Above: Dave Wassel (Haw). Big wave charger, lifeguard, and supporter of the event being called off for the day. Photo: Bielmann.

HONOLULU - (Jan. 28, 2012) -- The Banzai Pipeline caught everyone off guard Saturday. Waves doubled and tripled in size from one heat to the next before the opening day of competition at The Volcom Pipe Pro was called off due to dangerous conditions at 10:30am. Only seven heats and three hours of competition were held, yet still sufficient time for injuries, wipeouts and hairball rides to be registered. Waves maxed out in the 15+ foot range local scale.

BURLEIGH HEADS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 28 January, 2012) – Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Leila Hurst (HAW) have claimed the Men’s and Women’s ASP World Junior Titles at the Billabong World Junior Championships today. The pair join a prestigious list of former ASP World Junior Champions, including: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Andy Irons (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Wade Carmichael (AUS) and Alessa Quizon (HAW) were also amongst the winners today, taking out the third and final event of the ASP World Junior Title Series, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

Caio Ibelli and Leila Hurst have taken the ASP World Junior titles at the Billabong World Junior Championships, in the Gold Coast, Australia. The Men’s ASP World Junior Title race saw all the frontrunners bow out early today with Jack Freestone eliminated by Medi Veminardi and Ian Gouveia taken out by Wade Carmichael in the Quarterfinals.Carmichael had a sensational outing at Burleigh Heads this week, gaining entry into the event with a win at the Von Zipper trials and then sticking it to the world’s best junior surfers with a win at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

The North Shore Lifeguard Association has published a surf safety poster with the most important safety tips for both visitors and residents.

The design and graphic layout were done by Pat Kelly, Rick Williams and John Bain and feature several instructions about the rip currents of the four most popular surfing beaches of the North Shore: Haleiwa, Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset Beach.

The surf safety poster is now available to local merchants, realtors and individuals who share our interest in ocean safety education. You can read the entire information at www.northshorelifeguards.com

Jamie O'Brien goes surfing with two boards

Jamie O'Brien believes there's always something new to doin modern surfing. The creative Hawaiian icon decided to go surfing with two boards. No, it's not one surfboard for each foot. That would be wave skiing. O'Brien decided to test a two-board transfer while preparing to get barreled.

"I just think that the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun. Sometimes I see too much seriousness in the lineup. I'm trying to do something I've never done before, something different. I like a challenge"

“Hawaii’s biggest and best selection of surf gear, Hawaiian Island Creations, is now in Kahului at the Maui Mall. Don’t miss the Grand Opening Event this Saturday, January 28th, 10 am to 5 pm, with plenty of Free Prizes, great entertainment and killer deals in store.
The 2011 “Best of Maui” award winners, The Throwdowns, will be rocking HIC Maui Mall with live music starting at 3 pm. Enter To Win a GoPro HD Hero Camera, or a $100 HIC Gift Card. Plus, get a FREE HIC T-shirt with any purchase of $30 or more, all day long.
HIC Maui Mall...enjoy the ride!” Now there's 10 stores to keep you stoked and in the lineup! Read the HIC story

Jack Freestone © ASP / Dunbar

Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships. Event 3 of 3, ASP World Jnr Tour. Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia. 21 - 29 January 2012

The Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships roll through Round 3...only one Hawaiian and one USA left

 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 January, 2012 : - - Burleigh Heads -- The Australian surfers have been buoyed by their national holiday, Australia Day at the Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast today. ASP World Junior Title contenders Jack Freestone (AUS) and Garrett Parkes (AUS) both posted big scores to advance to the next round. While trials winner Wade Carmichael (AUS) did them a huge favour by eliminating the current ASP World Junior number 1 rated surfer, Caio Ibelli (BRA). There's a multitude of scenarios that could play out in the ASP World Junior Title race with 6 contenders still in the running, including the eliminated Ibelli.

Above:A 15' 2nd Reef set mows over the guys inside 9am on Saturday 1.28.12
It's going to be ludicrous on day one with some sets washing through. We wish competitors a safe day.
One month after the 2011 ASP World Tour wrapped up at the Pipe Masters, the Volcom Pipe Pro now signals the start of the new 2012 season for those with a goal of qualifying for surfing's elite professional ranks.Defending event champion John John Florence will head the field, joined by top international talent Josh Kerr (Australia), Bruce Irons (Hawaii, wildcard), Kolohe Andino (California), Tanner & Dane Gudauskas (California), Wiggolly Dantas (Brazil), Joan Duru (France), Balaram Stack (New York), and Hawaii chargers Ian Walsh, Dusty Payne, and Jamie O'Brien.

GO LIVE HERE

 

The forecast is good to say the least...check the video presentation of the Local Swell Tracker
the what when and why of our waves winds and weather

BIG SURF PICTURE 

Tuesday 1/24/12

NPAC: the Jet is set up in a winter pattern (low, consolidated and stretching past the dateline) allowing for storms to be enhanced and steered to longitudes near Hawaii; its also affecting our winds and weather patterns with a cycle between lite variables/Konas to regular Trades.

Currently...Late today Tuesday we'll see some double over head NW with 14 seconds peaking Wednesday to just below advsry level 5-7’ NW from a severe gale that spawned our side of the dateline just 1000 miles away Sunday/Monday and tracking quickly ENE into Alaska as it intensifies.

Sunset Beach © Joli

The North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior Went Off

SNN News, 23 January, 2012 : - - North Shore, Oahu -- The inaugural North Shore Surf Shop 4* ASP Pro Junior, lived up to the hype of being one the 2012’s best events on the schedule. Sunset Beach which is located in the heart of surfing’s Mecca, delivered epic 4-8 foot surf over the three day competition window. Competitors were graced by Mother Nature with clean swells out of the North-Westerly direction which were the perfect platform for the under 21 competitors.