The Quiki Pro, Day 1

THE TENTS AT THE QUIKI PRO

JOEL PARKINSON (GOLD COAST LOCAL)

Saturday was the first day of the Quiki Pro (Quicksilver Pro Surf Comp) so Maddy, Val, and I went to check out the action as it was only about a 10 minute drive away. The comp uses any points in the area depending on the conditions that day from about 10 minutes south of us to 10 minutes north (I think) so we are lucky enough to be right in the middle of the action. It's a two week long competition and the Roxy Pro is also going on at the same time here (girl's comp) so I'll be able to watch a lot of awesome surfing in the next couple weeks.

A PRETTY SPOT ON THE WALK TO THE QUIKI PRO

THE COMMENTATORS' BOX

DBAR, WHERE THE QUIKI PRO WAS HELD ON SATURDAY

Only the guys were competing on Saturday but they were super impressive so no complaints. The speed at which they go is incredible and even though the water was pretty flat they still amazing. For some reason Jay Thompson is now my favorite surfer, although, Kelly Slater knows how to perform for the crowd with all his big aerials and such. But I took a liking to Jay from his very first wave. Jay was in a heat with Joel Parkinson who is from the Gold Coast and had a lot of locals rooting for him. Joel was good too but by the end of the heat he had fallen to third (out of three).

JAY THOMPSON

JAY OR JOEL, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHICH

MADDY AND ME IN BETWEEN HEATS

Kelly Slater's heat was up next and right from the start Kelly had this awesome aerial. He actually snuck out into the water somehow, Maddy and I saw some random person carrying his boards and I reckon he didn't wear his jersey across the beach to avoid being mobbed.

CLOSE UP OF KELLY SLATER

KELLY SLATER AGAIN

When all the guys get out of the water they are immediately swarmed but with Kelly Slater it's insane. By the time he was back on the beach we had already started climbing the hill back to the car but looking back down on the beach it was like every single person there ran to try and get a pic or signature. Kelly booked it back to the tent and the commentators actually had to tell people to leave him alone and give him some space. The comp was really cool and I'm sure when the semis and stuff start the atmosphere will be incredible. The only thing I didn't like about it was how the commentators constantly had to mention the sponsors of the comp (Red Bull and LG)...stupid corporate/consumer ____. Ah well, guess it's necessary these days even if it does seem very hypocritical for surfing of all things to be dependent on finances and advertising.

THE SWARM AROUND KELLY

Yesterday it was 34 degrees (celcius) and almost unbearable. Maddy and I escaped to Pac Fair (air conditioned shopping mall) where we did not actually buy anything, just escaped the heat. Was a very girly time seeing as on top of going to a mall we were both in dresses and listened to The Hills soundtrack on the way there. I know I know, go ahead and giggle/gasp.

BOO HEAT...

...YAY SISTERS

MY LENSES EVEN MATCH MY DRESS, LA-DI-DA

After the mall we came back home for a bit to eat but the temp was still high so we went for a swim at the estuary. So many people were there! It was kind of weird and I felt slightly territorial of my newfound hang out spot. The heat remained all night that I considered taking some kind of sleeping pill just to avoid it even if that meant I'd miss the rest of the movie we were watching. Well, I didn't take the pill (did manage to eat half a gallon of chocolate soy ice cream) but I also didn't get to sleep until late either. But I'm just enjoying my last day of freedom today before classes start tomorrow so I was able to sleep in this morning and have yet to open my blind in hopes of keeping the heat out. Haven't been on my walk lately due to laziness mostly but the heat doesn't really entice me to climb a hill and subject myself to direct sunlight for over an hour.