April 10 Archive

Kelly Slater Wins The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

In less than two minutes, 9-Time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater crushed Mick Fanning’s chances of “ringing the Bell” for a third time. During their final at Johanna Beach—one that had eleven ASP World Titles involved—Slater went on a tear with ten minutes remaining, blasting a huge alley-oop air and a searing blow tail 360 to end Fanning’s chances. Surfing with a chipped bone on the top part of his right foot, the 37-year old took out California’s Bobby Martinez in the semis to set up a USA vs. Australia final. Winning the event for his fourth time, Slater tied Mark Richards for the most ever Bells Beach titles.

Of course he can play the didgeridoo... “I was surprised when my feet landed on my board after that alley oop,” said Slater of the momentum-changing move. He then passed around the huge bell trophy that Rip Curl awards the winner every year, but not before giving the trophy away to the local Aboriginal tribe, thanking them in the process for letting the contest happen on their land. And as if he hadn’t showcased his talents enough, he started jamming on the didgeridoo with the local boys…is there anything this guy can’t do?—Justin Coté, Tranworld Surf

Surfing in all its glory will be on display this weekend as shapers sculpt the perfect surfboard, artists paint crashing waves and everyone talks about how stoked they get from the sport.

The Sacred Craft, an exposition at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, comes to town for the second year in a row with more than 75 surfboard shapers displaying and selling their wares.

“Basically, surfers care about two things,” said Scott Bass, the event organizer. “Those two things are waves and the equipment to ride them. We provide the equipment.”

The event is geared toward the hard-core surfer, Bass said, someone who is interested in more than just T-shirts.

There will be a handful of shapers on hand as part of the yearly “Tribute to the Masters” competition, where they try to re-create a board that was made by a shaping legend. This year they are trying to make a board like Renny Yater, a Santa Barbara shaper.

For those who have held onto surfing magazines, old trophies and surfboards, there will be the surfing version of the “Antique Roadshow,” where experts appraise the value of old surfing collectibles.

“We are asking people to look in their garage or houses and bring their old stuff out,” Bass said. “The idea is there are buried treasures in there.”

A host of other activities are planned, including surfboard demos, music and a trivia game.

Don't forget to stop by the Bubblegum Surf Wax booth to get some Rob Machado Organic Wax for your new board!

The $10 entrance fee also gets you a year’s subscription to Transworld Surf. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.