The Year of the ROOKIE

It may be a little early for this claim but these two could potentially be the title race for 2011.

I've been following the ASP World tour for a while now but in the past 3 years it's become my religion here at the shop. Steve and I never miss a contest and we are well versed in the who's who and the what's what of competitive surfing. If the boys or girls are in the water our computers are no doubt feeding the live web cast from some exotic destination straight to us. The men's tour last year was the best yet and this year is shaping up to be even better with more events and new qualification criteria. They boys are surfing LIVE, right now, right HERE. But as exciting as the men are in the water it is the women of the World Tour that are absolutely blowing my mind!!!

It's been a long time coming now and I think it's safe to say that the women are truly ready to compete! Last year's women's tour saw some fresh faces and a new level of surfing. For the fourth year in a row Steph Gilmore ruled. Last year however, Steph had some true competition for the first time in a while. She spent most of her year battling the likes of tour rookies Coco and Carissa. Well I'm here to tell you that Steph, the reigning world champ, is going to have her work cut out for her this year.

The big story at the Roxy Pro, the first stop of the women's tour, is again the rookies. Tyler Wright and Carrisa Moore ABSOLUTELY OWNED IT. It was a big day for the ladies and a huge day for the rookies. The level that these girls are at is absolutely amazing and it's progressing SO FAST!!! Every time I see these girls in the water they are better than they were last week. They're all progressing at a level that video just can't keep up with it. The only way to have a handle on it, is to watch the live webcasts.

The other awesome thing about yesterday is that the rookies and young guns effectively drew a line in the sand and said "we are the new standard". If you're not blowing your tail, going for airs, and spinning you are not going to be a champion!!! The Roxy Pro was Tyler's first event as a full time professional and she placed second! Laura Enever also earned an equal third in her big debut!!! Carrisa earned the victory as a second year tour veteran. These girls are young, they're beautiful, they are going to propel women's surfing to the next level and the bikinis are phenomenal!!!

When ever I get going on this topic I get a lot of people who look at me funny. They give me the "it's only surfing, don't take it so serious" or "how can you really care that much about surfing". What always cracks me up is that the people that give me shit are the same ones who would die for there favorite football team, LAME!!! I'll take cute girls in bikinis over fat dudes in spandex and pads ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!!! You can have your Bo Sox, I'm sticking with the ladies of ASP.

The above video is the shape of things to come... Check it!

We're in the shop everyday and the new gear is POURING in!!! After a long flat spell the waves are back and the forecast looks solid. Spring is on the way and we're as STOKED as ever!!! Swing by the shop and share the day!!!!