agnoli - Filed under 'Mundaka'

October 11, 2008

I stepped on a little fish named saburdin

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I_stepped_on_a_little_fish_nam.zip (516 KB)

I stepped on a little fish. It was hiding in the soft sand minding its own business when I came by and squashed it. The little fish raised up its three poisonous spines and poked me in the fourth piggy. At first I thought it was a piece of glass, and I continued to surf until my toe became inflamed and I noticed the pain snaking its way up my foot toward my leg. Not exactly freaking out yet, I decided it was a good time to get out of the water and figure out what was going on.

The locals knew what was up and prescribed a long soak in a pan of hot water with ammonia. Disaster narrowly averted. I sipped my beer and ate some calamari while my foot returned to normal. I eventually surfed a second session in the head high closeouts.

Surf was bigger today, we woke up at dawn to surf Mundaka, but there was a local surf contest and we were denied. We trekked back to Laida and surfed larger closeout beach break with the rest of the Saturday crowd. All in all a fairly successful day of lounging on the beach, no one died, so I'm relatively happy.

Lewis took pictures of the wave off of mundaka rock. Some guys were surfing it on the mid tide (going low). looked like fun.

Filed under // Mundaka Surf

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October 10, 2008

and now, a word from our sponsors

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and_now_a_word_from_our_sponso.zip (865 KB)

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their generosity in supporting our sporting lifestyle. Without them we would be nothing, or at least much less than we are.

First shout goes out to FireWire surfboards. An excellent product that has changed my surfing for the better. On this trip I am riding a 6'6" "Alternator" (fat guy short board) supplied by Avery. Its a great board in both large and small waves, turns and goes down the line great. Its got a bit of a rocker, so doesn't paddle well in choppy conditions, but who surfs slop anymore anyway? The patented parabolic rails provide the push my surfing style was missing. I rode this board in head high beach break and loved every minute of it.

http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/index_01.php?news=2008

Second, but not least is our long time sponsor Sander. Both Lewis and I are riding Rusty Pirahnas (5'8" and 6'6"). The most versatile board in the Rusty line, comfortable in double overhead beach breaks and mushy points, the Pirahna is the must have goto board when your high performance short board isn't paddling you into the big ones, or giving you enough float across those mushy sections. The combination of epoxy skin and closed cell foam technology is so resilient that we have stopped packing ding repair kits on our trips.

Hurley, what can I say. Lewis and I are clothed head to toe in Hurley gear, we are both walking billboards for the brand we love. And what's not to love about their new spokesmodel? Again, Avery supplies the goods that keep us and our loved ones warm and dry. Shorts, shirts, jackets, its all good.

and Hurley again, for supplying wonderfully warm wetsuits. I've been wearing a Hurley 2/2 short sleeved suit for the entire trip and its kept me warm in cold offshores. If I stayed longer I'd need to trade up to a 3/2 full suit.

that's the call gang, today was a relatively simple day, drove to laida and surfed small waves, hung out in the sun, drank wine on the beach, slept a lot, and enjoyed the scenery.

Filed under // avery hurley Mundaka Surf

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October 9, 2008

the pros get shacked, au revoir Hossegor, Ange arrives, hola Mundaka

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the_pros_get_shacked_au_revoir.zip (3972 KB)

This morning Hossegor was bigger, colder, and offshore, reminded me a lot of ocean beach in the fall. paddled out with Woody from SF, the French weren't interested, they all went to le grav and south where the swell was smaller and peakier. After getting an ocean beach style beat down with relatively few rewards I can understand why.

To give you an idea of how excited everyone was, Someone had decided it was a good idea to shoot video from this remote control blimp. It was hovering over one of the peaks south of us.

We checked out of hotel Barbary Lane and went by Le Grav to check out the scene.

A crowd had gathered at the shore watching the pros and not so pros go at it. Womping beach break into a foot of water, many broken boards, way to many water photogs, and too many surfers in the water. Chris Ward was killing it, Jeremey Flores was paddling out. Stedman, Dayan, and Kai were just coming in. Lewis and I were happy that we had surfed up the beach. The waves looked challenging to say the least.

Picked up Ange from the Bilbao airport and gave her the scenic tour of the spanish coastline replete with windswept church. Of course there happened to be an enitrely surfable rock pile directly beneath the church, perhaps the most scenic break on the spanish coast.

Returned to Mundaka. Its cold all of a sudden. My 2/2 spring suit doesn't feel so warm now. I have a couple more days of surf and then its on to Bilbao and then home for me. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids and California.

Filed under // andrea hossegor lewis Mundaka Surf

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October 5, 2008

Romantic tour of Pais Vasco - Elantxobe and Laida

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romantic_tour_of_vasco_pais_-_.zip (3018 KB)

Lewis and I spent the day driving the road east of Mundaka. It was all very romantic, except we didn't have our girlfriends to make out with at the appropriate moments. Lucky for Lewis Ange is showing up shortly. I am not so lucky. note to self: next time schedule romantic sojourn post contest. 2nd note to self: get a girlfriend. Lewis again proves that he is smarter than the average Agnoli.

The whole place is prime for a romantic getaway. If you want to take your girl on a surf trip, this is the place. The best left on the continent, European flair, beautiful countryside, meandering roads leading to tasty sand beaches and quaint little ports, little tavernas with tapas and wine. Excellent. Just try to avoid the rain and the weak dollar. Bowen, everyone is riding motorcycles here, fuck Russia, tour the Spanish coast from San Sebastian down into Portugal.

Found ourselves in the little port of Elantxobe. The breakwater is bigger than the entire town, which is attached to the side of a cliff. Someone must have had a friend in the c oncrete business. Lewis found some climbing terrain for Ange, complete with water safety feature below in case of fall. Ate tapas (olives and octopus) while sipping white wine with the locals.

The swell is starting to come up again, we surfed the beginnings of it at Laida, topless girls on the beach, some car campers, boys from Germany on their spring break with a Playboy in the front window. Peaky little offshore waves, warm enough to trunk it, lots of girls in the water learning how to surf.

the pace of life here is different, maybe its that everything is almost always closed, except for the bars, which are generally open.

Lewis grabbed the camera so there are more shots of me this time. Lewis says I'm in love with myself. But after all this blog is all about

me.

Filed under // lewis Mundaka Surf

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October 4, 2008

Mundaka branch office of Surfline.com

Just so you don't think its all champagne and caviar here on tour I thought I'd include an image of the Mundaka branch office of Surfline.

Here we are hard at work processing images and writing copy for the Surfline coverage of the Mundaka final. Lewis is bitter about the image picks the home office has made, and just all around grouchy by 11:30 at night.

After surfing two sessions and covering the contest all day its kind of brutal to come back to the cabina and process/write for 5 more hours. Lewis has to write the main story, while I process images. Then we get the image picks from San Clemente, and Lewis has to caption them. Meanwhile I'm blogging the days events and answering mail. Generally we are wasted by the end of it all and rarely go out to drink.

Usually the night ends with Lewis calling his girlfriend, and then vowing to me that he won't be surfing in the morning. I set the alarm for an hour before sunrise, read my book, and pass out.

cheers.

Filed under // asp lewis Mundaka

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October 4, 2008

Billabong Pro Mundaka 08 - Final day of competition - CJ wins

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Billabong_Pro_Mundaka_08_-_Fin.zip (3303 KB)

Another day on the cliff, read my earlier post for pre-heat action, the story is that CJ won in smaller Mundaka.

I mostly shot lifestyles on the cliff, the whole of the province was in town for the contest, or at least any one under 25 who was cool. Quite a bunch of friendly faces. All dressed in their Saturday best.

We paddled out at the closing horn as usual and surfed with the groms while CJ was trophied and then thrown from the dock as is the custom here.

Surfed OK, but not that great. Its good that they finished the contest today, because tomorrow will be flat, and the next swell isn't for a couple days. The press, the athletes, their wives and kids are all dreaming of home and that's where they are now headed.

The real story started when CJ invited Lewis to have a beer with the boys, some of who are not happy with his writings. After a few beers and slaps on the back one of the group cornered Lewis and started in on a heated discussion about the writes and wrongs of the power rankings and how it hurts careers and feelings. The moment we had all been waiting for and fully expecting. It was a bit like Kelly winning the title. Totally expected and somewhat of a let down in the end.

The ASP chaplain and I stood by mortified about what was going on to our right, having our own conversation, but monitoring just in case. But both individuals handled it with aplomb and there was nary a spilled beer in the end. Lucky because I had left my camera in the car and would have missed the money shot.

http://www.surfline.com/wct-contest-zone/back-on-top--cj-hobgood-wins-billabong-pro-mundaka-billabong-pro-mundaka-final-day_19086/1/

Filed under // asp lewis Mundaka Surf

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October 4, 2008

Note to self; don't be self conscious about your surfing

We woke up early to surf the inner peak, it was good and almost hollow at times, as the tide sucked out we transitioned to the main peak where Lewis got a few bombs, i got a couple big ones, but not as good. Eventually the pros came out, the crowd formed on the cliff, and the judges delayed the call another hour.

So, I'm posting up between Occy on my outside, and Damien Hobgood on my inside. What's the protocol when you are clearly the worst surfer at the peak? I surfed a couple before bobbling a nice one, causing Damo to quip to Lewis. Occy wasn't having any luck either, failing to paddle into a bomb that Damien eventually got a barrel on. I caught another good one and decide to call it a day.
The throng on the cliff had grown to Saturday proportions, and the media clearly didn't have anything else to point their cameras at so I thought it would be good to not be part of the spectacle. Luckily I was paddling at 5 knots against a 5 knot current, and while the pros were getting free rides from the jet skis, I wasn't. So I spent a couple minutes floundering in front of the crowd before deciding to paddle for the harbor instead of the stairs. Eventually the kinder of the jet ski riders pulled up, I pulled myself onto the sled, and off we went. A much nicer way to ride.
As I walked up from the harbor Sherm was packing his car for France. He's going up to photograph Kelley, and then home. We will probably head up there tomorrow.
The surf here is getting smaller by the minute. Lewis' claim that he got the best waves of the day is probably on the money.

Filed under // asp lewis Mundaka Surf

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October 3, 2008

shameless self promotion

check out lewis, and me in the background. around 1:53, and 2:10
respectively.

Filed under // asp kelly slater lewis Mundaka Surf

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October 3, 2008

Billabong Pro Mundaka 08 - Third day of competition - Kelly Slater wins the world title

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Billabong_Pro_Mundaka_08_-_Thi.zip (3166 KB)

I thinks that lead in "Kelly Slater wins the world title" sums up the day. This long expected event came and went with his 3rd round win over Eneko Acero. Its a points thing, so Kelly didn't need to win the event, just his round 3 heat, to clinch the title, and in fact he lost his round 4 heat to Tom Whitaker, whose 10 point ride was loudly cheered by the rest of the contestants. Kelly was more bummed about his loss than happy about the world title. The event was kind of boring actually, and Kelly knew it. The media thronged him, carrying the story even if Kelly didn't seem to care. He's very disconnected from the whole thing, I guess even winning world titles gets mundane at some point (9 and counting). I think most will go home tomorrow, and watch the remainder of the event via webcast from the warmth and comfort of their high speed internet connections.

It rained hard last night, and the morning continued in the same vein. It hailed dramatically as we drove to the contest, we slept through our dawn patrol and thus missed out on our favorite parking spot down by the harbor. We were drenched by the time we got to the event, and it didn't get any dryer as the day wore on. There were glimpses of sun throug h the clouds and some nice rainbows. Resorted to the old plastic bag over the camera trick again and tuffed it out.

We paddled out at the closing horn and got some fun mundaka. I actually like the wave a lot, even on the high tide its pretty awesome, although it will probably get a little crowded once the contest finishes up. The air is suddenly cold, and its been raining, but the water is still around 67 or so. I'm wearing a 2/2 short sleeve suit with booties.

After the contest we will probably stick around and surf Mundaka for a couple days, there's supposed to be a swell coming in on monday and Tuesday, so hopefully that will spice up our lives.

Been shopping in town, found a good tabac, panaderia, and butcher. Everyone is very personable. People here are open and happy to see us.

Right now I'm hanging out in the Portuondo restaurant sucking down as much wifi as I can while Lewis finishes off his Surfline coverage of the day. I'm sipping my San Miguel and answering mail, paying bills, and blogging my life. If you are reading this write me and tell me what's going on in your life. I've been hanging out with Lewis and the rest of the surf crew too much. I need a little variety.

http://www.surfline.com/wct-contest-zone/reign-again-kelly-clinches-title-nine-billabong-pro-mundaka-day-three_19070/1/

Filed under // asp cj giovanni kelly slater lewis Mundaka

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October 2, 2008

Billabong Pro Mundaka 08 - Second day of competition - Mundaka

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Billabong_Pro_Mundaka_08_-_Sec.zip (2856 KB)

We woke up before light, drove down to the contest site, and jumped in the water to surf the high tide bar on the outgoing while the pros got the rundown on the overlapping heat system. The bar quickly went from; too dark to drop in, to perfect, to fucked up backwash. I paddled in, Lewis went to the outside bar and surfed with the pros until the contest started, and then got a ride in on the jet ski.

The contest started at 9:30 and it quickly turned on. Mundaka put on a show for all the naysayers with fast hollow 200 yard lefts. The sun even came out at one point.

But for the majority of the day it rained, so I wrapped my camera in a plastic bag, pulled on my hood, and tried to keep dry.

Lots of Lens Envy going on. Everyone had their 400 or 600mm out and was clicking away at the surfers in the distance. I gave up and shot "lifestyle" images with my 50mm. You'll have to check surfline for the surf shots, the one looking into the barrell were shot from the back of a jet ski with a 400mm.

The highlight of my Day was speaking broken spanish with these loc als who jumped the fence to join the press area, drink the free beer, smoke cigarettes, and generally have a lot of fun. They were still going strong when Lewis and I got out of the water at sunset. By that time Evon (the one on the left) had updated his outfit with a mardi gras wig and sparkles. If it hadn't rained, I'm convinced the Spanish would have put on a party to remember. Maybe tomorrow.

The portapotties had the best instructions on how to poo and pee. Also, solid all wood construction. They are obviously leveraging the region's tree farming industry.

We suited up during the last heat of the day and jumped off the rocks at the closing horn to paddle out to the main peak where we were quickly joined by Taj, Heitor, a couple other pros and media persons. We surfed till the tide got too high, and returned to the cabina to process photos, write the surfline article, and drink red wine. I sprayed our environs with wine while attempting the "open the bottle without a corkscrew" trick.

Its raining really hard now. The cabina we are staying in is more like a little mobile home. Everything is mini, kind of like a boat. The rain is pounding on the tin roof, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

http://www.surfline.com/wct-contest-zone/exceeding-expectations-mundaka-actually-turns-on-billabong-pro-mundaka-day-two_19038/

Filed under // asp giovanni kelly slater lewis Mundaka Surf

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