Howzit North Shore! The North Shore Winter Surf Season of 2003-2004 is apparently winding down as we go to press! There have been a series of good-sized swells being forecasted lately, but then their size seems to keep getting downgraded before they reach Oahu. This is probably because of the prevailing North Winds lately. The waves either get blown down by the onshore winds as they reach the North Shore, or the swellls get messed up way out at sea by adverse conditions… and they never really make it here in one piece. There was definitely a lot of sizeable surf between the 1st of the year and early March, and although not really a big year for waves, early 2004 has had pretty consistent surf in the Country. Hopefully, we will get some good, clean springtime surf this year, followed by a great South Shore Summer… and then maybe next year the North Shore will really boom with Big Waves!

The “2004 Tow-In World Cup” at Peahi (Jaws) on Maui (with an unprecedented $100,000 1st place prize) reached the end of this year’s holding period on March 15th and was “officially cancelled due to inadequate surf.” During the Jan. 1st to Mar. 15th holding period 18 teams and 6 alternate teams waited patiently, but “mother nature didn’t unleash her powers to the fullest extent needed for this extreme surfing event.There had been a few hopeful storms that generated substantial lows in the northwestern hemisphere, but as the swells hit the Hawaiian Islands the face value of the waves did not quite reach the 50 foot criteria that contest directors (had) hoped for. With unusually wet and stormy weather this year, organizers also had to contend with wind and rain and it’s effect on the surf.” (HLF quote)

The ASP World Tour 2004 is off to a ripping start down in Queensland, Australia with the 1st WCT events for the men and the women finishing up in mid-March at Snapper Rocks, the outermost of a series of point breaks off of consecutive “groins” that make up the super-long wave called Kirra on the Australian Gold Coast near Surfer’s Paradise. On Thursday, March 11th… Brazilian Jacqueline Silva defeated Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard to win the Roxy Pro presented by Boost Mobile. Silva won $10,000 and became the first international winner of the event is its six year history. She also landed 1st on the 2004 WCT women’s ratings with 1200 points. Rochelle Ballard of Kauai took 2nd and $6000. Australians Melanie Redman-Carr and Chelsea Georgeson took equal 3rds and $4000 each. 2003 World Champ Layne Beachley went down to Ballard in the quarters. Kauai’s Keala Kennelly won the Torquay Mineral Water “Torquay Time Tunnel” award of $5000 (AUD) for the longest tube ride in the event of 4.5 seconds, and she did it Backside! The next event on the 2004 women’s ASP/WCT Tour is the Roxy Pro, Fiji.

On Friday, March 12th… Australian Michael Lowe (of Windang in New South Wales) defeated Andy Irons of Hawaii to win the US$260,000 Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile at Snapper Rocks. Lowe took home US$30,000 and a 1st place ASP/WCT 2004 ranking so far by winning the 1st event on the 2004 Foster’s ASP men’s World Championship Tour. Irons took home US$16,000 and his best result yet in a season-opener. Equal 3rds went to Australian Tom Whitaker and Taylor Knox of the USA, with each winning US$10,000. Equal 5ths went to Occhilupo (Aus), Jake Paterson (Aus), Kelly Slater (USA) and Victor Ribas (Brazil). Next up on the WCT for the men is the $260,000 RIP CURL PRO at Bell’s Beach in Victoria, Australia from April 6th-16th.

The 28th Annual Buffalo Big Board Surf Classic was on during the month of March 2004 at Makaha Beach. This diverse and culturally rich event included many divisions. Among them were the Legends 60 and Over, Team Body Surfing, 250 lbs and over Surfing, Men’s Surfing, Women’s Surfing, Two Person Team Surfing, Bully Board, Tandem (partner half your body weight), Team Body Board (opposite sex: 2 boards), Paipo Board/ no skegs, 4-Man Canoe Surfing, Beach Boy Style Surfing (with a paddle), Foreign Division Surfing and more! A wrap-up of the legendary event and results next time!

The “Sunset Soul Surfing Classic” 2004 sponsored by Coors Light and Wave Riding Vehicles was slated for Mar. 20-21 and 27-28. “Judging will be based on style and embodies soul as well as any surfing which closely resembles the wave riding art form from the 60’s and 70’s. Style, Soul Arch, Nose Pose and Tube Rides.” (contest entry blank quote) Divisions included Relic shortboard, Relic Longboard, Big wave Gun, and many Longboard Age Groups and various “surfing society” divisions. Results next time. Wave Riding Vehicles in Haleiwa across from Café Haleiwa is the surf shop with the “dolphin circle” logo. Started in Virginia Beach in 1968, WRV builds over 4000 surfboards a year worldwide. WRV Hawaii shapers include Pat Mulhern, Gordon Hansen, Brett Muramoto, Fred Barker, Tommy Tanaka and Bill Foote. WRV, 9-6 PM everyday with clothes 20%-30% off, lots of funboards, longboards and more!

The “15th Annual World Championships of Women’s BodyBoarding” is on from April 1-14 at Pipeline. There was a fundraiser called “Spring Into Boardriders” in Kailua at BoardRiders Bar and Grill on Mar. 20th to help pro surfer Jason Bogle fight a rare form of cancer. Music was by “Malani Bilyeu of Kalapana” and “Typical Hawaiians w/Shaka B.” Raffled items included a surfboard by Chuck Andrus and one by Kimo Aluli. Lynn Boyer donated paintings for the raffle. USGIRLS donated fashions and put on a Bikini Fashion Show. Jason’s Dad, Steve Bogle, put in a great effort on this one. Get well Jason! Aloha… Ace Cool!