Super Cool Wednesday

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Got up early to run down to Ocean Beach to catch some of the heats in the Rip Curl ASP World Tour. First time a major surf competition has come to OB - at least in my 20+ years here - and San Francisco represented HUGE. From big blue skies and warm temps to mild winds and clean sets, thousands descended on OB calling in sick, putting freelance on hold or working "off-site" to watch the best of the best in surfing and to see Kelly Slater vie for an unprecedented 11th ASP World Tour title. On this second to last tour stop it was only a matter of Kelly winning his heat in the 3rd round to solidify the overall title and claim it for the first time ever on US soil. Which he did. Congratulations, Kelly!


Kelly after securing victory. Courtesy of ESPN/Joli
It was awesome to be out on the beach with so many people and especially so many surf nuts; all sun-bleached towheaded and tan, Volcom hoodies, flip flops and jeans, dissecting each competitor, the conditions, the heats. (Is it the equivalent of trail runners going to WS100 to watch, all compression socks and visors, Patagonia jackets and garmins? Yes.)


The waves weren't Maverick but they weren't blown-out crud either, yielding a few successful barrel rides and plenty of opportunity for cutbacks, or ups, or whatever it's called when you cut the surfboard back up towards the lip of the wave before cranking it downward again. There were more than a few moves that reminded me of snowboarding, launching and gripping the rail of the board, spinning a 360 degree turn. This wasn't the stuff of my sunburnt, Tab-drinking Jersey shore years.


It was absolutely mesmerizing and hard to pull myself away from. All balance, fluidity, strength and grace. Something anyone could appreciate watching. My new fave takeaway from the day was Owen Wright. He killed his heat right as Kelly was being feted at the podium for his victory and few were paying attention. And though I only caught it on the live feed they highlighted it enough to make it stand out in my mind. 21, Australian, surfer. If that's not the the mecca trifecta for getting the girls then I don't know what is.

Competition is scheduled to resume tomorrow at OB with Kelly and company heading back out to fight for  the tour stop victory. Its all Brazil, USA and Australia in Round 4. Time for another early morning beach run I think.

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