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Tracks Editor Luke Kennedy gets amongst it – Somebody beat the bully. |
The infamous Bells lineup. ASP
Somebody Beat Up The Bully
Yesterday Kelly played golf with Martin Potter. Together they bashed a few balls around the 13th beach golf course. Today he was back to his other favourite past time, belting and demoralizing fellow pro surfers. Wild-Card hopeful, Adam Roberston and Kai Otton were never in the heat. Kelly had dissected several waves before either of his competitors looked like posting a meaningful score. The glory moment arrived when Kelly capped a superior performance with an effortless no-grab air reverse in the champagne suds on the shorey. Bereft of any further goals to achieve Kelly has become a surfing bully – hanging around to beat the other guys up just because he can. His message is clear – ‘get an act and take me down because I’m not going to surrender my crown easily. If you want it you’re going to have to take it off me.’ In truth that’s the way it should be. There would be no greater satisfaction for a surfer than to say ‘ I beat Kelly for the title when he was still in his prime. Thus far that’s a claim that only Mick Fanning, Derek Ho and the late great Andy Irons can really make. Interestingly, when Kelly was recently asked by a mainstream journalist if he thought he was actually hitting his surfing peak his response was blunt but insightful. “ If I’m not then everyone else must be going backwards. I’m obviously surfing better than I ever have. I’m stronger, I know my equipment better, better choices, more experience.” Fellow surfers be afraid- be very afraid. Or don’t be and stand up take him down.
Kelly ‘The Bully’ Slater.ASP
Grown Men Can Still Grind
We didn’t see him bomb the Bells car park but Tom seems determined to make his life an endless carving turn. The last two times I’ve seen him at events he’s been clutching a skateboard like a man with a mission for perpetual motion. The Tracks team is currently brandishing a replica of Tom’s famed board Black Beauty. We’re aiming to get a few top guys to ride it before the event is over. Keep an eye out for the clips.
Tom Curren clutching his all-important Australian mode of transport. Bubba
Happy Birthday to You
It was a big day for the blonde duo from Lennox. Both Adam Melling and Stuart Kennedy had convincing wins riding Emerey surfboards. To ice the cake it was also their shaper, Alan Emery’s birthday. Stuart has had round one victories in the past here, as a wildcard. In the past he was an over-achieving grommet and his failure to go much further than round one could be dismissed on the basis of youth and inexperience. Know as a fully-fledged professional, it’s really his opportunity to stand up and be recognized as a world-class surfer who can defeat highly ranked surfers on a big stage.
Lord Melling in floating across a Bells chandelier.ASP
As for Melling, let’s hope this is the year where we see him reach his potential. He has long been considered one of the most polished surfers on tour. The fiercely proud Lennox crew would love nothing more than seeing one of their own upstaging the more frequently fancied duo from Coolangatta – Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson.
Big Al with a Big grin. Bubba
Big Al The Numbers Guy
Al Hunt is one of professional surfing’s most enduring figures. In addition to being a prolific collector of surfing magazines, [Al has just about every issue of every surf magazine on the planet sent to his house for the past twenty years] Al is also the man chiefly responsible for working out the statistics for surfers on the pro tour. You might be confused about the new rotating tour but Al can’t afford to be. He’s the go to man for surfers wanting to know exactly what they need to do to qualify for the tour or avoid dropping off. Imagine the email. ‘Hey AL . I’m sitting in 37th and have two more events to surf before the tour rotates. One is a six star prime and another is a six star. I’ve heard that if Bobby loses in the fourth round of the New York event and Raoni loses in the first all I need is a fourth round finish. Am I right? If I make it my sponsors have guaranteed me a $50 000 bonus. I’m relying on you Al.’
Rob Wright with the weight of two of his offspring resting on his shoulders. Bubba
Tough Day For The Wrights
Rob Wright spends a lot of time staring at the ocean. With son, Owen on the men’s world tour and a daughter Tyler contesting the women’s tour, Rob is pretty busy in his role as dad/mentor to his over-achieving surfing family. Today wasn’t a good day for the Wrights. Owen looked to be in something of a form slump in the battle of the goofies against Bobby Martinez and Heitor ‘helicopter’ Alvez.
Meanwhile daughter Tyler lost in the final heat of the day to Coco Ho. The Wrights will be back in round two seeking to reassert themselves as the world’s premiere surfing family.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Mens RD1 Highlights 2011 from McKinnon Media Productions on Vimeo.
