Help please Tobes!..

Hi Tobes!
Ross is coming over next month and we're off on an east coast surfin' safari...should be unreal, but I wanted to get one of your nifty little cameras. Could you write a comment here, or alternatively write me an email? It's my name (both names, all one word, lower case @gmail.com). Thanks...hope you're getting a few. Merewether served up some nice ones yesterday, but it has been a bit big and stormy up till then.

Out to pasture for a while...

The weekend had a few little hidden treasures. Dan and family had a couple of good days, first on Saturday at Dashi for a change, a light offshore and some little two foot shooters across the bay. This was followed by a few nice little ones at Pointies on Sunday at dead low tide, despite the presence of lifeguards, who looked quite official...what does this mean?
Tobes and Gary enjoyed similar conditions at Baishawan in the morning. A nice weekend to end the academic year off.
I'll be putting Pointyhat out to pasture for a couple of months, but I'll try to post some Merewether gold every now and then if I can be bothered! Have a good one!

Wushi waves

Dave gets one in the background
the peak
rollin' in...

Perfect day, clear cool water and swell hitting the east coast more than the north. Wushi harbour wall was the pick, but there were literally 150 guys out. Waiting on the set proved a winner, just off the edge of the peak. It cleaned up many of the inside guys and there were long blue walls to have lots of fun on. I hesitate to say it was too good after last week's spray, but who cares...it was REAL GOOD! Maybe 'anonymous' was home tuggin' on something while the rest of us were out having fun... (slide show above)

The Ball delivers again...

Dan waits out the back in the bottom pic here on his longboard. Right at this spot, there was a peaking takeoff and then big thick slabs which then rushed across the first inner section like lightning. Dave got Dan's call and Green Ball was on today. Not perfect conditions but good power 3-4 foot sets and lots of great waves for all. The 2 boys had it to themselves for an hour when the local boys "witchin' hour" kicked in...the waves were actually better then...

Girls just want to have fun...

This is what surfing is really all about. Gary, Emma and Lucy star here and I'll just let the pictures tell the story...

Teahuppo goes psycho!

David Scard goes over the falls surfing his round of the Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper trials at Teahuppo in Tahiti, which awards two wild cards into the World Championship Billabong Pro event in Tahiti on May 8. Top pic has Australia's Dylan Lonbottom in the tow-in session.

Oh!?

If ever Tobes, Gazza, Aaron and Dan needed any further vindification for their stand up paddle boards, here it is! 4 times world champ, Mark Richards was spotted out at Merewether by the local paper's photographer...as you'd expect, he was immediately expert. Click on the pic for a larger image.
(Newsapaper clipping sent by Dave's mum)

Gazza's airport lefts

Bobby P wasn't the only one getting some great waves over spring break. Gazza's spot of choice was ripped 4 or 5 times during the week as well as a surf Gary had at Kuta reef...looks pretty nice!

Something that is NOT nice is a filthy oil slick just 20 km off Jinshan. Check this article. Keep an eye out for any filth in the water and let's know if you spot anything...

Maldives pure magic...

Ex TAS surfing legend and all round top bloke, Bobby P, has made all of us green with envy with these shots of his Spring Break. Danno is starting to save up now in the hope that he can get there........have a look at these waves!!!

Pointy of the Month: Mel

Name or nickname: Runna
Favorite surfing beach: Pointys
Best surfing moment (describe): Ok I am a beginner so my best moment so far was when I stood up for the first time at Jinshan amongst people floating on surfboards with snorkel masks, I felt like such a pro.
Surfing hero (and why): Sheesh I don’t have a clue, I was pretty impressed when I saw a guy out at Jinshan surfing with his dog on the front of his board, he can be my hero.
Favored board type: the bigger the better
Surfing maneuver you’d love to do: Standing up for longer!
Dream surf spot: Mount Maunganui, you can’t beat the Bay of Plenty!
Other sport (play) and (watch): Running and cycling
Greatest personal sporting moment(s): Racing in packed stadiums
Ultimate pin up: mmmm… Michael off Prison Break
Food: Jelly Tip Ice Cream
Drink (variety): Vodka Lemon and Lime
Thing you miss most about home: White sand and fish and chips
Thing you like best about Taiwan: The friendly people
Music: Anything apart from death metal and country
Best advice you’ve ever had: Don’t leave it until the last minute
Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Collections: Dessert Recipes
Who would play you in a movie? Alyson Hannigan
Current car: Ford Laser
Dream car: Anything with a stereo
Near death experience: Tramping on Mt Tongariro in a blizzard, yes thanks to Vicars we got out alive.
Your idea of a great night out: Friends, drinks and SING STAR!
Philosophy on life: Make the most of everything before you get too old to enjoy it!

Surfest

The famous Surfest at Merewether beach is heading into finals this weekend. Someone has been drooling over the webcast of his home break. Some of the hottest young surfers in the world are on show here. (Taiwan 3 hours behind Merewether)

Solid 1 inch

A solid one inch of swell is pumping through Jinshan and Pointies this morning. The cleanup sets are up around 1 1/2 inches. At least it's stopped raining momentarily and conditions are glassy.

Small Ball

Green Ball too small after a very early run to catch it coming in to high tide. JB, Mark and Dave lamented the conditions, had a chat then checked an equally woeful Baishawan point on the way back. Next time...

On a short leash

Pointies served up some good stuff today. Good consistent size, touch of cross shore kept it clean and the low tide meant some fast shooters right across the bank. Dave got a few, got axed a few times trying to squeeze into barrels, but it was all good fun. Mark raced off to get a leash, Jim then snapped his, so it was all happening. Maybe Green Ball tomorrow early?

D'Bah went right off (not Taiwan!!)

Let the pictures tell this story

Big 7 Dawn Patrol

Dan, Zef, Daniel, Tobes, Gary, Andrew, Aaron, Dave and Ben the dog were the dawn patrol.

What a stellar morning: the sun peeped out from behind the Jinshan harbour hill as Tobes caught a glassy swell...if only I had a camera then, it was a real "Endless Summer" picture. Brilliant time had by all on the big 12 footers, Aaron had his ski and Dan his longboard. Dave quite likes that big bopper.....! (check the slide show above)

Bells

The Ripcurl Pro at Bells has been a bit off and on this year. Currently waiting till conditions improve, you can check a live feed here (remember, Aussie times are three hours ahead of Taiwan)

Steph "Happy" Gilmour just won the women's event (see photo above)

Son upstages Dad

Dan surfed Taj Mahal small with a slight onshore. Zef scored the best waves, pity Dad forgot his wetsuit, and boardies. He lasted 5 or 6 waves in his speedo's.Drove on up to Fulong. Despite Taj being on shore, Fulong was pretty calm almost glassy. The waves were a little bigger with the odd semi wall on a few sections going left.

Stop...thief!

I've become a little complacent since this incident

Unfortunately another robbery recently occurred, one of our members the victim. Parked on the road just past the restaurants at Baishawan, in full view, it looks like a scooter rider has done a quick smash and grab.

Maybe take only the essentials, and hide any other stuff well: only stuff easy and quick to grab was taken.

Beautiful pics

Some beautiful hi res pics of JB and Mark at Wushi harbour at this link. Actually Xiopi's blog is all really beautiful...I'm jealous!
Thanks to Scott M for the link.

Pointies ski time

Gary took the surf ski out at Pointies on Sunday and enjoyed his time getting a few, but the surf wasn't really doing it for Carl and Tobes on their boards. As always though, I'm sure it was great to get out in the surf and sun.

Cliff surprise

The Cliff was a nice little surprise today. Only a couple of foot, but Dave found some clean, crisp water and sunny skies, along with some playful right hand peelers: it all made for a pretty good little surf.

Slide

When the slide shows disappear from the site, you can always access them at http://pointyhat.slide.com/

I'll put a link on the right under "Taiwan" as well.

It's not easy being ....

Arriving at mid tide it was LOW, but Dave paddled out with local boy Jeff very tentatively. They shouldn't have worried: it was a blast! The waves just got better and better and when JB (Jim) paddled out after an hour or so, some great waves had been ripped. The crowd built steadily till 12 guys were out, the waves were peeling and powerful and big. JB showed that the longboard can work at the ball as well. What a surf! (see slideshow above)

The rise and fall of the $uperbank ?

The Quiksilver Pro will begin soon at the famous Superbank at Snapper Rocks/Kirra. But, one of the world's most incredible waves may be on the way out again after only a brief stay. This very interesting article explains why.

Taiwan surf magazine

Taiwan now boasts its own surf magazine. The second issue has just hit the shelves, it's very slick and worth checking out. Here's the website.

Huge, Mean and Freezing!

Dan, Nicky and the kids headed out to Green Ball with Dave hot on their tails. "Greenies" was a heaving cauldron, the northerly wind and swell conspiring against the boys. It was an "almost" call: but commonsense prevailed as the waves were doubling up and not producing that famous Green Ball fast wall. They headed back past a huge Jinshan and Rocket to the little bay just beyond Rocket where the low rock platform has tantalised the surfers many times. It was not to be (see pictures) but this day was momentous for two reasons. Both Dave and Dan declared it to be the biggest swell and the coldest temperature they had experienced on the island.

Pointy of the Month: Greg

Name or nickname: Greg (GC), no doubt some others that people haven’t told me about.
Favorite surfing beach: Baishawan or St. Clair, Dunedin, NZ (if it wasn’t for the wild life)
Best surfing moment (describe): Getting up that first time – can’t wait until the second time!
Surfing hero (and why): Anybody who can stand up regularly, but, gotta love Laird
Favored board type: Anything over 8ft long and preferably 2 ft wide!
Surfing maneuver you’d love to do: Stand up and ride a wave for more than 5 seconds – honestly!
Dream surf spot: 3-4 ft, empty Indo reef break, water 28deg, 50ft yacht moored off shore with tender ferrying me and a few of my buddies in and out all day long (as long as the coral wasn’t too sharp and I didn’t fall onto any of it – don’t’ really care if my buddies do though).
Other sport (play) and (watch): Sailing, Rugby, Basketball
Greatest personal sporting moment(s): Cleaning up at the Hawkes Bay (NZ) Surf Life Saving Champs while still a member of another club from another region, Two week surfing and skiing trip around the South Island NZ
Ultimate pin up: Jessica A (even if she is pregnant), for someone closer to my own age of…40, Monica Bellucci is pretty hot!
Food: Fish and Chips or Indian, or Indian Fish and Chips (do they do that?)
Drink (variety): Beer Speights (NZ), Wine Sauvignon Blanc NZ or Australian
Thing you miss most about home: Good Fish and Chips
Thing you like best about Taiwan: Lawlessness on the roads, convenience, people.
Music: Deep Purple (always), Led Zepp, Clapton, Stones, Alice etc but happy to branch out into some Life House, Goo Goo Dolls, Evermore and not afraid to admit I do have some 70’s schmooze in the form of Burt Bacharach and others.
Best advice you’ve ever had: An eye for an eye leaves everybody blind! Not sure if I could follow it though.
Movie: Too many – I have to watch, no matter how many times I have seen them – The Negotiator, Spy Game, Enemy of the State, The Matrix and I do have the original Star Trek series and movies.
Collections: Original Star Trek Episodes
Who would play you in a movie? Kirk (ok maybe Uhura), or the little guy off Fantasy Island, you know - “boss, de plane de plane”
Current car: Space Gear
Dream car: 08 Honda Fireblade 1100 – I know, not a car, but man I would like one
Near death experience: Many here – Ball Bearing trolleys down steep narrow footpaths, 4 man surf canoes in big surf, landing in a typhoon at Chiang Kai Shek Airport a couple of years ago and all flights on China Airlines + flying in mega turbulence on X Plane Flight Sim, and every time I landed at Kai Tak (for real)
Your idea of a great night out: Good food, good movie, good coffee, with good friends
Philosophy on life: Do it to them before they do it to you – (goes with the best advice I ever had). Look before you leap but don’t forget, he who hesitates is lost.

Big Green Ball Rolls in Again...

Green Ball's very large power swells were surging through again this afternoon. Dan and Dave made it out just on high tide and got through the ferocious bank breaking on rock. The current was super strong and it took ages and lots of effort to paddle to the take off point. Dan ripped up a succession of big power slabs, but scaredy cat Dave took an hour to get his first wave after getting slammed by a couple of boppers. They stayed till the tide was getting too low and the swell was dropping off. Dan's lovin' it, Dave's determined to conquer this spot, so roll on the next storm surf!

Bustin' Down the Door

"Bustin’ Down the Door" features professional surfing icons Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards, Ian Cairns, Peter Townend, ASP President Wayne Bartholomew among others in the story of how this brash group of phenomenal surfers broke boundaries on the North Shore in the 1970s. Watch the trailer here.

Green Ball goes off

Everywhere else totally blown, Dan made a good call for Green Ball. After coming from both directions, Green Ball had size, power and shelter... it was good. Dave and JB discussed how to paddle out, but Jim's longboard wasn't a good fit for these waves. Dan carved up a number of power lefts, joined by old mate Clayton for a while. Dave couldn't get the fish to turn at all, but still managed to kook a few. This is a power wave and a good wave...quite exhilerating. Dan decided he liked his oft maligned shortboard after all I think!

Photos by Cass: Dan and Dave discuss conditions, Dave sequence (no turns!)