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

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.

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BIG SURF PICTURE 

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.

Rihanna has gone surfing in Hawaii. Well, at least, she tried. The Barbadian recording artist decided to hit the warm waters of the Pacific islands to show off her great figure and new black G-string bikini.

The singer picked a big stand-up paddle board, but was not seen riding 20-foot waves. She decided to tan on the top of the big surfboard, while the paparazzi photographed her.

Rihanna, the newest surfing celebrity, kept floating along in the ocean and applied sun cream to protect her from the sun rays. She didn't bring her umbrella, though.

El Niño and La Niña have joined forces to deliver less quality waves to the Hawaiian Islands, this winter. The result is fewer large weather systems resulting in fewer large ground swells.

The upside of La Niña is more wind and that means two ideas: windsurfing and Jason Polakow. "I have never seen such a windy December in all the years I have been here. With the La Nina taking a strong hold on the Pacific I was happily surprised when I saw the maps indicating that there was a Jaws size swell in the pipeline", explains Polakow.

Surfer packed up their quiver from all around the world and traveled to Hawaii. It was big time showdown. Polakow hired a boat to put all the equipment and food on board. Also, he set up a wet suit made with a CO2 canister and air bladder built into the back of the suit so that if he got into real trouble, he would spend less time underwater.