Howzit North Shore! They say April goes out the same way October comes in when describing a typical North Shore Winter Surf Season. There are usually lots of good North Swells near the beginning and the end of a good Winter of Surf on Oahu’s Northern Coastline. In particular, places like Laniakea and Log Cabins pick up these North Swells and can be seen firing with super-hollow line-driving right-hand walls! Laniakea most of all can deliver some good-sized, perfectly lined-up and extremely long freight-train barrels during the early and late parts of any decent North Shore Winter.

The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia is the 2^nd stop on the 2009 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). On April 17^th, Joel Parkinson, 27 of Australia rung the bell and won the event defeating Adam Robertson, 26, trials winner and event wildcard also of Australia in the final held in pumping six foot conditions at Bells Beach. "Today’s victory marks the 2^nd time Parkinson has hoisted the bell (the first being in 2004), and the reputation and acclaim associated with the iconic event is something every surfer dreams of." (ASP quote) Hawaiian Fred Pattachia took equal 3rds in the event and fellow Hawaiian Kekoa Bacalso made the quarterfinals. "Pattachia’s stellar start to 2009 has him sitting No. 3 on the ASP World Tour ratings." (ASP quote)

The ASP / WQS 4 Star "Culturalization Women’s Tidal 9 Pipeline Pro / A Benefit for the Girl Scouts of Hawaii" with a holding period from March 31-April 14, finished up on April 10 at the Banzai Pipeline at Ehukai Beach Park on the North Shore of Oahu. This event, which was for Women Only, included Pro Bodyboarding, Longboarding and Shortboarding with an overall prize purse of $50,000. In Shortboarding, Claire Bevilacqua of Australia took 1^st place, $3500 and 1000 WQS rating points. Carissa Moore of Hawaii got 2^nd, Anastasia Ashley of USA got 3^rd and Laura Enever of Australia came in 4^th place. In the Longboard Division, Cori Schumacher of the USA got 1^st place, $2000 and 1500 rating points. Crystal Dzigas of Hawaii took 2^nd, Kaitlin McGuire of the USA got 3^rd and Rachel Spear of Hawaii came in 4^th place. In Bodyboarding, Luz Marie Grande Perez of Puerto Rico came out on top winning 1^st place, $3000 and 1500 rating points. Eunatte Aguirre of Spain got 2^nd place, Neymara Carvalho of Brazil took 3^rd and Jessica Becker of Brazil got 4^th place. The women’s WQS ratings after this Pipeline Pro Event include Sofia Mulanovich of Peru at #1 and Claire Bevilacqua of Australia now at #2. Also in the ratings of note from Hawaii are Carissa Moore at #5, Coco Ho at #6, Bethany Hamilton at #21 and Alana Blanchard at #26. Congratulations to Contest Director "Banzai" Betty Depolito for running an awesome event for the ladies. The level of surfing in all divisions was over the top and the Kokua and Aloha that surrounded the event were beyond words!

Garrett McNamara, Big Wave Tow-In Surfer from the North Shore, had a new baby girl named Tiari on April 23. Garrett is also off to the premiere of his film about riding waves generated by Falling Glaciers in the Deep North at the Action Sports Film Series sponsored by etnies at the Newport Beach Film Festival running from April 24-30 at Newport Center Drive’s Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California.

"At age 15, Carissa Moore is the third ever and first female in over a decade to grace the cover of Surfer Magazine, one of the most respected global surf publications. Landing on the cover of Surfer is a monumental feat for any surfer, but this is huge for both Carissa and all up-coming female surfers." (Surfersvillage.com quote)

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards 2009 were announced on April 18^th at the Grove Theatre in Anaheim, California. "Californian Big Wave Surfer Greg Long, 26, took top honors at the gala ceremony and was handed $50,000 for winning the Ride Of The Year Category. Long’s entry came from a ride he conquered during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa Event on July 26^th 2008 at Dungeons, a renowned high surf location off Cap Town in South Africa. Of all the entries in Ride Of The Year... Long’s was the only wave ridden without the assistance of a PWC (Jet-Ski)." (Surfersvillage.com quote) Ryan Hipwood of Australia got 2^nd and $5000. James Holmer-Cross of Tasmania took 3^rd and $1500. Garrett McNamara of Hawaii got 4^th and $1500. Brian Conley of San Diego got 5^th and $1500. The Biggest Wave Award went to Grant "Twiggy" Baker of South Africa. The Monster Paddle Award went to Derek Dunfee of San Diego. The Monster Tube Award went to Mark Healy of Hawaii. The Best Male Overall Performance Award was won by Grant Baker, S. Africa. The Girl’s Best Overall Performance Award went to Maya Gabeira of Brazil. Aloha …Ace Cool!