Happy Christmas!

This blog will have a little spell until January 8. To look after readers until our return, I've added a live weather graphic under the Taiwan links...look to your right. It also gives the wind and intensity. If you go to the site (click on "forecast") you can also access longer range weather, up to 2 weeks. The blog also has a fancy new template, even though it looks similar: I can post some more fancy graphics etc, like the iconic shot of "the wedge" at dusk last year. Be nice to each other...

Return to the Pillbox

These shots look pretty good, but you had to wait for 'em on the far peak. Usual strong current, very pushy crossshore breeze that turned offshore for about 1/2 an hour when I was ready to give up, quite nice. Light rain etc, but kinda coolto be back at Pilly, even with wetsuit on against the wind and the pig farm perfume wafting over every now and then! Tobes reports yesterday and today at Baishawan: blown, not worth going out.

Can you hear it?

The Pillbox is calling, "Please come and visit: I know I stink and the rocks will cut you up and you have to paddle non-stop against a rip, but where else will you get a wave today?"

The Jinshan shot looks a bit stormy stormy for my liking, although there's probably a wave around if you go looking.

Not today

stormy


Don't know about anyone else, but Dave, Wal, Josh and Lewy were all watching the cricket at various stages today and not venturing to the coast. Thoughts about the Pillbox came to mind...maybe soon?

Giving Thanks

Rocket left at dawn on Friday


Today is small, messy, cloudy and onshore, and most are back at work after a great long weekend of surfing fun, so here's another shot of some excellent deserted Rocket from Friday. Gary and Tobes did get some action on Saturday but moved from the act cent to Jinshan for a coffee and a few nicely shaped lefts on the point. Dan was rumoured to be on his way to the east coast Friday, we might get a report on that shortly. Congrats to Pointy Rourkey and wife Katie on the safe delivery of their 1st child Isabella.

rocket very crowded!

Purple Patch!!

rocket lines

companions

rights off the wall

act cent goes both ways


We've hit a purple patch! Great waves the past two days. Tobes got some action at the act cent this morning but had left by the time Dave turned up. Dave went and sussed the Rocket, which had some fat, juicy, tempting peaks, but 5 minutes watching the carnage (boards flying wildly into others paddling out straight through the take-off zone!) persuaded him to back track. The Activity Centre had cleaned up a bit and big barreling lefts were complemented by fun rights off the wall. Dave had two companions only which was great (see pic) one of whom, Gareth, is a regular reader.

Dawn Dash

Dave had a bit of dawn delight all to himself this morning. In the water by 6.15, the Rocket served up some long clean walls on the right hander, ending up smack against the concrete wall if you went too far! Two hours later, still not a soul in sight, back home to watch the Aussies smack the pommies round the park a bit more! Hint: get going at 5.30 to beat the traffic: 29 minutes.

Activity Centre to Ashes

While Dave, Cass, Shaun, Wal and Tina were watching a feed of the 1st Ashes test live from 8 am, Carl and the boys got some great long lefts at the Act Cent. Sunshine, light off shore and well formed 2 foot left handers off the far wall dropping into a gutter in the middle. Might do an early tomorrow then get back for the cricket?!
Check these huge mommas from the XXL search.

Trendy Trucker 'tache twosome target tiny tide

mr movember

act cent has a couple

Wal looks ready


A couple of hirsute gentlemen found a few nice ones at the Actvity Centre late Sunday arvo. Wal stood and carved on a few, instantly becoming hooked. Big Trucker Tranh had a forgettable day, but I hear he really enjoyed the drive!

Rockin' Rocket

Dave and Cass met Carl at the Rocket after spotting all the boys sheltering at the northern end of Green Bay. Wild, swirling currents and pretty solid sets were on the menu. Lionel from Switzerland joined the fun for a while, but the surfers found it pretty tough going. Dave on a moderate left above and a right sequence below. The fish wasn't the ideal equipment today!

3 shots

Low and messy

Two images from the restaurant cam show a low tide and messy close outs. Theres' s a touch of swell around...might clean up later on the higher tide.

All roads lead to... ROCKET!

rocket pumps up

Carl and Dave had a late urge to find the expressway to Wanli, so set off early arvo. Found it, quick and smooth, but not expecting surf at the end of it. A deserted blown Rocket looked good and both boys got some fun bumpy waves till the crowd spied them and CONVERGED! (see below). Swell was building...some hope for tomorrow.

atttract-a-crowd

10,000

This shot was up here exactly a year ago and I thought it needed another airing. Laird Hamilton's Milennium Wave.

Tobes reports: "Went out yesterday after school to the activity center beach. It was just too nice a day to stay inside. Water is cooling off, but still able to go out in boardies and a rashie. The surf was small, but rideable on a longboard. Some nice set waves came through and then about 5:00 o’clock it went flat on the tide change. All in all it was a good afternoon session."
The 10000 in the title refers to the hits on this site (nearly!) in just over a year since the counter has been up. That's about an average of 25 a day! Thanks for tuning in....

Ahhhh..........

Yes folks, this is not Taiwan, in case you hadn't guessed. Dave has been super slack and has not been out to take photos for a while. Carl and the boys got a few tiddlers on Saturday arvo at Jinshan 2, smooth but small. He reports the crowd quite large there now. Dan and Nicky also got a few small ones at the Rocket Saturday morning. I think the water might be cooling down a little too.....

Pointy of the Month: Dan

dan

Name or nickname: Sugarushman, Robbo, Apeman,

Favorite surfing beach: Wainui Beach – sick variety in the space of ten minutes drive

Best surfing moment (describe): After contest surf Mangamanu, Kaikoura, big misty twilight surf, a massive late drop, big wall winding through to an utter thrashing at the end.

Surfing hero (and why): You can’t go past Slater’s 8 titles! Kelly Ryan – first got me into longboarding after convincing me it wasn’t just for old farts. My Uncles for lighting my passion to get out there no matter how intimidating the conditions. Taylor Knox – not sure why, just like his surfing, Rob Machado – this guy is all about style


Favored board type: anything with a bit of length 9ft, or shorter and fatter 6.6, 2 ¾ , 14 inch tail volume, volume. I get so frustrated if I can’t catch waves. Also want something that will turn sweet as your Nana on any size so a single con cave with a reverse vee seems to have done the trick in the past.

Surfing maneuver you’d love to do: Style on any wave like Penry.

Dream surf spot: Nias - Indo, Macaronis - Mentawai Scorpion Bay - Baja - One day we’ll make it

Other sport (play) and (watch): Love snow boarding, rock climbing, cliff jumps or just going fast in general.

Greatest personal sporting moment(s): One of my first forays into longboard comp surfing, in a local contest I just kept winding my way through the heats, all the while coming out of the water thinking I was last. Ended up winning the damn thing, even beating the then and present current NZ champ– he had an off day to be sure but it still blew my little corker!

Ultimate pin up: Gotta be our little two little robbo’s

Food: Mum’s cooking

Drink (variety): Anything free

Thing you miss most about home: Surfing after work – it’s a downer – try not to think about it.

Thing you like best about Taiwan: Being able to pretty much drive how I want, even spin a U-turn on the freeway if you can find a gap in the barriers, or reverse back up the side cos you’ve missed the off ramp. How sweet is that?

Music: Donovan, Johnson, Rudd – this dude is sweet, Josh boy just flick me a copy - Xaiver Rudd

Best advice you’ve ever had: If only I could remember it

Movie: Dogtown Z Boys - In Gods Hands – Terminator 2 Judgement Day – Endless Summer 2

Collections: Thought I collected toys until I meet Azza

Who would play you in a movie? Jim Carry in – Pet Detective, Wingnut in - Endless Summer 2, Rob Schneider in – 50 First Dates

Current car: 1992 Ford Econo Van

Dream car: Holden Statesman HQ, HZ

Near death experience: Pissing on my mates dry wetsuit before a mid winters surf.

Your idea of a great night out: Some else’s good night so they’re too hung out to snake my waves letting me score uncrowded perfection dawnie at the Bowl.

Philosophy on life: If its not roaring, ya foots not down hard enough

Big Chad....is that you?!

spot the looney!

Boogie Wonderland

Great fun last weekend for a few pointies. Chad and Wal performed in the great dance off as Lewy marvelled at their talent, Dr. Lou Knee re-set Josh's broken nose with chopsticks and Cathy, Kristin and Tina just shook their heads and wondered what was going on!

Little Pointies

A strange tribe of native women living in the hills above Jinshan sometimes venture down to the shore to view the huge strangers in broad Pointy Hats.

Picture: newspaper photo from Tobes

Ride the Mild Surf

big crowd, small waves

8X

World champion


Dan let me know the news that Kelly Slater has done the unthinkable and won an 8th world title. Many of the pointies watched webcasts of Slater at Bells and recently at Mundaka. The guy is just a freak. On another matter, Big Chad and Cathy are in town for the weekend: cruise down to the Green tonight to say hi.

Vicious Schnoz Attack (warning:graphic photo below)

After


















Before


















Even the presence of the Lord of Jinshan couldn't prevent this horrific injury at Jinshan last evening. After Wal, Josh and Tobes had been in for only 15 minutes, some nut kicked an out-of-control longboard into Josh's face. Result: broken nose, cut to the bone, 7 stitches by the plastic surgeon and worst of all....no surfing for a month!
Surf etiquette and surf safety in Taiwan? We've got a long way to go, unfortunately.

Lord of Jinshan

There are no words to describe this majesty......

Exceeding Expectations

cuppa

Wal, Josh and Dave were itching to try the new boards. Jinshan 2 was the meeting spot: Dave fixed his ding (badly!) and Josh and Wal headed to Jinshan. Reported it was OK on the middle peak, then Carl, Steve and Tobes arrived at No.2 , Tobes via Act Cent. Went to Rocket, no good, back to No 2. Phew! Finally all went out and got some good waves. Steve was throwing a few little Occy turns off the wave, showing the old boys up at Jinshan 2. Josh and Wal got some over at Jinshan as well, regular readers Garth and Greg commenting that " the guy with the dinged board would have been a bit dark..." Indeed!

rights

lefts

the boys

always check...this hurts!

Caveat Emptor!

new pointies


While delighted with the new boards, Dave and Josh discovered that Dave's board had a beauty of a ding on the deck when it was unpacked. Ouch! The new logo came up a treat on Dave's pure white 6'4" fish, Josh's 6'10" fish with blue tick and Wal's beautiful new 8' mal in classic double stripe design.

Pointy of the Month: Big Gazza

Name or nickname: Gazza
Favorite surfing beach: Airport Lefts
Best surfing moment (describe): Paddling out through the cave at Ulawatu for the first time, a real sense of history and anticipation. Also standing on the beach at 12 foot pipe, only six guys out and hundreds watching these incredible waves unloading in front of you
Surfing hero (and why): The wounded Gull, the one and only MR. A big bloke who surfs with real style 2 ft to 20 ft, and he’s not getting any younger, an inspiration to us all.
Favored board type: Big boy twinny fish, makes you feel like a superstar even though those mega carves are in fact pathetic wiggles.
Surfing maneuver you’d love to do: Come out of a stand up tube!
Dream surf spot: Maldives
Other sport (play) and (watch): Watch- The mighty men in black, nuff said! Play- Paddling
Greatest personal sporting moment(s): I missed it…. My son dunking in his first basketball game, they raised the hoops the following week.
Ultimate pin up: Laird Hamilton’s millennium wave
Food: The one and only Kiwi roast
Drink (variety): Steinlager
Thing you miss most about home: Surf everyday, and daylight saving, surfing until 10:00 pm at night in the summer time.
Thing you like best about Taiwan: The people, and coffee shops on every corner and at every beach!
Music: Anything off Azza’s i-pod, the man has taste
Best advice you’ve ever had: Life is not a practice run- live it now.
Movie: Armageddon
Collections: Surf Skis
Who would play you in a movie? The Hoff, looks, the body, singing ability, what a package
Current car: Ex kindergarten bus, Ford econo van- it’s for sale, any takers?
Dream car: Toyota Tacoma 4x4 double cab truck- gotta have space for the dog.
Near death experience: Full somersault at 60 km/hr over a 12 foot bank, the motor cross bike was totaled.
Your idea of a great night out: Few beers, surf movie, and a Barbie, or camping at the beach
Philosophy on life: Carpe Diem, seize the day!

Unidentified Floating Objects

Abbie Joyce got a few UFOs in her bucket down at the far end of Green Bay on the weekend. We copped a few on Jinshan point as well: they seem pretty harmless, but what are they?