Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, current ASP World No. 1, will face Kolohe Andino (AUS), 18, and trials winner Nic Muscroft (AUS), 29, in Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger will commence its waiting period tomorrow and the Southern Ocean is poised to deliver excellent conditions for the world’s best surfers to do battle in.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, reigning and three-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach champion, will be back to defend his title in the coming weeks at the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia  – The world’s best surfers are descending upon the Australian state of Victoria for the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger, to be held from April 3 – 14, 2012.

Gabe Kling made his way to the Quarterfinals of Vans Pier Classic competition today.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans Pier Classic and Vans Pro Junior presented by Jack’s Surfboards and hydrated by Vitaminwater saw competition continue in pumping six-to-eight foot waves and the event’s top surfers put in some standout performances to decide the event’s Quarterfinalists.

The Box, Western Australia (Saturday, 31st Mach 2012) Jacob Romero (HAW/Maui) shared a 3rd place finish with Dave Winchester (AUS/Mullumbimby) at the 2012 IBA Box Pro. The Box turned on for the final day of competition, providing powerful 6-8 foot waves over the shallow reef. The young Hawaiian managed to fight his way from Round 2 of the trials into the semifinals of the main event, where he was finally stopped by an in form Mitch Rawlins (AUS/Gold Coast) the eventual event winner.

With the 2012 Rip Curl Pro waiting period is near.... the Southern Ocean appears to be stirring from its summer slumber just in time. An impressive southwest swell – the first big swell of the year for Victoria – is forecast to send solid lines to the Surf Coast this Friday, setting the stage for a serious Bells dress rehearsal just prior to the 51st running of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford.

Michael Peterson has passed on. Another legend lost. Our condolences to Michael's family. Our memory of him lives on.

Michael Peterson, who died today of a heart attack, was a unique figure in the sport and culture of surfing. While many tried to define him in various ways – as the second coming of Nat, or in latter years, as Australia’s Mickey Dora – MP resisted all comparison. His passing will send a jolt through the memories of surfers in Australia and worldwide who grew up with him, heard about him, or just saw him rip. To many of these surfers. it will feel like the end of an era.

Lance SmithSean Mattison with Kelly Slater, doing research on the Nub.

Martin Potter and Peter Mel called it the guitar pick. Some folks called it the fifth fin. But Sean Mattison, creator of the cute, little, red skeg that Kelly Slater used in his quad at the Quiksilver Pro New York, calls it the "Nubster."

So Slater went to the finals in New York and Mattison, a surfer/designer/coach from Oceanside, sold hundreds of "Nubsters" on his Von Sol Surfboards website overnight.

Pic Zeke Lau © Volcom

In full Hawaiian style the day rolled on smooth with no worries

Local SNN News, 27 March, 2012 :  Volcom held its Pufferfish VQS Surf Series event at Makaha last weekend. It was perfect Makaha for everyone. Fun rippable waves, sunny and as always, beautiful. Volcom guys were giving away goodies all day for the kids too. Kids were surfing amazing out there negotiating Makaha's famous backwash.

Last years extreme final day conditions set the stage for another amazing contest at one of Australia wildest slabs. The trials will once again be staged at Gas Bay and the main event will feature the new “Show-down” format that will be used in 2012. Margret River will light up with the worlds best riders from March 26.

I'm 37, a retired Marine Officer, originally from California and have lived in Hawaii for 13 years. I swam for the University of Hawaii from 1992-1997. I am currently working on my thesis in an M.F.A. in Digital Cinema (3 year program from National University). My thesis film is a surf ecology documentary about preserving and conserving the North Shore of Oahu and a history of the IPS and the Hui O He'e Nalu. I became interested in making films in 2008. I'll have a film trailer out in May when I start editing.