Well, it was a nice little Saturday to hold the competetition. With a chill in the air we started the the 4th Annual  DP Contest right on time…………errrrrr, Shocking Development: Viperelli was 30 minutes late and didn’t bring the DP Trophy! Other than that, we had 18 participants this year, which is a new DP record! The surf was dismal at first, but picked up in size (and current) as the day progressed. The finals included Mark “Madman” Kozai, Chris “Smythe” Smith and Dave “Cooter” Kootman. It was a very close battle between Kozai and Cooter with Smythe taking a distant 3rd.

However, there could only be one champ and that person is…………………………………………………….

DAVE “COOTER” KOOTMAN

2008 Donkey Patrol Champion

Congrads to Dave for a gutsy performance and making the long trek all the way from Hazard County! Tell Daisy I said yeeeeeeehaaaawww!

Well, its finally here! Its time to show all of your skills, or lack thereof (I am talking to you Sheagas!). After days of contemplation, surfing Trestles and DMJ’s, searching the coast for a venue site, I finally found one.  We will hold the contest on the Carlsbad/Oceanside line off of Ocean (Directions below). There is a left working there with a kelp bed offshore. Looks like we may have some wind.

The beach is super nice and has ample room for bocci, horshoes, underwater basket weaving, etc. Bring some grub to grill out. Viperelli is bringing the grill and a cooler, Rori (aka Ruprecht) is brining a table and the contest rash gaurds, Shea is bringing a pop up tent and the HD Video equiptment, Kozai is brining the camera for stills (hopefully), I will bring a pop up tent, cooler, tunes, bocci ball and tons of   SCHWACKS!!!!! If everyone brings a little grub to grill, a beach chair, some chips, cold ones (though technically not permitted), drinks, etc.  it should be a good time even if the waves suck!

Don’t forget about the $40.00 bounty to take out Blakely! Good luck and don’t hold back tomorrow!

TIME: 7:30 a.m.!!!!!!

While I may not be able to make the contest this year in person, I will be there in spirit.

When it comes to the Donkey Contest, the only thing that I have ever cared about was taking down Blakely.

That being said, I am offering a $20 bounty on Blakely’s head. (Correction, I have just been contacted by Noah who is matching my bounty with and additional $20 bucks towards the pot) The bounty is now $40 usd.

Whomever knocks Ford out of the contest will be awarded the cash!

Once I am notified of the winner, I will grab my dingleberry and send a text to my zingle printer to print out the cash. If by some miracle Ford wins the contest the $40 will be put towards a celebration in honor of the men who have put up the bounty.

Aloha Slackers! It’s time to put up or shut up. The forecast (see below) is looking like we may actually have good surf and good conditions! I know, its a few days off and Surfline, Wetsand, Magic Seaweed and the like couldn’t tell you with any accuracy if the sun is out or the sky is blue. Difficult work, indeed. Anyway, I need everyone to text me, call me, email me, send smoke signals, etc. as to who is going to compete. I am adding a few twists to this year’s competetion where it will be legal to use the slingshot technique, a large blunt object or a shiv on your opponent; you know, to spice things up a bit. Don’t worry, there will be medical staff on site for treatment.

The contest will be in oside someplace and will start at 8 am sharp! The earlier the better! Look at the tides!

Tides are looking good as well for the 25th.

Oceanside cam near La Jolla
33.1958° N, 117.3786° W

2009-04-25  4:04 AM PDT  -1.02 feet  Low Tide
2009-04-25  6:07 AM PDT   Sunrise
2009-04-25 10:20 AM PDT   3.81 feet  High Tide
2009-04-25  3:24 PM PDT   1.25 feet  Low Tide
2009-04-25  7:27 PM PDT   Sunset

Who will be the lone Donkey at the top?????

Surf Forecasts

Surfline

SOUTH PACIFIC SWELL/SURF ACTIVITY: Small SSE swell (165-175) fades Tuesday. Top breaks of North Orange County occasional see waist high sets, but most breaks will be well below that.

Going a little further out, we have a much better SW turning SSW swell (195-205 initially, then shifting to 185-200) building in for the second half of the week, looking strongest Thursday and Friday.

This swell will initially start to show long period energy/size (20 seconds+) at the deepwater focal points later Wednesday afternoon/evening, pushing those spots into the shoulder high+ range. The swell builds further throughout the day on Thursday and looks strongest Thursday afternoon and into Friday. During that time the well exposed spots of Northern LA County, Orange County and also select breaks of Southern Ventura and San Diego counties see chest-shoulder-head high surf. Standout breaks, primarily in Orange County, but also in a couple other areas, see waves running up to a couple feet overhead at times. Those waves then slowly fade through the weekend.

A couple notes on this swell: It was better aimed at Central America so will likely be inconsistent with some long lulls at times. However when the sets do arrive they will be solid. Also, with little to no NW swell present on Thursday and Friday, the beachbreaks will generally be pretty walled up.

Wetsand

Friday the 24th this swell should come to its peak. Most south facing breaks are looking at head high sets. Standouts may see sets running 1-2 feet overhead, but for the most part, head high max is the call for breaks able to work a 190. Periods should run 17 seconds, so there should still be some disparity in size between breaks with varying bathymetry, shoaling, and refraction. Winds are expected to be light and variable early, but pick up onshore throughout the morning, reaching 15-20 mph in the afternoon. Tide will be low around 3:50 AM at about -0.6 feet, high around 10:00 AM at about 4 feet, and low around 3:30 PM at about 1.2 feet.

Saturday the 25th should still see some of this swell, but the lagging, shorter periods (14 seconds) should arrive. In all, it’s looking like a chest to head high day for south facing breaks.

Well, it looks like we made a good call in postponing the contest until next Saturday. Rain or shine, flat or huge, onshore or offshore the contest will be on. If you slackers could actually reply and tell me if your in, then I can start the bracketology. It looks like there will be pumping surf from Thursday through the weekend so get out and surf! The contest will have an 8 a.m. start and, as of today, we will hold the event in Oceanside. I will post more throughout the week as we get better intel on conditions.

The report:
Friday the 24th this swell should come to its peak. Most south facing breaks are looking at head high sets. Standouts may see sets running 1-2 feet overhead, but for the most part, head high max is the call for breaks able to work a 190. Periods should run 17 seconds, so there should still be some disparity in sizebetween breaks with varying bathymetry, shoaling, and refraction.

Saturday the 25th should still see some of this swell, but the lagging, shorter periods (14 seconds) should arrive. In all, it’s looking like a chest to head high day for south facing breaks.

mick fanning

BELLS BEACH, Victoria (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) – Excellent surf in the six foot (2 metre) range is on offer this morning at Bells Beach and Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers will commence at 7:30am.

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro saw the elimination of 16 of the world’s best surfers in Round 1 last week, and today’s action will see the top seeds hit the water for Round 2

“The surf has arrived and we’re seeing consistent sets in the six foot (2 metre) range and we’ll be commencing Round 2 at 7:30am at Bells Beach,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Contest Director, said. “We are monitoring nearby Winkipop should conditions improve over there, but at present, Bells is pumping and the boys will start out there.”

Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will see the top seeds of the ASP battle it out with dynamic match-ups such as former ASP World Champion and past Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner (2001) Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, against Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, taking on lethal wildcard Owen Wright (AUS), 19, and current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, up against 2009 Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

Swellnet, official foreers of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for surf to maintain throughout the day with swell on offer throughout the week.

Up first today will be former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, against Mick Campbell (AUS), 34, in the opening heat of Round 2, ning at 7:30am.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be web LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)

Time for 1st Heat: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Looks like we are going to set up just North of Surfrider St. in Oceanside.

***I need any and all participants to contact me a.s.a.p. so that I can start getting the brackets together. Please tell those who are not aware of the DP site to check here for details!***

This is who I have so far:
Ford
Shea
Smythe
Robert
Viper
Rori
Pitts
Dave
Billy
Tom
Todd

Marty

Forrest

John
***Please confirm and give me names of those that I missed***

After several lay days and the completion of the women’s event, the men’s should hopefully be back underway soon. There are 5 days left in the waiting period, and 2 days of competition to get through. I have highlighted my picks for the best heats of round 2, the remaining heats don’t seem very exciting. I am starting to doubt the new format.
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: David Weare (ZAF) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 3: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS))
Heat 5: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Jihad Khodr (BRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 8: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 10: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 12: Nic Muscroft (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 14: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 3: Kai Otton (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. TBA
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA