putting in the hard work and trying to figure out what works and it feels like I’ve found my groove. It’s awesome confidence to take to JBay.”
Also advancing into the quarterfinals were Jesse Mendes who advanced ahead of Shaun Joubert (AUS) and Blake Thornton (AUS) who took down Kai Otton (AUS).
With another great day of surf expected tomorrow, organisers are hoping to crown the 2011 Mr Price Pro Ballito Champion by midday. The action will get underway at 08H00 and will see a Legends Exhibition featuring South African surfing icons such as Shaun Tomson, Gavin Rudolph, Jonathan Paarman and others paddle out before the final. The call will be made at 07h30.
-ends
RESULTS
Non-Elimination Round of 12:
Heat 1: Junior Faria (BRA) 12.83; Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.44; Jesse Mendes(BRA) 5.20pts
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.97; Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 5.03; Kieren Perrow(AUS) 4.40pts
Heat 3: Heath Joske (AUS) 15.40; Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.24; Blake Thornton(AUS) 10.20
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 18.43; Kai Otton( AUS) 15.23; Jano Belo(BRA) 2.00
Elimination Round of 12
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90 def Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.44
Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.50 def Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 12.26
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.53 def Jano Belo (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Blake Thornton (AUS) 8.37 def Kai Otton (AUS) 7.84
Upcoming Heats
Quarterfinals
QF 1: Junior Faria (BRA) vs Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs Jesse Mendes (BRA)
QF 3: Heath Joske (AUS) vs Julian Wilson (AUS)
QF 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs Blake Thornton (AUS)

The sights and sounds of surfing Jaws

The lads at Red Bull push the envelope once again, recording sound on the surfers as they surf very big and very windy Jaws.

Soundwave is the first production in history to record comprehensive audio in the big wave surfing arena.
Soundwave gives us an inside look at what really happens as surfers risk it all while riding 50-foot waves.
Stay tuned as we follow surfers Ian Walsh, Carissa Moore, Carlos Burle and Maya Gabeira as we get a unique perspective on the action.

http://RedBullSurfing.com

The TAND invitational 2011 - BodyBoard SA's mental Slab Contest

These guys are nuts! I have watched my bodyboard mates splatter themselves on sandbars and rock slabs for years - never quite figured it out. But hell, it makes for good viewing. Thats why I will definately be going to watch this lot -

After years of shrouded mystery, secret road trips, blind-folded drives in the boot and turf wars we have come to this, the pinnacle of bodyboarding events in South Africa...

Welcome to the TAND Invitational 2011

Let me paint you a brief picture before we get down to the nitty gritty details.

A heavy flat bottom reef on the West Coast unloads with unprecedented force in the middle of nowhere with nothing surrounding you but rugged beauty and the sound of wild waves ringing out. For years, even until this present day the locals continue to dominate and blow minds. Every other top bodyboarder in South Africa has used it as a proving ground. Jared Houston attributed it to his success in his aerial assault on the world tour and one of his favourite spots in S.A. Mark McCarthy used it as a training ground for the Shark Island Challenge in Australia where he went on to place 2nd! Top international riders have made wild statement calling it the best wave in S.A and they can’t wait to come back and surf it.

Tomas Degenaar

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the amphitheatre for the biggest, heaviest bodyboarding contest South Africa has yet to lay its eyes upon.

The brainchild behind this event, Jarret Johnson, took a step out into the unknown wilds and approached me with this concept, asking for help and ideas. A good few hour’s worth of banter and a few crazy thoughts later we went for it and committed. The local boys gave us

the go ahead, which was the main thing and it was all on from there. The Facebook page went up and within a few days we were an internet spamming sensation rivalling the likes of Rebecca Black.

Then one cold evening Jarret received a phone call, it was a +44 number....England!! It was Mr Billy Thiel, South African bodyboarding legend and international travel guru. Well known amongst the international bodyboarding community; His knowledge of all things boogie is almost infinite. He recently started up his brand new board label, THIEL BOARD CO., which we had heard about so we knew that this wasn’t a small fry phone call.

After a few minutes of shaky voices and stuttered words, long story short, this man is committed to South African Bodyboarding in a BIG way and has a vision for it that extends way beyond any selfish need. He wants to see it grow to levels that haven’t even been dreamt of yet.

Mark McCarthy

He is so committed in fact that THIEL BOARD CO. has come on board the TAND Invitational 2011 as the main sponsor and thrown into the golden pot a massive R10 000 in cash!!!! Yes, you heard right!

Now that your jaws are on the floor, we’ll get down to details.

16 riders. 4 Locals, 4 Western Province, 4 KZN and 4 Speciality entries.

This is the 1st event of its kind in South Africa, being an invitational event with riders being voted in by their peers.
We are running it in a standard 4-man knockout heat format, with the top 2 riders from each heat advancing until finally the history books are written!
We have a 2 week waiting period to allow for the best possible day to run the event. It will last only 4 hours enabling us to have the best conditions of the day.
ALL finalists will be receiving moneybags worth of cash, with obviously the winner being rewarded with more cash than he could think of, all courtesy of THIEL BOARD CO.

Captain Kai's Video of the Week - 2

Welcome to the second in my soon to be world famous video series. Every week I choose my favorite video, out of the large amount I watch every week online.

Wade Goodall charging!

This week I introduce you to Aussie surfer Wade Goodall's "Creative Destruction" project. Wade was pretty jaded with the whole contest scene and decided he wanted to travel, surf great waves and produce epic media. So far, so good! I love the edits I have seen so far and am pretty sure we will see a great movie at some point, well, I hope so! I chose this one, as it has one of the meanest looking right hand tubes in the world in it, take a guess...