The Contest Season is in full effect here on the North shore. The Reef Hawaiian Pro finished up with two solid days of 10- 12 foot+  surf which had some maxing sets connecting all the way from Haleiwa to Avalanche. Conditions were far from perfect which made the huge surf even more challenging. Broken leashes and boards were often a factor in heat results.

Local surfer Sean Moody made it to the final with an incredible backside attack. I remember him disappearing at the bottom of 12 ft wave and then coming all the way back up to the top and snapping it. Kauai boy Roy Powers sewed up the title with two killer tube rides scoring in the nines while Moody, second place Bede Durbidge and 3rd place Joel Parkinson spent a lot of time caught inside the closeouts just trying to get back out. Roys win requalifyed him back on next years WCT.


The swell at Haleiwa marked our first real waves of the season and after such a long dry spell we suddenly had some momentum going into Sunset. The Roxy Pro actually had some of the best conditions with 4-6 ft + surf and the girls were charging. Sophia Mulanowhich won the final with Australian Amee Donahoe in second. After that some stormy conditions came with huge surf which was actually too big for Sunset but they contest ran anyways. In quite possibly some of the most out of control conditions ever held at Sunset, a well deserving Makua Rothman won the Oneil World Cup in a sort of last man standing type victory. He somehow found a barrel in the last 2 minutes of the 35 minute heat edging him ahead of  Brazilian Leonardo Neves and world champion Mick Fanning.


In between half days of competition at Sunset the island of Oahu experienced up to 70mph SW-W wind which knocked down several power lines and left most of the northshore out of electricity for two days not to mention road closures  in both directions. We checked the surf one of the stormy nights and it was the windest big northshore surf I have ever seen with huge waves breaking all over the place, I felt like I was somewhere else all together.


Outside of the contests scence surfers were stoaked to be finally getting waves even if it was inbetween storms. There were a couple days at the Bay producing 15 ft waves and Pipe got a couple real deal days with the whole world in the line up. The East Side had some good days with the Kona winds and the southwesterlies became so strong that they actually whipped up some unridable 10 feet surf on the south shore. There were a couple other little town swells which were fun as well. The west side had a couple days of good waves when we got a little bit of north wind and even the little sandbar at Ehukai got going a little bit for the kids. December was nothing to complain about after waiting so long for waves.


On the other hand, this years Billabong Pipemasters has to be the worst ever. There was not even one decent day of competition and with just one more day left; it looks like they may have to run the final at Gums; yes I think it will be the Gummiemasters. Even the small 2-3 foot waves they did have were ravished by strong whipping trade winds mushing out the waves and a dry sandbar on the left made for short rides; mainly closeouts. The small beach break style surf snuffed out all the Hawaiians in contention for the Triple Crown and most people have left town already. The only good thing about the pathetic Pipemasters is that contestants seemed a lot more lighthearted, laughing and enjoying each others company whereas a typical Pipe line up prior to the event is such that you can't even cut the air.


Stephanie Gilmore didn't leave any room for her competition Sophia Mulanowhich and Silvana Lima when she won the Billabong Pro on Maui and captured the World Title. Not bad for her first year on the tour. Veteran surfer Megan Abubo made a heroic Triple Crown win. She was taken away in an ambulance after her semifinal heat at Sunset with severely strained stomach ligaments, but persevered through a few painful rounds in Maui to edge out Layne Beachly.

The ASP Ball marked a historic moment in surfing this year being the 25th Anniversary. They showed a video and honored all the former Triple Crown Champions. Director Randy Rarrick, Bernie Baker and Faith Wenzel were also given awards for their commitment for Professional Surfing. It was a classy event where the surfers and industry all seemed to be all enjoying some time to have a little fun.


The Quicksliver Eddie Aikau Ceremony was like many other events this year, a sort of passing of the baton; surfers such as Jamie O Brien, Makua Rothman, Marc Healy and Jamie Sterling  are all slated solid in the invitee list meanwhile Dustin Barca and Koby Abberton are alternates. These 20 somethings of course mix well with legends like Clyde Aikau, Titus Kinimaka, Michael & Derek Ho and former champion Noah Johnson. Japanese Pipe charger Takayuki Wakita was also on the list this year. After the ceremony, Pinballs offered a nice wave for the surfers to share a ride in, and the spirit is always alive in there in memory of such extraordinary waterman.


Banzai Betty may have lost her permit for the Pipe contest this season, but there were more girls out at 6-8 ft Pipe this year than ever before.


I heard on a small Waimea day 6 girls were out at one time. XXL champion, Maya Gaberia who recently got towed into huge Teaupoo, was said to have had some killer waves and some astounding wipeouts. Jenny Useldinger was rumored to have been riding waves inbetween 6 other guys who dropped in with her. Former XXL champ Jamilia Star just had a baby, but was already back out charging on the first big swell. Mikaela Prekonize was out at the Bay, but has also been getting some really impressive Backdoor barrells. With such a strong pool of women surfers, its good to see more and more of them coming to the Northshore to challenge themselves as true waterwomen.

Live the Legacy was presented in memory of surfer and activist John Kelly. A short film and panel discussions were given to insure the future of activism in Hawaii. Randy Rarrick received the John Kelly Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award  at O Lounge Dec 13th where a few other green awards were also honored.

Common Ground Hawaii is a new organization formed by local Ala Moana surfer Melissa Ling Ling to protect our most prestigious south shore surf spots from privatization and otherwise. You can contact her at commongroundhawaii@yahoo.com. There have been 2 protests this month and there will be a hearing on December 19th from 6-8 at Jefferson School Cafeteria. Please come and show some support for our public access at Ala Moana surf spots including 3s, Kaisers, Rockpiles and Bowls.

The Lifeguards held their annual party on Dec 14,2007 at Waimea with Donavon, the Opihi pickers and others. A benefit auction was held for Jeanie Chesser who is suffering from Merkel cel cancer. The party sold out and was jam packed with surfers all celebrating our lifeguards along with Occys retirement from Professional Surfing.


There will be another benefit auction held for Jeannie next weekend at Waimea. Rumor has it that the Monster Pro has a chance to share with someone elses permit, however I dont know any specifics yet. The Backdoor shootout has a waiting period from Jan 2-13 and the Bodysurfing Classic starts Jan 27, so lots of action on tap for the new year. Sure is a shaky surf season, you just dont know what will happen next. Most of the pro circus left early once they could see that the waves and weather were not going to improve so locals are looking forward to having a little less crowds for the Christmas break and hopefully a few waves

Meke Kalikimaka!!!!

by Lane Davey

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