Howzit North Shore! Whoo-hoo! School’s out and the weather is great. The tourists are in town and they are running all over the North Shore too. Jimmy Hall’s “North Shore Shark Tours” brought some fearsome but interesting publicity to the Haleiwa area during the last week of May. The “Shark Tours” crew shot some videos of HUGE tiger sharks feasting on a humpback whale carcass way outside of Haleiwa Harbor. These videos were featured on KHON 2 News several times during that week, including footage of Jimmy’s hand touching the sharks. “See, they don’t want to eat me. They’re much more interested in the whale meat!” said Hall, or something to that effect. Yikes, dude… you are rad! I’m scared to even go out on the Shark Tour!

On May 15th, 2001 world champion CJ Hobgood of Florida won the $260,000 Billabong Pro at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Perfect 8 foot barrels steamed through the shallow Teahupoo reef for the finals. During the course of the contest, 15 surfboards were broken in half and 4 perfect 10 point rides were awarded. Teahupoo dealt out the drama as always, particularly in the finals. Hobgood broke his surfboard on his 1st finals wave. “Moments later, Nathan Hedge of Australia… took off on a huge wave and maneuvered up into the barrel. His left arm was literally pulled from its socket during the proceeding wipeout, dislocating it from the shoulder. Distressed, he was rushed to shore by water safety, where three unsuccessfull attempts were made to remedy the situation, before he was taken to the hospital.” (ASP quote) Hobgood remained in the line-up trying to better his opponent’s initial score. Uncertain of Hedge’s injury, he locked in scores of 7.83 and 8.83 and was eventually informed that Hedge would not be returning and the prestigious title was his. “I love to win, but I want to win fair and square too,” said Hobgood after the final. (ASP quote) Nonetheless, Hobgood took home $30,000. Hedge scored $16,000. Equal 3rds went to Andy Irons of Hawaii and Kelly Slater of Florida, who got $10,000 each. Special thanks were given to the Tahitian and Hawaiian Water Safety Crew “who continued to defy what seems possible, pulling surfers out of danger with the illusion of ease throughout the tournament.” (ASP quote) By now the men’s ASP/WCT tour has moved on to the Quiksilver Pro Fiji at Tavarua / Namotu. The Quiksilver Trials for the event finished up on May 25th. Dane Reynolds of California won the trials, Fred Pattachia of Hawaii took 2nd and Alain Riou took 3rd. All three earned wildcard spots into the main event which should have finished up by now. Results in the next issue!

This year’s ASP World Longboard Championship will be decided at one event in 2004. “The Nokia Biarritz Surfing Festival (in France), July 10-18, will offer $35,000 prize money and more importantly, the winner of the event will be crowned World Champion at the ASP crowning of the World Champion’s Banquet at Jupiter’s Casino on Australia’s Gold Coast.” (ASP Quote)

The “Local Motion Surf Into Summer 2004” has been on at Ala Moana Bowls, and results from that event should appear in the next issue. As we go to press during the last week of May, a south swell is predicted for the South Shore of Oahu and summertime is in the air!

The Roxy Pro France was also on during the last week of May. The Roxy Pro France features the top 17 rated female surfers plus one wildcard and will be the highlight of the “Roxy Jam France presented by Samsung”. This Festival will include “a huge week of festivities incorporating live concerts, DJ sets, art exhibitions, surfing expression sessions and learn-to-surf programs headed by Roxy’s elite international team riders.” (ASP quote) Hawaii’s Rochelle Ballard headed into the Roxy Pro as current WCT ratings leader. Sofia Mulanovich, the 20 year old from Peru…is hot on her heels. Having won the last two women’s WCT events, she is now a close 2nd on the world ASP ratings! Some of the other events at the “Roxy Jam” include the Evian Longboard Expression Session, hula lessons by Kula Barbieto of MTV’s Surf Girls Reality Show along with fellow roxy team-rider Mele White. Hawaiian Waterman Dave Kalama and 3X ASP Master’s World Champion Gary Elkerton have been riding waves in a traditional Hawaiian Canoe in the Anglet, France surf and even coaxing a few passengers into some french surf thrill rides. More next time! Aloha….Ace Cool!