Howzit North Shore! Whew! South swells, North swells, East swells AND West swells. Now it feels like Spring! Plus getting plenty sunny now, yeah? Summertime coming gang! (Garanz Ball-Baranz!)

“North Shore”, the TV series seen filming scenes all over North Shore! Got stuck first in line at Sunset Beach in my car by HPD as they closed the road briefly to shoot a scene. One take. It’s a wrap. More gorgeous background than Waikiki Beach at Spring Break. Lights, Camera…Action! Hope it’s a hit series?! The scenery couldn’t get much better. When’s the next “The Rock” film coming to Oahu? Angelina Jolie?

Anyway, this is SURF NEWZ. Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich won the 4th Annual Roxy Pro Fiji at Cloudbreak at Tavarua, Fiji on April 23rd. Clinching the richest ever womens ($73,000) WCT tournament, the Peruvian Lady took out Rochelle Ballard of Hawaii in a banner final, with both surfers posting huge scores with some incredible surfing. Sofia took $10,600 and Rochelle got $6600 for 2nd. Sofia posted a perfect 10 point score on her 1st wave of the finals, on her backhand! She moved into 3rd on the WCT with this win. Rochelle Ballard surfed insanely well and “by reaching her second consecutive final of the year, she had already amassed enough points to take the (WCT) ratings lead.” (ASP quote) Equal 3rds, Tita Tavares of Brazil and hot new-comer Laurina McGrath of Byron Bay, Australia. In the Roxy Expression Session, Hawaiian Keala Kennelly was awarded the best maneuver. “With competition responsibilities now out of the way, the world’s best women are partying like there’s no tomorrow on Tavarua Island. DJ KK, (2003 World #2, Keala Kennelly) has the dance floor packed and festivities are sure to continue long after another majestic sunset has highlighted the day’s end here in paradise.” (ASP quote) Next up, the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, will have gone down by May 6th- 18th for both the women and men ASP/WCT top contenders!

“ Probably the best waves on Tour… Its awesome, especially if its pretty good size. I just love it!”” said Andy Irons regarding the gnarliest of reef breaks in the world at Teahupoo, Tahiti. “The waves could kill you at the same time , so its pretty sketchy.” (ASP quote) The men’s competition at the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, the 3rd event on theASP/WCT 2004 Foster’s Men’s World Tour will feature Irons going in as ratings leader for the third year in a row. The $260,000 “event is regarded as the greatest surfing show on earth with the world’s top 45 male surfers pushing all boundaries at the notorious Tahitian reef break.” (ASP quote)

Beach Clean-ups all the time. Check out Save the Sea Turtles and Keep America Beautiful. Recycle. Use the recycle bins at Chuns Reef and elsewhere. Check out www.surfrider.org/join and Get Active. The Surfrider Foundation is on the warpath. Only 9 coastal states in the U.S. are in compliance with the B.E.A.C.H Act (Beaches Environmental Assessment, Clean Up and Health Act). “The EPA has established standards such that states issue public health warnings if bacteria levels in beach waters reach levels that would cause illness in at least 19 out of every 1000 swimmers, according to scientific estimates.” (Surfrider quote) Dirty Water. Surfrider Foundation. Think locally, act globally.

Pete Cabrinha, $70,000 for the 70 foot wave. The new “industry standard “ in biggest waves. See BillabongXXL.com and imagine the elusive 100 footer. Yikes! Next year maybe “THE BIG ONE” ?

Thanks to all the people who helped out by attending the “Jason Bogle Cancer Fund “ fundraiser at Breakers on Mayday. Thanks to all the people who donated raffle prizes and did so many other things to help the effort. Mahalo to North Shore News, Breakers, Pizza Bob’s, Surf N Sea, Rainbow Bridge Gift Shop, Killer Tacos, R. Sleigh, Jorge Vicente, Gordon Quigg, Sunset Carpet Cleaning, The Soap Cellar, Curves, Ohana Suf, North Shore Tattoo, Thirteen Clothing, Haleiwa Eats Thai Food, Tropical Rush, Beads by the Sea, Eric Arakawa and HIC, RV’s Surf/ Kapahulu, SurfNewsNetwork.com, Jeff Crawford, MissyK and the Rock Warrior, Curb Painting, Therapeutic Bodywork w/Tasha Boehland and crew, Kris Johnsohn, Dr. Kitts, the Medical Corner, Silikine Videos, North Shore Underground, Water Goddess and most of all Ben, Barbara, Bob and “Rags” of Breakers and Jason’s Dad, Steven Bogle… who hopes to ” bring Jason home to Hawaii”. Aloha… Ace Cool!