Posts Tagged ‘surfing’
It’s still the first month of the new year and already people are geared up, foaming at the mouth, ready for action and prizes.
Volcom is hosting its first ever world-class surfing ASP event, the Volcom Pipeline Pro Surfing Competition on Oahu’s North Shore. Countdown began with the traditional blessing on Day one, 23 Janaury as the ‘watch’ begins for the next fortnight or so through 5 February for waves worthy of the surfing talent gathered there to compete. There are more than a 100 or so, and some of the biggest names in surfing are among the many hopefuls.
Unsurprisingly, the first, second and third day’s calls were ‘OFF’ as Lei Days as posted on Volcom’s site.
Today, day four is also a waiting game as the call is also another Lei Day.
To while away those hours waiting and watching for the pounders to come in off the Pacific, Surf chatter and Surf buzz is the order of the day, keeping the nerves down. Even over a spiced soy latte, though, everyone looks anxiously over the narrow ribbon of highway to see what the wind has whipped up, ready to make a breakaway for their boards.
Shapers and surfers mingle, and the die-hard fans, organisers and attendant photographers all ‘talk story’, while toeing the sand like restless colts, dying to run and divide the spoils.
Forget the 60 foot waves. The wait is a killer all of its own.
Meanwhile a world away, another waiting game of sorts is happening, keeping its stable of followers anxious and tethered, the prize a secret.
Sports Illustrated‘s super sexy Swimsuit issue, the world’s most profitable single magazine issue seller, generating 7% of SI‘s net profits last year, and a multi-million dollar stand-alone franchise poster child, has frothed up its testosterone-based readership into a frenzy worthy of a monster wave.
With a countdown, too (today announcing only 13 more days to play time), its own website, a weekly teaser video clip releasing early pics of the chosen models, and sneak peek Twitpics, Twitter chatter and even NYC subway posters and Las Vegas hotel billboards of the uber beach babes like Brooklyn Decker, Bar Refaeli and Julie Henderson curvaceously smiling, standing larger than life-sized in killer bikinis, SI has foamed up the playing field with eager excitement. It can, with some 155,000 reported photos taken in exotic locales from Chile to India from which to choose.
The winning cover model is not even announced from the 18 or so who were shot until the day before the magazine’s release, 9 February, and there are red-carpetted parties, events and televised coverage as the festivities move from New York to Vegas. Yes, you heard Vegas!
Maybe the expression ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ is aptly wry for the shark-frenzy aftermath of such a militarily-orchestrated papp opportunity and plethora of follow-on treasure post-launch. Forget the suites of gifty-giveaways–there will be calendars, books, posters, and maybe even movie deals done before Valentines hits.
One thing is for sure. The surfers and models have waited long for their moment, competed like the pros they are, and the wave of glory comes quick, fast and hard, and then, suddenly it’s over.
There will always be another one right behind it, bigger and better. And more booty.
For surf-ready Hawaiian bikinis
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It is that time of year again. Winter on the North Shore. The pounders are coming to Waimea Bay for the ‘Eddie’.
Every surf dude (or chick) worth their board leash has been glued to the annual ‘wave watch’ to hear news of when and where the mega-monsters will barrel in and break.
This year 2009/2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aiku event where the grand and glorious conjoin to brave the water gods, defy the odds of riding a wave that can grow up to a 35 foot curl and arrive beach side still breathing (and standing!).
The opening ceremony was yesterday and the big wave event can run for up to 2 months depending on when waves are optimum height for competition. Bets are now for Mon. 7 Dec., Tues. 8 Dec. or Wed. 9 Dec.–an early start for this phenomena.
The list of invitees and alternates reads like the Surfers Hall of Fame. Some are legendary like the Iron brothers from Kauai, Andy, a three-times world champion and his younger bro Bruce; some are celebrity-bright like the impressive nine-times world champion and ‘Eddie’ winner from 2002, Kelly Slater, pal to Cameron and Drew; and still others are island heroes–from Makaha, brothers Brian and Rusty Keaulana, the now 60 year-old younger brother to Eddie, Clyde Aiku; and the youngest contender Makuakai Rothman, a big wave surfer whose father Eddie Rothman was one of the original founders of the Eddie event back in 1984.
All joined hands on their boards in a ritual blessing yesterday to honor the drowned waterman and first rescuer of the Bay, Eddie Aiku, who disappeared at sea when paddling some 19 miles to Lanai for help during a rescue attempt. His body was never recovered. The motto ‘Eddie Would Go’ is a testament to his fearless and respectful devotion to the ocean’s power and the sway it holds over its followers.
As the waves mount in height so does the pressure. Each day the forecasters predict the ultimate day when conditions are conducive for self-propulsion and big-wave riding. Unlike ‘Jaws’ the monster wave in Maui, there is no towing-in. Its organizers and sponsors Quicksilver says of the event:
‘(the Eddie) proves the ultimate challenge of man versus the sea. With its ancient roots and the energy of its forefathers, Waimea was still deemed to be the soul of big-wave riding.’