Amber Swell Alert

So yeah - I'm obviously bummed I won't be in town if the Shoot-out runs on the weekend. My trip has been two weeks now with two more to go - been travelling between trade shows for Starboard - one in Orlando last week at the Surf Expo and one next week in Spain which is our global distributor meeting.

I think it is really hard to predict a top 5 or who could win - there really is a whole crew of guys who are just so good out there. Ian Armstrong is definitely one of the best out there for sure - no matter what the conditions are doing, he's got such a natural understanding of the wave and his ability at his age is just incredible.

If its big and barreling watch out for Eldon van Aswegen - he is such a dark horse out there - he charged last year Then obviously there is the more all-round crew who can get barrelled and rip a wave to shreds - guys like Andrew, C-Bond, the Hope brothers, Chris Molde, Justin Stevens, Ted, Dassie, Jordy Maree, Nick Grondman, Reza De Nicker, Cyle Myers and the list goes on.

There really is not a name on that list that can't drop two 8-point plus barrels in every heat and take out the win at the end of the day. Yea it is the 1st time out of the 3 years it has been running that I'll miss out.

The forecast

Spike from Wavescape predicts the following: A decent SSW swell hits False Bay on Friday, with inconsistent sets at Kalk Bay 3-5 foot at first, with very small chance of 6ft sets in long lulls, easing gradually all day to 3-4' but more consistent as swell direction swings more southerly - still a few 5ft sets possible. Winds early look clean, with a moderating offshorish W to SW at dawn (coming off a near-gale frontal WSW the day before), with a slow trend to moderate SW and a bumpy S to SSE in the afternoon. The swell holds at least 2-4' overnight, with chance of bigger sets on Saturday from a much more direct, SE direction, suggesting more consistent sets in the afternoon, with possible punch to 5' or more. However, a fresh SE may blow Saturday morning moderating to 10-15kts. A chance of contour may still mean side-offshore breezes at the Reef.

About the Shootout

This underground event is held in Kalk Bay across the railway line at the famous lefthand reef of the same name. The Shootout is a rare combination of bodyboarding and surfing run in two separate streams for individual titles of King of the Reef. Big moves are good for scoring, but the bottom line is barrels.