The old drop in. Give and receive and move on. But one drop in went down recently that had a little more riding on it. The 2013 Quiksilver Pro was down to the last eight and a half minutes of the mens final between Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson. Parko slipped under the lip into an incredible barrel and began to travel. Kelly, further down the bank and holding priority, turned, paddled and faded his fellow competitor. Joel threw a now famous middle finger salute before pulling thru the back of the wave without causing an interference on Slater. The drop in was blatant burning in free surfing terms but under the ASP rulebook it was fair play. The Priority Rule which was created in 1983 is all in favour of sportsmanship. It allows the competitors surfing skills to win heats, not your ability to block and keep your opposition from catching waves. Very few of us will ever wear a competition rash vest or have to worry about the ASP rule book. Though there is a unwritten book/law which is set to prevent absolute choas in the water. If we play by the rules the waves are shared and good times flow. But with everything in life, tempers flare and patience is thrown out the window. We’ve all been on the giving and receiving end, witnessed it and been involved one way or another. Think about the last time you surfed Noosa and how the whole scenario played out. You didn’t want to even go up there, but you did after saying never again last time. Hard time finding a park, even harder time finding a wave to yourself. Pure f#%king bliss. We all broke a few little rules that day. Next time you fade someone or get faded, just stop for a moment. Picture Kelly Slater on the podium with his oversized novelty check worth 75 large and blame it on him.
worldsurfnews
TARLO’S VIEW
Richard and Amy Kotch have been surf guiding in the Maldives for years now. Each year they deliver an exceptional level of service that has had clients return home stoked and eagerly awaiting their next trip. The duo divides the year in two. From October to April they chase the North Swells in the far off paradise of Micronesia at Pohnpei Surf Club and from April – October they’re landlocked at Hudhuranfushi Resort, Maldives. The pair was able to sit down with World Surfaris and answer a few questions regarding the upcoming Maldives season. Here are a few highlights from the interview... How consistent is the surf in the Maldives? If you are not too fussy you can usually surf every day. Lohis is probably the most consistent wave in the Maldives – it can still have a 2-3ft wave when everywhere else is flat. Last year, in a six-month season, we had ten days that I’d call un-surfable. The year before had only six. I’m not saying that we get epic, worldclass waves all the time but that you can definitely go out and have a fun surf. How crowded does it get over there? For such good waves the crowds are still not too bad. Compared to the Super bank or the “name” waves in Indo the crowds are good. You can always get waves. The waves are long with multiple take off areas so you can always find an un-crowded section. I must say though that last year was the worst I’ve ever seen it, but that means that this year the crowds will be way down. Guarantee it.
Why book with a travel agent It seems that in the last 10 years technological advances have shrunk the globe and demystified the travel industry. It’s spectacularly easy to book flights and accommodation online these days, but for now there’s a huge difference between organising a long weekend away to figuring out a two week surf adventure overseas. When you book with us you make us accountable for your trip. World Surfaris are a member of the Travel Compensation Fund (TCF) which is a consumer protection body. In a nutshell this means your money is safe when booking with a TCF agent and in the unlikely scenario the agent goes bust then the consumer can lodge a claim. World Surfaris have been in business for the best part of two decades, this means we’ve been able to establish great relationships with all our trip suppliers and the benefits of that relationship are passed onto you. By all means shop around, but in the end weigh up the real cost and ask yourself is DIY travel actually worth it? Support the guys who support the local surf scene, World Surfari’s sponsor: World Surfaris Coast of Origin, Noosa Festival of Surfing, Dan Thomas Memorial, Ma & Pa Bendall, Board Meeting, Alex Winter Classic, Fun in the Sun, and more...
Looking for a room with a view to hold that special event...
Look no further than Maroochy Surf Club • Catering for up to 200 guests • Corporate, social, training, weddings, birthdays etc (Audio visual equipment available to hire) For more information, visit our website or contact Kerri Smith P: 07 5443 1298 | E: functions@maroochysurfclub.com.au | www.maroochysurfclub.com.au
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sunshinecoastsurf.com.au | AUTUMN 2013
Left: Surf guide Richard Kotch sits pretty in another ‘cokes’ barrel, Maldives. Above: We only represent quality operators, so you can get the waves without the hassles.
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