Dark Pandemonium: Parko@Pipe.

[steve shearer]

Parko has motored in fourth gear all year,and the concern for his fans has been that he hasn't been able to find a fifth gear when he needs it most. He hasn't been able to take control of his destiny.

Pipeline is the supreme example of a wave requiring a surfer to be in control of their destiny.

Slater and AI have proven the truth of that over and over.

[scroopulis]

So long as that jaw protruding, knuckle dragging, faeces throwing Medina doesn't win Pipe I couldn't care less.
I can't believe the locals let him into the supermarket to get his food.
Which is, of course, strictly bananas.

[Lucky Al]

there's only one thing that can upset or distract or confuse kelly enough for him to let parko take the title now and it ain't got nothing to do with no ugly-mugged faint-hearted shit-footed aussie pro surfer. it's girl trouble is what it is. that's why i've taken to emailing shirtless pictures of myself to his girlfriend. results have already started to show - observe sunset. go parko!

[Quangers]

I almost see something reminiscient of Slater's last few contests and the last few Ponting innings - lots of effort with very little output. Can Slater turn it around, unlike Punter? Maybe it's just me... being very hopeful.
Go Parko.

[alakaboo]

Make sure you capture your fine leonine mane in those pictures, Al.
That's sure to rattle his cage.

[steve shearer]

why not send her a lock of your hair?

[rmb]

Fanning must be fired up having barely been mentioned in a lot of reports.

[offshore1]

and john john has an outside chance doesn't he?

[steve shearer]

North Pac looking much better as that huge fcuk-off blocking ridge breaks down and swells start to form from a more westerly direction

[northeasterly]

What year was it that Parko blocked Slater and helped his mate Andy Irons take the world title? 03? 04?

Surely Slaters reliving that moment over and over in his head. And I'd say Parko would be as well.

Can't wait!

[Nick Carroll]

2003.

That day was insane, I doubt it's gonna happen like that this year.

It might well end up a bit of a fizzer -- a points decision rather than a knockout blow.

I think buzzy has a point, only watching the webcast stuff so far but it looks to me like Kelly is in the same slightly dulled form he's been in for a while now, just doesn't look comfortable, and it's not just his board choices. Maybe the young guys are finally starting to show him up a bit and he's trying to go with 'em, but it's creating a conflict in his style; maybe that's why he looked so awkward at Hale and Sunset, not fully in control of his performances.

Pipe as a WCT is different too, they run heats next to each other which changes the dynamic and makes it harder for a classic gamer like Kelly to pull heats out through psyche.

There's a lot of other surfers in the event too and each of 'em have good reason to win heats. Last two champs at Pipe: Jeremy Flores and Kieren Perrow. The title race and the event are two different things.

[romak50]

^^
Interesting point. So much depends on who slater/parko are up against as each round progresses.
Wonder if parko is drawn against a parko friendly competitor if they would be willing so sacrifice themselves for him? Vice versa for slater.
Reakon it's a chance of happening?

[Donweather]

North Pac looking much better as that huge fcuk-off blocking ridge breaks down and swells start to form from a more westerly direction

I didn't think this swell direction favoured Pipe, Steve?

[alakaboo]

West is best, Don.
http://www.coastalwatch.com/news/articl ... cleId=9848

[Nick Carroll]

^^
Interesting point. So much depends on who slater/parko are up against as each round progresses.
Wonder if parko is drawn against a parko friendly competitor if they would be willing so sacrifice themselves for him? Vice versa for slater.
Reakon it's a chance of happening?

No. Nobody does that.

Pipe likes west with a tiny touch of nw to swing the end section, plus a good bit of ese tradewind. 17 seconds, longer interval the better. Shorter and it tightens down into peaks.
Looking at the charts it seems as if the event will milk itself way out to the end.

[steve shearer]

I think this current system might come in a tad stronger that indicated.....and the way the system intensifies as it encounters the newly located Gulf of Alaska blocking ridge should see a wide swathe of surf from the WNW into the NW and then NNW.

What this means? Pipe will transition into heats where as the swell direction changes Backdoor will come into play.

The timing of these swell direction changes will play a crucial role in determining the higher scoring Backdoor waves.

You'd have to expect Slater to have, at the least, a subconscious understanding of this and be prepared to take the riskier Backdoor gambit as it comes onto the radar.

[rmb]

Has the heat draw been released? Could do a real surf Sweep for the pipe masters winner gets a free hour with Surfie C in the cross.

Will Joel win it by the others crashing out? Win it by surfing the contest as if its his destiny to win. Will Joel Crash out and Kelly or less likely Mick capitalise. Who is most likely to spoil the party?

[Donweather]

What this means? Pipe will transition into heats where as the swell direction changes Backdoor will come into play.

ONe would think this would also favour Parko, too, give his dominance/preference on his forehand compared to his backhand.

Swell seems to wane as it swings more NW/N though so the question is, will they run the event when the swell wanes and swings direction?

I'm still not seeing anything huge behind this system though??