Surf 2013
The waves on the “Island of the Gods” started off with a bang in the first week of January. Javanese surfer Dede Suryana tasting Mushroom Rock, Bali based South African expat Harald Steinmann scoring gold and Bali’s Marlon Gerber riding the wave of the wet season under the eyes of the Gods.
Then off to Sumbawa with Aussies Mick Fanning on a mission for Red Bull to Lakey Peak, Sumbawa, joining him was, two of the hottest young Aussie groms — Mikey Wright and Luke Hynd. Mick was at his technical best, Luke blowing tail in the golden hour and wild man Matt Wilkinson taming the waves.
June saw the WCT circus roll into town for The Oakley Pro Bali, Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). This was an historic high-performance showdown including perfect heats and next level progression from the world’s best surfers, culminating with Parkinson’s hard-fought victory over Bourez in the Final but the highlight was my unquie images of John John Florence’s outrageous, biggest-ever-seen offering in surfing contest history during round one of the Oakley Pro, Keramas.
I captured from the water an iconic image used by Hurley for worldwide useage. Aussie pros Josh Kerr ruling the airwaves in Bali and heir to the thrown Hawaii’s John John Florence taking airs it to the next level.
King Kelly Slater slaying the mythical beast on Bali’s eastcoast and hanging with the locals boys Marlon Gerber and Rizal Tanjung. Long live the king! Aussie Taj Burrows taking flight over Airport Reef, Bali
Local boy Mega Semadhi finding redemption at Padang Padang and claiming his first Rip Curl Cup in pumping barrels in the RipCurl Cup Padang Padang 10th year. American Chris Ward, a Bali regular and runner up in the 2008 WCT RipCurl Cup blazing again in 2013. Aussie grom Robinson running like a rabbit down a hole at Padang Padang.
September hit the road with Dane Reynolds the stealth shark in the water before he busted his hand and ended his trip on the last wave of the 1st day in the resort at Maccas in the Mentawais. With Dane were Andrew Doheny and Nat Young who tore up everything in his way in 2013 freesurfing or on the WCT circus.
Then some late season as good as it gets Padang Padang, the Bukit Peninsula, Bali offshore, 6 feet and Bintangs at sunset to finish of the dry season.