AC-DC AT THE 2010 RIP CURL PRO

The Rip Curl Pro event at Bells, every Easter is a major production. The site starts to go up three weeks before the event starting date.

There are around 200 people that work on, or in and around the event that keep the wheels turning.

This blog looks a the roll of sound engineer Jenny Moon of "MOON MOTHER PRODUCTIONS".

At the Rip Curl Pro, Jenny is responsible for all things sound for the Bells and Winkipop site, and also if the event goes mobile.

Jenny is no stranger to big productions and has a hands on role keeping the event live, with general communications, web and live music. Jenny's credits include, concerts for Blink 182, Iggy Pop, Pennywise, Blondie, John Butler Trio, and events the likes of, The Falls Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and Big Day Out, just to name a few.

An interesting piece of equipment in Jenny's arsenal is a big PA used to relay information to competitors in the the water, affectionally named "ANGUS" a named given to it by Rip Curl's International Marketing Manager - Neil Ridgway.

"ANGUS" is a Altec Lansing multicell horn PA that once belonged to, none other than AC-DC!

Take my word for it this piece of equipment is capable taking your head clean off your shoulders if you tried to stand in front of it while it was operating. Now here's the thing, AC-DC used 2 of these suckers ontop of stacks each side of the stage for pub gigs! My ears are ringing just writing about it... will someone answer the bloody phone!

In what has become tradition at the Rip Curl Pro since the release of AC-DC's album "BACK IN BLACK" in '95, "HELLS BELLS" the first track on the album is blasted out from "ANGUS" each morning, to appease the Swell Gods.

Jenny Moon - at the controls.

Proud mum and Angus

Angus

Orchestrating the jigsaw puzzle, live music stage setup.

SUNSET DUKES RIP IT UP AT 2010 APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL.

The Surf Coast's Sunset Dukes - raw, foot stompin', blues infected music -

got the 2010 Apollo Bay Music Festival goers jumpin.

Making a lot of new fans along the way with great sales of their debut CD "Analogue Groove in a Digital World"

Sunset Dukes would like to thank Apollo Bay Music Festival organisers, OZ music legend Nick Barker and its Surf Coast Posse for all the support.

Sat night Apollo Bay Surf Club - go to band myspace

"THE ICEMAN COMETH"

Had his own surfing collector card #1

Appeared on 2 RCP posters.

You would be hard pressed to find a more qualified contest director for the Rip Curl Pro than Damien "Dooma" Hardman.

In his competitive days he was know as the "Iceman" a fierce competitor, super cool under pressure.

Dooma won countless WCT events during his career.

On 2 occasions, won the Rip Curl Pro and to cap it all off, 2 World Titles.

He relocated from his beloved Nth Narrabeen in 2007, and now lives and works on the Surfcoast, working for his long time sponsor, Rip Curl - Has been contest directing for 6 years.

This year Dooma will have an apprentice. Former WCT surfer Pancho Sullivan from Hawaii's North Shore.

Pancho's trademark gouge.

So what does a Contest Director do?

• Monitors swell forecasts, wind, weather, tides, wave consistency.

• Makes the call whether contest runs or heats continue.

• Consults with surfer reps.

• Also monitors backup wave locations.

These days there are numerous swell and weather forecast websites available, which certainly makes

life as a Contest Director a little easier.

Before the arrival of swell forecast websites, the ability to read weather maps and have reliable contacts down the coast to relay surf reports, was a must.

So when surf conditions are less than perfect for an event, spare a thought for the Contest Director and the tough calls they have to make.

LOCAL EXHIBITIONS

PHOTOGRAPHER ANDY BERRY HAS AN EXHIBITION OF HIS WORK

"TORQUAY COLLECTION"

SHOWING AT ZEALLYS GALLERY - The Esplanade Torquay

Now Showing

Mushy and Robbo to slug it out for a 2010 Rip Curl Pro wildcard.

L-R Mushy & Robbo

Last year Adam Robertson showed us all what can be done by securing a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro.

In case you've forgotten Robbo surfed through the trials, qualified for the main event and ended up coming 2nd to Parko in the final.

This is not the first time a wildcard has had a great result. In 2001 a 19 year old, Mick Fanning won the event as a wildcard.

Since then Fanning has gone on to win 2 World Titles.

This year the importance of the wildcard slot is magnified with the new, one WCT rating system.

In the past if you were a WQS surfer competing in a WCT event the competing surfer would not get any points to add to their overall year tally.

If the new system had been in place last year, Robbo's results would have elevated his ranking in the WQS substantially putting him in a position to possibly qualify for the 2010 WCT.

This year WQS surfers will not have to wait until 2011 to qualify for the WCT, but could qualify by mid year 2010. So it is very important for all surfers top get a good start to the season.

Robbo in the "Vic the Place to Be Trials" 2010 can he do it again?

There are 19 other surfers who would be very keen to eliminate him and stop him from going one better this year.

One who is, is his mate, local, Nic Muscroft former 2009 WCT surfer, attempting to re-qualify.

Nic will certainly have the fire in his belly to re-qualify. Has bucket loads of experience on his side to do the job.

16 Victorian surfers from the Pre Trials Event held Sunday 28th March. 4 of which will progress through to the Vic the Place to Be Trials, made up of 8 surfers held held Monday 29th March where they will battle it out for the one wildcard spot.

There are 3 wildcard spots for the event. 2 have already been allocated.

#1 16 year old Gabriel Medina from Brazil. Fresh off the back of a string great results, one of which was a 6 Star WQS win in Brazil.

Lets not forget Newcastle's skinny 16 year old Nicky Wood winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells in 1987. It's only impossible until someone does it.

#2 Stuey Kennedy from Lennox Heads. This year Stuey is out to prove he's got what it takes to mix it with the best of the best.

By his own admission he would have been disappointed by his early exit as a wildcard from last years event. 12 months more experience on the grueling WQS. Making a WQS final in his first year on tour. The highest placed Aussie in the Billabong World Pro Junior event at Narrabeen early January this year under his belt, we'll see a different Kennedy

#3 The Victorian Trials wnner...who will that be? I guarantee you one thing, who ever it is, it will be an experience they will never forget. Surfers to watch Adam Robertson, Nic Muscroft, Jack Perry and former WCT surfer from Phillip Island, Glyndon Ringrose. Having said that, don't discount any of the trialists. They've all been given an opportunity for good reason, they all RIP!

The Girls!

Surfing Victoria has allocated four spots for the Pre Trials.

Amy Stewart (local), Nikki Van Dijk, George Fish, India Payne. The winner of the Pre Trials will surf against Tyler Wright in the Ford Fiesta Trials for a wildcard into the Rip Curl Women's Pro.

WCT SEASON STARTER

QUIKSILVER PRO 2010

The start of the new WCT season came with great anticipation. Revised judging criteria, rewarding progressive surfing, new rating system, new faces and the usual hype surrounding new talent.

Bells may be regarded as the spiritual home of Australian competitive surfing, Queenslands, Snapper Rocks when it's firing, would have to be regarded, the best wave on the Australian leg of the World Tour. The long right hander is a blank canvas for spectacular surfing. Barrels, rail carving and aerial opportunities all present themselves. The perfect scenario to suit the current judging criteria.

While the waves for both events this year never really did meet great expectations, they were fair to reasonable.

This didn't detract from the performance level as new and old faces barrelled, hacked and punted their way down the the line.

After a shakey first round start Taj Burrows proved to be the most consistent performer and went on to win.

Notable standout was Bobby Martinez from the U.S who's in-laws live on the Goldie. Martinez eventually fell to Burrows in the semis. The highly anticipated Jordy Smith V Dane Reynolds semi, fizzled out as Reynolds couldn't back up his Quarter final sizzling performance.

As for the hype surrounding the tour rookies, they were all eventually rolled by the end of round three. Owen Wright was the best OZ rookie performer.

There's nothing like experience at the end of the day, heh

ROXY PRO 2010

What can I say? I'm blown away by the level of performance by the girls. they're absolutely ripping.

Steph Gilmore continued her World Championship winning form and made it back to back Roxy Pro titles.

Steph Gilmore is a champion in every sense of the word.