Well that was one way to hype up an event!
The will they or won’t they decision on whether North Point will be used as a backup for the Drug Aware Pro has just been handed down and…the computer says no.
Director of Sustainable Development for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River Iliya Hastings told Tracks the World Surf League cancelled a meeting scheduled for today to discuss use of the famed point as an alternative venue.
“Either way, there would have been no way it would have met the requirements at such short notice,’’ Mr Hastings, himself a surfer, said.
“We’re not ruling it out for future use though and would welcome an application for next year. Who wouldn’t want to see the worlds best at North Point? But we have an obligation to ensure events such as these are managed according to the requirements of The Shire and our community.”
So we’re left to ponder what could have been and indeed what will be as the hyped swell inches closer to the coast.
The prospect of North Point as a backup venue however reignited the age-old debate as to “Best Ever” out there.
And who better to ask than the three photographers who’ve spent more time floating around its expansive line up than most surfers themselves.
Russell Ord:
Current best: I always like to watch Rohan Annesley out at North Point. Every big swell he is always one of the top guys getting the very best waves no matter how many Pro’s are in the line-up…
Most under rated surfer out there?
Not sure if Rohan classifies as being under rated so let’s go with Brett Hardy on his backhand (may not classify either) Brett is amazing out there not sure why he is dealing with three foot waves on the Gold Coast with ten thousand people sharing waves…(Brett moved to the Goldy last year).
Next in line to be the guru?
Jack Robinson is a pretty good chance considering his tube riding skills and being a right just makes it that much easier for him…special mention to Laura Macaulay though. I have seen her pull into some bombs and she can also play the “I live on the Hill card” , Ding (Dave Englert) still does!
Scott Bauer: Current best:
Jesus. That’s a tricky one. Dino Adrian, Tom Innes all the local lads. But, let’s go with Rohan. He just has that knack of jagging the bombs. And he’s just your typical humble country guy too, real unassuming.
Under rated:
Brett Hardy on his backhand. Seen him get some incredible bombs backside, which is unbeliably hard out there.
Next in line to be the guru:
Jack Robinson. For sure. I saw him go to town out there with Dino Adrian a couple months back.
Jamie Scott: Current best:
Brett Hardy’s no-handed back side attack is incredible to watch
Most under rated surfer out there?
Not that he’s under rated around here…Rohan Annesley
Next in line to be the guru?
Jacob Willcox, Jack Robinson or Shaun Manners.
When Tracks calls the man himself, Annesley, an in demand self employed plumber, is busily working on a hot water system. He seems typically reserved about the news he’d pipped Hardy for unofficial bragging rights.
“Really? Well there you go,” Annesley said.
“I guess I have a bit of an advantage over him. He’s on his backhand which must be incredibly hard. But I’ll take a win…a bit of credit’s always nice.”
Both grew up surfing Margaret River Rivermouth and progressed to the line up at North Point about the same time, an odd little tradition that still continues and has produced the likes of Shaun Manners, Jacob Willcox and Jack Robinson.
“Whenever it got too big at Rivermouth, our parents would bring us up to the bay at Cowaramup,” he says.
“We’d be surfing Huzzas and just looking at North Point thinking…we should be surfing there and it went from there.”
And the trick to jagging a bomb in a lineup that includes every tube hunter in town?
“You’ve gotta wait on the inside with all the crazy body boarders and be prepared to cop more than a few on the head. And then when they come through, it’s a quick whip around and a 50/50 shot at making the drop, then you have to hope no one drops in or that end section doesn’t clamp down,’’ says Rohan.
“Other than that…piece of cake.”
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Round 1 Match-ups:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Jadson Andre (BRA), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Freddy Patacchia Jr. (HAW), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), TBD
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Nat Young (USA), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS)
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Women’s Round 1 Match-ups:
Heat 1
: Lakey Peterson (USA), Johanne Defay (FRA), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), TBD
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA), Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
Watch the event Live Here
