Well, I guess we'll see about that. I almost didn't think they could get any better, but they are claiming it pretty big-time over at Quiksilver. Apparently its time for Season Two... and look, they even made a trailer for it!



But yes, if you haven't caught on yet, the Todcasts are amazingly funny, and they aren't ALL about snowboarding. (As you'll see from the cameo's in the first episode below. Tony Hawk, what?!? Bruce Irons, what?!?! Ken Block, what?!?) Although it sure looks like Quik is gearing it up to make sure each of their pro-snowboarders gets a character part in at least one of the "megacasts" they promise to grace us with at the beginning of each month. This means we get to look forward to hanging out with the likes of Travis Rice, Austin Smith, Bryan Fox, and Louie Fontain. Or more like, Todd gets to hang out with those guys, and we get to watch the hilarity that ensues.

Oh Todcast, you've gotten us all riled up! Now its time to deliver!



Catch up on last season over at the Quicksilver blog. Todcast Tuesdays.

Andy Irons surfed a heat yesterday. Since Andy's in the middle of a much-needed sabbatical from competition this kind of thing year passes for news this year. Truth be told, the elder Irons probably wouldn't be here if not for an appearance fee, and like a lot of veteran pros he shares some cynicism toward the ASP, but to his credit, when Andy Irons commits to something it's basically impossible for him to give anything less than his all.

Andy being welcomed back by the Huntington fans.
All photos in this post by Michael Lallande/hurley.com

Irons, like his foe Kelly Slater, is a competitor. A fierce competitor. And one thing fierce competitors can't do is roll over...for anything. Not a game of ping-pong, a poker game, or even a seemingly insignificant heat in average beachbreak slop. And while that trait is worthy of admiration, when left uncontrolled, it drives some competitors insane. Taking a page from Kelly, Irons has been working on some 'letting go' of his own during his break. Time will reveal whether or not he's successful, but he certainly looked sharp on Tuesday, and the fans on hand in Huntington Beach were genuinely thrilled to see him. If Irons can tap into a little of his 1998 magic (he won both the WQS and the ASP World Tour events held at the U.S. Open that year) and nab the $100,000 first prize, it'll seem to many like he never left.

Bruce Irons, on the other hand, seems determined to make himself irrelevant as quickly as possible. He netted a little over 5 total points and finished last in his heat yesterday, leaving a group of hot young pro juniors watching more than a little miffed, "What happened to him? He didn't do a single turn." Of course, Bruce's whole image is predicated on him not giving a shit, which apparently sells shorts, but let's not forget he is Andy's brother. Bruce's wires have been crossed for years because he's far more competitive than he'd like to admit, even if he's a lousy competitor. When he rolls over like he did yesterday it only tangles the internal wires more.

Bruce Irons, looking for the nearest exit sign.

But Bruce needn't worry. He is to Volcom what Occy is to Billabong, and the boys at Veeco HQ will give him three or four more years of screwing around before they force him to do the webcasting at the VQS championships, which, come to think of it, could be amusing. And for what it's worth we may see the better side of Bruce on Saturday in the tow-assisted expression session. He's also got a new video out which should reveal whether or not his surfing is reaching higher levels. Let's hope so.

For a full event preview, click here. As for the recent headlines, here you go:

1. Nat Young eliminates Damien Hobgood and Sunny Garcia; the kid is ripping on his backhand, as predicted.
2. Austin Ware loses early; this is a blow to the Californian's WQS campaign since he was rated 12th coming in.
3. Kelly Slater's heat postponed; a fog delay and Kelly's late arrival from J-Bay means he's surfing today.
4. Owen Wright wins heat, to face Fanning and Machado next; in what is undoubtedly the most heavily stacked heat of this round Fanning and Machado will have their hands full with the man leading the WQS charge this year.
5. The swell is starting to show!; the chicks are scoring some prime HB conditions this morning. Slater is due to surf around 1:30 PM.
Highlight reels below provided by Tom Aiello/Aaron Lieber/Hurley.com




Eric Geiselman looked solid.

Take your pick.

"It's like when we were growing up doing all-nighters, it's the same fucking thing." - Bruce Irons on how it is to be the father of a newborn baby, from the most recent episode of The Volcom House Show, which is two posts below. Photo: MORINformed

Check out the latest installment of the The Volcom House Show. Bruce Irons talks about the history of the two houses, life as freesurfer and how it feels to be a father. Click here to find out more about Bruce and the rest of the Volcom surf team.

If you're in Hawaii you can stop by one of these shops, get your favorite Volcom surf team member to sign something, and then get them to help you screen-print a shirt. I suggest asking Gavin, it seems more his thing than the others.