With a solid NE swell rocking the buoys on the coast of Florida, The king of the peak is on! Choppy Wedges are a normal condition for the King of the peak and the boys will be ready. With some big names of the sport fighting for the title and the unknowns trying to become the known this weekend. With over a 100 entries battling it out for the overall king of the peak title. The king of the peak title is one of most coveted titles on the east coast. Former Title holders include Kelly Slater, CJ Hobgood and many more east coast locals.


Winning the king of the peak wont come easy to anyone though. With a large NE swell forecasted for this weekend conditions will not be favorable. Large wedges will bounce off the jetty creating the famous peak but with 20-25mph winds the uncontrollable chop will make it hard for surfers to line up for the perfect spot. A constant fight against the current and wind will leave most surfers fighting for air. There is no better place to be this weekend on the east coast with over 10,000 dollars in prize and one of the most prestigious titles on the east coast. All eyes will be on the Peak this weekend to see which local boys can defend their break and take home the title.

Make sure you check back next week for Video Highlights.


The famous 1st peak wedge.


Victory at Sea conditions for this weekend.

Photos Courtesy of: Quiksilver http://events.quiksilver.com/event_detail.aspx?evntid=210

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m getting pretty damn sick of hearing about the Modern Collective. Said to be the surf movie to end all surf movies, the film marks the directorial debut of Kai Neville, a protégé to Taylor Steele, and has garnered just about as much press as Michael Jackson’s death. In the beginning, I was just as psyched as everyone, perhaps more so, on the upcoming release. The world’s best surfers, a new filmmaker set on the avante garde…what’s not to like? But a few months in, I’d heard all I wanted to about the film. It was like eating at a buffet, two hours stuffing your face and you just can’t seem to take anymore in. And I could only imagine how the director felt, fending off a six-month blitzkrieg of media interviews. With that in mind, I decided to give old Kai one final strafe before the film releases later this month to see what gives.

It seems like I can't pick up a surf mag or go to a website without there being something on the Modern Collective lately. As your major debut, does the flood of media attention ever make you wonder if the film is being over-hyped and setting an unrealistic, golden standard for you?

The coverage has been wicked, I started the little blog on our first trip to France and we have generated a unique following. I assume the film will be very different from people’s expectations. The movie is session based so what you see is what you get. No two-minute bang of keepers. It showcases a more candid approach to the way these guys surf. I know people are expecting a lot out of this movie, the pressure is on for me to bring the goods. You can’t appeal to everyone though I’m trying to find an enjoyable medium. I religiously watched surf vids around the age 13-17 so my main focal point is to keep the younger generation psyched to go flair.

What or who do you look to for creative inspiration? I know surfing in the past hasn't been the most progressive of genres, but is there a person or a magazine or cinematographer that makes you reexamine how you do your job?

The audience for sure craves more today and I have been tapping into a few genres and music videos for ideas, taking what I like and trying to apply that technique to a surf film. Also, I draw ideas from design and culture magazines like Wonderland, Wallpaper, Dazed, etc. This style has created a really clean and minimal look to the project. More emphasis on the subject rather than applying wild motion graphics and titles across the screen. I love the look in most features and fashion ads of using small text with extravagant imagery as opposed to covering the page with hideous graphics.

When the last of the editing is done and the film is released, how are you gonna unwind or are you gonna start plugging away at another film?

I’m stoked right now just finished the main edit. About to embark on a wild North American tour! After that I will be ready for a little break to actually go surf and also work on the pre-production for the next movie.

Modern Collective teaser ft: Jordy from Poor Specimen on Vimeo.

After wrapping an historic event up in Canada, the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series rolled down the coast to Santa Cruz this week, and with a huge swell expected to arrive this weekend the CWC stands a great chance of living up to its billing. But the fervent local fans of Santa Cruz were dealt an early blow on Tuesday when defending champion Nat Young, last year's defending champion and heir to the Santa Cruz throne, lost in a close one yesterday along with Noi Kaulukukui, another Santa Cruz standout.

In early high-tide conditions, Young was defeated in the waning moments of the heat by Granger Larsen and Nathaniel Curren. After going on a serious tear last year, this is the latest in a string of early round knockouts that have pulled Young back to earth. Last month he was knocked out of the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali Young. It's a string the 18-year-old seems to be keeping taking in stride. On his Facebook page, he posted a humorous little status update summing up his frustration. "Just lost first heat...Stoked."

Things will start heating up as the top seeds get underway. The O'Neill Cold Water Classic has been upgraded to a 6-Star Prime this year, which means it's a mandatory stop for anyone hoping to qualify for the world tour. It's a great place to get a glimpse of what the future of surfing looks like. Stay tuned for much more.

This is why it's the Great White North.

There are no more loyal surf fans in the world than those that inhabit the small town of Tofino on Vancouver Island. Two thousand strong, they’ve braved the elements for the past week, standing in the rain, enduring the wind, fighting off the cold. Day in and day out, there they there. Watching. Clapping. Hoping. Hoping for a miracle. And today, with the sun shining and the entire town skipping out on work to watch the final, that miracle happened. Peter Devries, 26, the boy from just down the road, won the inaugural Cold Water Classic Canada, comboing Aussie Jay Thompson in the messy, overhead peaks at Chesterman’s Bay in the final.

“If he can pull this off, it would mean so much to this town” was a phrase commonly overheard at the contest site today. Devries had come a long way on his march to the final, surfing eight heats total as a wild card in the opening rounds all the way through to the main event, dispatching the world’s best with his Curren-esque carves and nonchalance airs. But could he really win? It seemed almost too good to be true. This is real life, not a movie or a book. Nine times out of 10, Devries would fall and Bottle would win. Right? Not today.

Heading into the final, Pete looked to be in true character, not showing the slightest sign of any nerves. With an almost Zen-like look running through his eyes, Pete managed to make his way through the crowd that had gathered shoulder-to-shoulder along the water’s edge. People slapped him on the back, cheered, hollered, and screamed, “We love you Pete! Tofino loves you!” None of this fazed him a bit. Today, Pete Devries made Dane Reynolds look like a nervous wreck.

When the horn sounded signaling the start of the final, Devries opened up on the bowly rights affront the judge’s booth, lacerating any sign of open face he could find. Linking turns to floaters, floaters to end-section hacks and throwing in the odd check turn, Devries was literally surfing the beachbreak as well as anyone could have. His high score: a 9.0. His low: a 7.43. And although he would try time and again, Bottle couldn’t retaliate. Perhaps it’s a good thing, because if he would have won today, with this crowd, there’s a good chance that he wasn’t going to leave Canada alive. But it didn’t matter; Pete had the heat on lockdown and would solidly take the win.

In the waning minutes of the final, with Devries holding Bottle in a figurative headlock, the crowd went crazy. Literally. It was pandemonium on the beach. People were crying. Canadian flags appeared out of nowhere. They chanted Pete’s name. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Someone lit off fireworks. It was one of the most intense moments of my career. Pipeline and Huntington had nothing on Tofino today.

With crowd thundering their praise toward Devries, he made his way to the beach where he was met by friends and carried towards the awards platform. Someone lit off fireworks again and bottles of champagne drained down the gullets of Devries, friends, and other fans.

“Thank you so much to the crowd out here. This is crazy. Thanks to all of the people in town. To hear you guys cheer from the beach when I was surfing a wave…it felt incredible.”

The Cold Water Classic has one more stop in the series, and it’s the big one: the 6-star prime in Santa Cruz. Stay glued to Grind TV.

Pete nabs some of the white light.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been trying pretty hard not to jump on the Peter Devries bandwagon since stepping foot in Canada to report on the Cold Water Classic last week. It seems like you can’t go 12 steps in the town of Tofino without hearing the local boy’s name uttered like he was Christ himself, clad in neoprene and minus the bushy beard. Although you can’t deny that he does bear some resemblance.

“Have you seen Peter Devries surf?”

“Oh yeah, he’s amazing, eh? I think he’s gonna win out here.”

“That would really be nice, eh. Local boy beats the best in the world.”

It would be nice, indeed, but the angle itself just seemed too easy, too good to be true. I’ve heard that the lad can surf, but could he truly compete against the likes of the hungriest ’QS surfers around at one of the last 6-stars of the season?

The answer is an unequivocal, all caps, bolded “YES.” Pete just might win this event.

I’m jumping on board. Time and again, heat after heat, punt after punt…Pete’s made me a believer, a convert, I’m now a devoted disciple to the Devries faith.

In his opener at the Cold Water Classic Canada, Devries threw down the highest heat score of the day. In his next round, he dominated his heat, surfing as good as anyone. The following matchup, he smoked Dusty Payne. And then today, in his round of 16 heat, he tore the arms (figuratively of course) off of Frenchman Joan Duru. Now he’s on to the quarters.

To cement the fact that Devries has achieved a significant level of status in this town, when Pete surfs, the town comes out to watch. In droves. In his round of 16 heat, I estimated 500 Canadian souls braving the frigid rain and wind to see if Pete could continue his run. Now, 500 may not seem like an enormous crowd compared to U.S. Open, but figure in the fact that there are 2,000 people who live in Tofino. And his heat today was on a Friday.

“Time for Pete to get mobbed again,” said fellow Canadian surfer, close friend, and event ambassador, Noah Cohen, after Devries won his heat today. And mobbed he was.

After the throngs of fans and media threw a hundred questions at the hometown hero, I make it 101.

“Do you hate the attention?” I sheepishly ask, realizing the irony in my question.

He smiles gently and says, “I definitely wouldn’t want to be Kelly Slater.”

But in Tofino, he might as well be.

Getting put through the rinse and spin cycle at Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania.

The best big-wave surfers in the world stop at nothing to chase huge swells, even if they're headed straight back into the dead of winter. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the race for the annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

As the surf world's most prestigious big-wave honors, the Billabong XXL Awards are divvied into a handful of distinct categories including Ride of the Year, Biggest Wave, Best Tube Ride, Worst Wipeout and Best Overall Performance. The race for each prize begins anew each May, even before the checks are cashed by the previous year's winners.

The XXL Awards are already in their tenth year, but the big-wave landscape has changed dramatically in that same period. In its early days it would be months before any viable nominees started surfacing. Back then the consensus was the Northern Hemisphere had a stranglehold on the planet's biggest surf. But because the Northern Hemisphere sits idle during its summer months things wouldn't really heat up until November or December, when huge winter storms kicked up the surf.

In truth, the Northern Hemisphere was merely more thoroughly explored. But over the last decade, breakthroughs in search and forecasting technologies have led surfers thirsty for heavy-water adventure to pore over nautical charts of the Southern Hemisphere, especially those along the blustery coasts of South Africa and Southern Australia, including Tasmania.

Surfers have been reeling over the discoveries. Turns out, there's some damn serious surf at the bottom of the world, which is why there's no shortage of XXL nominees in October, and it's also why big-wave enthusiast spend their time chasing an Endless Winter. Southern Hemisphere storms kick into gear around April. By the time they subside in late September, the Northern Hemisphere starts making noise.

With predictions of an El Nino pattern still holding steady, wave chasers believe this could be a banner year for the North Pacific. Big wave surfers are having a tough time committing to any holiday plans for this very reason. This season should get interesting.

After three days of freezing wind and bone-chilling rain, we awoke yesterday at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic to some of the best surf that Cox Bay had seen all year. Overhead lines stacked out to the horizon, not a hint of the wind that had been plaguing the event all week, it was pristine surf in anyone’s eyes in any part of the world.

When Canada turns on, the prospect of suiting up for a coldwater session isn’t quite as grueling as it is when the wind chill makes you want to cry. (I only did this once, I swear.) For Californian Brett Simpson, having head-high perfection out front definitely helped cut the pain of donning a slushy suit, glove, and booties as he headed out for his heat.

“I think this has been the best surf of the event, and probably the best surf of the series so far,” said Simpson, who dropped one of the many 9s today and would win his heat in the process.

Simpson looks solid to be joining the World Tour next year. It’s a fact that is making his time in Canada all the more enjoyable.

“I don’t want to say that I’ve qualified just yet…I don’t want to jinx myself, ya know? But having a good standing right now definitely makes it easier to surf a heat. I think today was probably the best surf that the series has seen yet. That makes it easy too.”

Another high-water mark moment today went to Santa Cruz’s Nat Young, who barely squeaked by in his heat despite posting a 9.7 on his opening wave. Trouble was, Kevin Sullivan from Hawaii and Aussie Dion Atkinson did the same thing, leaving young Nat in quite the pickle. But these kids like Nat are hyped by the media for a reason: They really are that good. And in the closing seconds, needing a mid-range score of a 5, Nat pulled it off. They almost always do.

As the day wore on, the swell began to filter off, leaving some very rippable conditions mixed with some falling rain. It was the epitome of a coldwater wet dream. Green pines steps from the beach, a cold, falling rain, endless peaks down the bay. It was a coldwater paradise.

Unfortunately, it’s not forecasted to last. The local weather is calling for a decrease in swell and some heavy rain followed by a mega storm this weekend, leaving officials scrambling to run as many heats in the Canadian utopia while the conditions last.

Stay tuned, as local boy Peter Devries surfs tomorrow. Can he continue his streak in his own backyard? You’ll have to log on to find out.

Fanning, cool as cucumbers. Photo: Lucia Griggi

Mick Fanning is back in his rightful place. The same place he found back in 2007, when he dominated with one of the most impressive win streaks in ASP history to earn his first ASP World Title. At the Rip Curl Search event in Portugal this morning he nabbed his third event in the last four tries, extending his ratings lead over Joel Parkinson in the process with just one event left to go.

Mick's huge advantage over Parko now is he's been here before. But after reaching the mountain top in 2007 Mick Fanning learned the hard way what it's like to wear the target. As a result, his 2008 season was almost over before it started. For the wind chill up on the mountain top is far more penetrating to the nerves, and finding your familiar comfort zone is almost impossible once you're so exposed. Just ask Kelly Slater, who went through the same process back in 1993.

The world title made Mick a national hero in the sport's crazy town of Australia, where being a celebrity is a lot handle. His feet hadn't found solid ground again until midway through this year, when all the weight of his country was transferred over to the shoulder's of his buddy Joel Parkinson. After Parko's early dominance this year some in Australia were already planning his coronation...book deals were in the works, documentaries being planned...and natrually, Parko's ankle essentially cracked under the weight of that pressure.

Meanwhile, back on firm ground Mick Fanning was able to find his winning ways again. And today, wiser for the wear thanks to his journey up to the mountain top, he has what looks like a radar lock on the task at hand. The Fanning Focus is back, and he's galloping toward the finish in silky-smooth stride.

Lest you think it's all over though, understand this...Parko's third place finish says a lot. He's dealt with more in a single season than most deal with in a career. And while his brief journey to the top yeilded him plenty of arrows to the body, he's got dressing on his wounds now, and he's going to be ready for one more good fight at Pipeline. It should be one hell of a climax.

I don't know about you...but I'm enjoying this season.

Mick Fanning won the Rip Curl Search over fellow Australian Bede Durbidge at Supertubos today. Fanning has won 3 out of the last 4 events with his win today in Portugal. You can bet that Eugene will be making an appearance in Peniche tonight. Joel Parkinson got equal 3rd, which means the World Title race will be decided at the Pipe Masters in December. Joel and Mick are very close in the ratings, though now Mick has a slight edge. I can barely count, but luckily someone oover at the asp can, and the scenario is apprently this: If Mick makes the final at Pipe, he wins, if he gets a 9th or worse, Joel needs a 3rd or better to win. The Pipe Masters begin on December 8th.

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.67
2 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.87

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.27
SF 2: Wright Withdraws Due to Injury, Fanning Advances

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (Following Rip Curl Pro Search):
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 7140 points
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6772 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6148 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6146 points
5 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5748 points
6 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 5524 points
7 – Kelly Slater (USA) 5514 points
8 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 5421 points
9 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 5116 points
10 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4828 points

Canadians are a dedicated lot when it comes to their surfing. And in Tofino, the town that O’Neill has deemed the coldest stop on their Cold Water Classic Series, it seems that almost everyone surfs. It’s as if San Clemente decided, “The hell with you, warmth, packed up shop, and caught the next bus to Vancouver and put down new roots.” On the drive in, you’re met by not one or two surf shops along the rode, but a staggering five. With year-round residency capping out at 2,000 people…that’s a lot of shop per capita.

When you have a town that’s this enamored with all things surf, some talent is bound to take rise. And in Tofino, that talent is Peter Devries.

As the last hope for hometown glory, when Devries threw on a slushy jersey in his round two heat, the crowd at the beach doubled and gathered along the water’s edge. Surfing against the likes of Dusty Payne, there were more than a few of us who thought this would be the end of the Canadians. Apparently, Pete had other plans.

Despite the wind-riddled slop, there were still a few rippable lefts at Chesterman’s Bay. From the outset of the hooter to the final minutes, Devries was the man to beat in the heat. Yes, Dusty was ripping the high hell out of the surf, but it was evident that local knowledge and a propensity for calmness would win the day, as Devries appeared to be surfing—make that living—on a higher plane. No nerves or jitters, just surfing. It worked and Devries flat-out owned his heat.

“The waves weren’t really all that good out there…pretty bad to be honest, but I was glad to get a couple…I’ve never really been too into surfing contests, so when I went out there, I just surfed sort of how I wanted to surf. And that seems to be working for me,” said Devries post heat.

Today was all about Pete. Some fell in Canada, some survived the elements and competition will live to freeze in another round, at the end of the day, all anyone could talk about was that Tofino kid, Peter Devries.