I've made few decisions in my life that I would consider outstanding good choices. Going to American University was one. Studying abroad was another. I'd rank taking off randomly down to coast to Bell's Beach to catch the final of the Rip Curl Pro 2008 about 3rd on my list of things I'm glad I did in my life. It was amazing. There really is no other single word to describe it.
I arrived on Wednesday morning in Melbourne after changing all my plans and taking an overnight bus to the contest. I then hopped a VLine train and another bus for the hour or so ride to the start of the Great Ocean Road. What I found in Bell's Beach and Torquay was much more than I expected. While I thought I'd end up in a little beach resort, I found myself in a small town where surfing dominates everything. Even the benches are surfboards. Rip Curl and Quicksilver, among many others, have headquarters and outlet stores here, and you can rent surfboards or take surfing lessons just about anywhere.
I also realized that there are almost always waves. Whether you're headed to Bell's Beach to its two famous breaks, "Rincon" or "The Bowl", or you're looking for a little bit calmer swells in Jan Juc, you won't be disappointed with the amount of surfing you could get in during one day in the area. If riding waves doesn't suit you, but you just like watching and being near the water, there are plenty of things to do for land loving surf geeks. The outlet stores offer huge discounts, there are lots of laid back cafes with surf themed interiors, and you can make your way to Surf World, the world's largest surfing museum, which is located right by the outlet stores in the town of Torquay.
While all this was great to find, obviously the main reason and backed up and jetted out the door to Victoria's Surf Coast was for the Pro (that's what the Australians call the competition when it's on). Although I completley missed the women's competition, which Stephanie Gilmore of Australia's Gold Coast won for the second straight year, I did make it in time for the end of the mens’ events. The contest, which is held over Easter week every year and could have run through Saturday if conditions proved poor on Thursday, gave spectators the opportunity to get up close to the world's top surfers. Just meters off the beach, greats such as Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Taj Burrows, Bede Burbridge, and Mick Fanning took to the waves in spectacular fashion.
With constantly changing conditions, however, it was not only skill that came into play, but a bit of luck and experience. Into the quarter finals, Mick Fanning and Andy Irons were eliminated without much chance to surf waves which would allow them to obtain the scores they needed to advance.
In the final, Kelly Slater matched up against Bede Durbidge, who surfed extremely well all afternoon. Although Slater was trailing Durbidge for most of the competition, he took charge in the final minutes, pulling moves that showed his experience and knowledge of the sport. When waves were lacking in “the bowl” where most of the competition was taking place, Slater made a wise move and paddled over to “Rincon”, leaving Durbidge in "the bowl". There, Slater was able to get the ride that he needed in order to secure a win for the second straight time this season. Slater also won the first event of the Pro tour, the 2008 Billabong Pro on the Gold Coast in late February.
Aside from the contest, which was exhilarating and well worth the trip itself, the Great Ocean Road is so gorgeous. Cliffs span over the ocean as far as you can see. The people who live in the area are also warm and friendly, exuding a laid back surfer attitude.
Did I mention that I met Mick Fanning? Well, I did! He was in the parking lot of Bells Beach carrying some surfboards to his car when I noticed the icon based on pictures that I’d seen EVERYWHERE in Sydney. The 2007 World Champion surfer was kind enough to let me take a picture with him.
It was definitely a great choice to go. I took over 900 pictures, and would jump at the chance to go to another pro surfing event- Highly recommended to anyone. Now I’m headed up the coast to Byron Bay, where I’ll spend two nights before getting to the Gold Coast, where I’ll visit Snapper Rocks and some more iconic surfing beaches on my way to the Whitsunday Islands. My trip is winding down now, but it’s actually really freeing to be able to experience things on my own and do what I want on my own pace. My travel companion is back in the States by now, and I’m still loving Australia!!
I arrived on Wednesday morning in Melbourne after changing all my plans and taking an overnight bus to the contest. I then hopped a VLine train and another bus for the hour or so ride to the start of the Great Ocean Road. What I found in Bell's Beach and Torquay was much more than I expected. While I thought I'd end up in a little beach resort, I found myself in a small town where surfing dominates everything. Even the benches are surfboards. Rip Curl and Quicksilver, among many others, have headquarters and outlet stores here, and you can rent surfboards or take surfing lessons just about anywhere.
I also realized that there are almost always waves. Whether you're headed to Bell's Beach to its two famous breaks, "Rincon" or "The Bowl", or you're looking for a little bit calmer swells in Jan Juc, you won't be disappointed with the amount of surfing you could get in during one day in the area. If riding waves doesn't suit you, but you just like watching and being near the water, there are plenty of things to do for land loving surf geeks. The outlet stores offer huge discounts, there are lots of laid back cafes with surf themed interiors, and you can make your way to Surf World, the world's largest surfing museum, which is located right by the outlet stores in the town of Torquay.
While all this was great to find, obviously the main reason and backed up and jetted out the door to Victoria's Surf Coast was for the Pro (that's what the Australians call the competition when it's on). Although I completley missed the women's competition, which Stephanie Gilmore of Australia's Gold Coast won for the second straight year, I did make it in time for the end of the mens’ events. The contest, which is held over Easter week every year and could have run through Saturday if conditions proved poor on Thursday, gave spectators the opportunity to get up close to the world's top surfers. Just meters off the beach, greats such as Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Taj Burrows, Bede Burbridge, and Mick Fanning took to the waves in spectacular fashion.
With constantly changing conditions, however, it was not only skill that came into play, but a bit of luck and experience. Into the quarter finals, Mick Fanning and Andy Irons were eliminated without much chance to surf waves which would allow them to obtain the scores they needed to advance.
In the final, Kelly Slater matched up against Bede Durbidge, who surfed extremely well all afternoon. Although Slater was trailing Durbidge for most of the competition, he took charge in the final minutes, pulling moves that showed his experience and knowledge of the sport. When waves were lacking in “the bowl” where most of the competition was taking place, Slater made a wise move and paddled over to “Rincon”, leaving Durbidge in "the bowl". There, Slater was able to get the ride that he needed in order to secure a win for the second straight time this season. Slater also won the first event of the Pro tour, the 2008 Billabong Pro on the Gold Coast in late February.
Aside from the contest, which was exhilarating and well worth the trip itself, the Great Ocean Road is so gorgeous. Cliffs span over the ocean as far as you can see. The people who live in the area are also warm and friendly, exuding a laid back surfer attitude.
Did I mention that I met Mick Fanning? Well, I did! He was in the parking lot of Bells Beach carrying some surfboards to his car when I noticed the icon based on pictures that I’d seen EVERYWHERE in Sydney. The 2007 World Champion surfer was kind enough to let me take a picture with him.
It was definitely a great choice to go. I took over 900 pictures, and would jump at the chance to go to another pro surfing event- Highly recommended to anyone. Now I’m headed up the coast to Byron Bay, where I’ll spend two nights before getting to the Gold Coast, where I’ll visit Snapper Rocks and some more iconic surfing beaches on my way to the Whitsunday Islands. My trip is winding down now, but it’s actually really freeing to be able to experience things on my own and do what I want on my own pace. My travel companion is back in the States by now, and I’m still loving Australia!!
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