the contest is on

"The contest is on." That's a statement Shandra has come to know well over the years. It means one of the world tour contests has started somewhere in the world and it's gonna be streaming live on the internet. It means that I'll be posted up watching it, night or day, potentially for long periods of time. Meals enjoyed at the computer, alarm set at random times during the night to catch a heat. About the only reason I wouldn't be watching is if I had the chance to be surfing myself, and it would have to be worth it to miss a contest.

We don't watch the Super Bowl or even the commercials during it. We don't watch the World Cup or Final Four or any playoffs. We don't even really pay attention to the Olympics. No American Idol either. In our home, surfing is all there is.

The first contest of 2011 just finished yesterday and I'm just so happy that another season has started. To celebrate, here are some photos from last December's Pipeline Masters we went to:




Tristan dogging while uncle Gavin looks on. He didn't feel very well after we got to the beach but was a champion. Didn't complain at all and even took a nap for a while in a makeshift tent.




Always an honor to see Kelly surf in person.

Dane Reynolds:








Dane recently posted a video with some contest footage on his site and I spotted myself in the crowd. Here's the same wave as above:






After the contest we went to a little spot I know and Gavin and I went out for a surf while our loving wives chatted on the beach. Young Ice T was still feeling bad and slept some more...hate seeing him like that.


Fun