Danny Fuller Thinks WT Surfers Are Pussies for Not Surfing Massive Cloudbreak

Last week, when the surf at Cloudbreak got big, heavy, and perfect, the ASP decided not to run the Volcom Fiji Pro. Instead, a bunch of semi-pro big wave charges stole the show and compiled a live highlight reel.

In fact, of all the World Tour surfers on hand, only eight actually paddled out including guys like Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning. As a result, fellow surfers and arm chair critics questioned the meddle of the WT guys who decided to stay behind and watch the bombs unfurl on TV.

One of those critics is big wave surfer (and Chanel model) Danny Fuller who gives the logic that the WT guys make all the money, and so should therefore surf all the waves. In an article at Stab Magazine, Fuller says the lack of WT paddling in to giant Cloudbreak really said something about the type of surfers they are (i.e.; pussy surfers).

To be fair, big wave surfing is a whole different game where a ten foot board is the norm. Kelly Slater brought a bunch of 5’10″s with him. So to surf these monsters, the WT surfers would have to borrow unfamiliar boards and surf waves they don’t normally train for in conditions that could kill them.

Not pussy surfers Danny Fuller, just smart surfers.

Kelly Slater Fiji Winner

Kelly Slater is your Volcom Fiji Pro winner. The 40-year-old Slater won his 49th title in an elite event in his chase to win his 12th world title. He’s now in second place overall 40% through the ASP tour. Here are the overall standings following Fiji:

1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 24,750 pts
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 23,700 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 23,700 pts
4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 22,400 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 20,950 pts

Here are the the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final results from Volcom Fiji Pro:

VOLCOM FIJI PRO FINAL RESULTS:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 18.16
2. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.87

VOLCOM FIJI PRO SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.93 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6.57
SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50

VOLCOM FIJI PRO REMAINING QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.57 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.76
QF 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.14 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.76

Slater put on a clinic in these three rounds having the three highest scoring overall heats. Stud.

 

 

Volcom Fiji Pro Day 4 Highlights [Video]

Volcom Fiji Pro Day 4 highlights including 10-point rides by both Owen Wright and Kelly Slater. Pretty incredible surfing and barrel riding by the best remaining surfers. John John Florence had a few sweet rides and the slo-mo backhand barrel he had towards the end was incredible. Slater’s ride was still probably the best to watch though.

Joel Parkinson Drunk Photos and More Snorkeling…

Here are some Joel Parkinson drunk photos in Fiji. Notice some more “snorkeling” pics, including both Parko and Owen Wright (both eliminated yesterday), as well as Parko passed out.

The Volcom Fiji Pro is likely going to finish tonight, starting with the remaining quarterfinal heats of:

QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
QF 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)

Those two winners will face off in one semis. The other semis will be Mick Fanning vs. Gabriel Medina.

 

 

Not a Video of Cloudbreak, Restaurants, or Anywhere Else in Fiji … Morocco [Video]

To break up the monotony of only watching perfect barrels, epic waves, and the best surfers in Fiji, here is a video of Morocco surfing. In this video, you will notice that surfers actually do miss sections, get caught in the white wash, and even occasionally wipeout. Because if your only experience is watching the Volcom Fiji Pro, you’d assume everyone pulls into 20-foot barrels every damn day.

Volcom Fiji Pro Round 5 Results, Quarterfinals Results

Half of the quarterfinals were completed before the event was called off due to wind. The Volcom Fiji Pro Round 5 results are:

Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.17 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 8.54
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.03 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.00
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.83 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.00
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.57 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 7.50

Notable upsets are Taj Burrow defeating fellow Aussie Joel Parkinson and Julian Wilson taking down Owen Wright preventing a Kelly Slater/Owen Wright rematch.

Mick Fanning then took down Jamie O’Brien’s favorite surfer John John Florence in the quarters and Gabriel Medina advanced as well …

QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.60 def. John John Florence (HAW) 9.10
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.60 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.46

… Leaving Kelly’s heat to round out the Semis:

QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
QF 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)

 

Volcom Fiji Pro Round 5 Matchups

Here’s what’s on tap today. The Volcom Fiji Pro Round 5 matchups:

Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)

The winners will join John John Florence, Kelly Slater, Gabriel Medina, and Adriano de Souza in the quarterfinals.

Volcom Fiji Pro Round 3 Results, Round 4 Results

I only caught a couple heats live yesterday and will probably review the webcast today. If you didn’t know, round 3 and round 4 were both run yesterday. The Kelly Slater, Owen Wright round 4 heat was impressive with little barrels rolling through.

Volcom Fiji Pro round 3 results. Nothing too shocking.

Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.00
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 19.30 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.67
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.73 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.06
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 2.36
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.93 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 7.80
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.00 def. Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 15.00
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.14 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.50
Heat 8: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.90 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.87
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.27 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 4.00
Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 17.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.13
Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.83 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.34
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.66 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.87

Volcom Fiji Pro Round 4 results. John John taking down a Hobgood and Taj was impressive, as was Medina beating number 1 Parko and Mick Fanning.

Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 13.17, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.94, Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.13
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.16, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.17, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.50
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.33, Owen Wright (AUS) 17.90, Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.86
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.40, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.80, Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.40

Shit that Goes Down at Tavarua — Snorkeling, Beer Funnel for Surfers

Put together about 100 of the world’s best surfers (competitors, big wave guys, and others) who happen to be 99% male on a tropical island with not much to do at night but drink, and you get snorkeling. Here are some pics from last night that were posted on Twitter. The hashtag #peerpressure accompanied most these pics.

Here are some Freddy P. pics from a different night.