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HEDGE POWERS WAY TO PIPING HOT WIN


	HEDGE POWERS WAY TO PIPING HOT WIN

By Mark Humphrey

Nathan Hedge has won the inaugural ASP 1 Star rated Piping Hot Surfwear Surf Fest final at Victoria’s Bells Beach powering home in the solid conditions to narrowly beat Nicholas Squiers. It was a sweet win for the powerfully built Hedge who immediately thanked the supporters who had stuck with him through the tough times.

Nathan Hedge cracks one off the lipNicholas Squiers was equally impressive today

With conditions reasonable at Bells Beach this morning the call was made to step into the Piping Hot program which would see all four finals contested after some preliminaries had been run.

The women’s final was first up with Laura Macaulay taking on Stephanie Single in what proved to be a cracker of a final. Macaulay was first to post a score with a throw away 1.1 wave. Single in white set up the final early with consecutive point scoring waves posting a 3.5 followed by a 4.5 score to comfortably lead the women’s final after 10 minutes. Macualay then posted a 4.4 wave with Single also adding to her count. At the halfway mark of the women’s final Laura Macaulay trailed Stephanie Single by a moderate 5.56 total and needed to post a wave score better than 5.56 to inherit the lead. With conditions inconsistent wave selection proved to be critical and was the difference between winning and losing. With 12 minutes left to run Macaulay picked up a neat little roller that she followed into the shore-break scoring an 8.5 which elevated her into 1^st position. With scores of 8.5 and 4.5 (total of 13) Macaulay led Single who had a combined total of 12.50 with a pair of 6.25 waves. With 5 minutes to go in the final Macaulay had priority giving her the advantage over Single. The priority decision meant that Single could not take the same wave as Macaulay and had to wait until Macaulay had taken her wave or take a left-over wave that Macaulay didn’t want. With less than 5 minutes to run this is exactly what happened. Single took off on a wave that Macaulay had elected to leave. The wave had some depth about it and just kept its face allowing Single to work the wave and in doing so post a final high score of 9.0 which catapulted her into the lead. Macaulay must have been wondering why she let that one through but hats off to Single who extracted everything from the wave with classic lay back round-houses combined with solid bottom turns. Macaulay needed a 6.76 to regain the lead but unfortunately for Macaulay the wave she gave up was the last decent wave of the final with Stephanie Single crowned the Women’s champ for 2014.Laura MacaulayStephanie Single

The men’s final followed immediately with Hedge the overwhelming favourite to take out the win. Hedge was quick to post a score which had been his trait all tournament. He posted a 6.0 wave and quickly followed up with a 7.0 wave to blow Squiers out of the water. Squiers had settled into a rhythm after the Hedge onslaught and posted a 6.75 followed by a mediocre 4.25 to trail Hedge by 2.0 after 11 minutes. Hedge picked up a solid wave and surfed it aggressively as he does to record a high score of 9.0 which coupled to his next best of 7.0 virtually sealed the final for him. With 9 minutes to go Squiers needed a 9.25 wave but could only manage a 5.4 reducing the gap marginally. Squiers not done with yet pulled out an 8.0 point scoring wave to reduce the deficit to just 1.25 with 7 minutes left in the final. A 6.9 wave by Hedge didn’t increase his lead and with 2 minutes left to run Squiers picked up a wave that had potential. With a hard bottom turn followed by a super aggressive snap off the lip Squiers was still in the hunt. Unfortunately for Squiers the wave petered out handing Hedge a well-deserved win. In his victory speech Hedge said that he hadn’t heard of Squiers before the tournament but was super impressed with his surfing throughout the competition. He is hoping 2014 will be a big year for him saying he was going to have a red hot go at making the tour once again. For Squiers this week has been one for the memory banks with wins over some fancied surfers on the way to being runner-up.HedgeSquiers

The Pro Junior Women’s final was the next final to be run between Grace Styman-Lane and Keely Andrew. Both girls had an outstanding week competing in both the Open Women’s as well as the Pro Junior Women’s events. Based on form over the previous days Andrew looked the one to beat as she was capable of posting individual high wave scores. In her semi-final Andrew posted an event high wave score of 9.9 to reach the final and showed what she was capable off. On the other hand Grace Styman-Lane had been so consistent throughout her heats posting combination scores that would have her winning her heats. Although she didn’t have the flair like Andrew there was no doubt that Andrew would not win the final with just one massive wave score. Each of the girls had posted early wave scores that would eventually be replace with higher scores. With 17 minutes to run Andrew posted a 6.0 wave to go with her 4.0 leaving Styman-Lane an 8.0 wave to take the lead. Styman-Lane got busy and reduced the gap with a 1.4 and then a 4.0 wave to trail by 6 with 9 minutes to run. Styman-Lane then had a throw-away wave and followed that up with a 6.75 to take over the lead with 4 minutes 40 left to run in the final. Keely Andrew needed a 4.75 or better to take back the lead with 4 minutes left in the final. Andrew picked up a nice wave and completed a couple of manoeuvres before the wave petered out. A score of 4.35 wasn’t enough to take the lead with barely 3 minutes left in the final. Immediately Andrew re-gathered herself and jumped straight into the next wave in the bowl electing not to paddle out to the back with precious little time left in the final. Andrew worked the wave and completed some aggressive manoeuvres on a wave which was holding its face until she slipped and fell off the front of the wave. Although it could have been disastrous for Andrew she had already done enough prior to falling and recorded a wave score of 5.5 to regain the lead with less than 2 minutes to run. Andrew was able to get priority as well with Styman-Lane having a throw-away wave. The siren sounded with Keely Andrew winning a fantastic final by just 0.75 from Grace Styman-Lane. Well done to both girls who managed to make the final ahead of some very talented field.Keely AndrewGrace Styman-Lane

The Pro Junior Men’s final was the last final to be run for the Piping Hot Surf Fest and had Soli Bailey up against Elliot Paerata-Reid after both surfers displayed remarkable skills on the way to the final. Like the Junior Women, the Junior Men’s section was over flowing with talented surfers who had provided white hot surfing over the week. Paerata-Reid got off to a good start and had posted 3.75 and 5.75 wave scores before Bailey had caught a wave. With 5 gone Bailey got his first wave which netted a 2.0 only. He followed it up with a more respectable 6.75 wave but still needed a 2.75 or better wave to take the lead. Paerata-Reid increased his lead with a 5.35 wave replacing the earlier 3.75 wave leaving Bailey with the task of scoring a 4.35 or better wave with 16 minutes left to run in the final. Bailey sat patiently and with just over six minutes to run picked up a 6.75 wave to move into the lead. Paerata-Reid now required a 7.75 or better to regain the lead with time running out. Paerata-Reid picked up a wave that looked to have form but unfortunately for Paerata-Reid the wave tapered away giving him a throw away score. With 2 minutes to go all looked lost for Paerata-Reid who was stranded in the bowl or so it seemed. Paerata-Reid got on his bike and was heading out the back in no time. For Paerata-Reid his paddling was so strong and definitely a standout for him all tournament. With Bailey having priority with less than 2 minutes to run he elected to cover off Paerata-Reid and paddled stroke for stroke with Paerata-Reid until the siren blew. Smart thinking by Bailey demonstrating the competition experience he has picked up over the short journey.Soli Bailey was the standout junior.Kiwi Elliot Paerata-Reid has a big future ahead of him.

With the sound of the siren come the end of what was a most successful event contested at both the Jan Juc and Bells Beach precincts over the past 5 days.

For more reports go to http://www.pipinghotsurffestival.com/

Or http://www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/

MORE DAY 5 FINALS IMAGES

Piping Hot Surf Fest Blown Out.

06/01/2014, Geelong, Surfing, Piping Hot Surfing Festival, Article # 1419931

Piping Hot Surf Fest Blown Out.

By Mark Humphrey

The ASP 1 star rated Piping Hot Surf Fest was called early today due to extremely tough conditions. With a howling on-shore wind blowing combined with a heavy swell that was lumpy at best organisers had no other alternative but to can the day’s proceedings and start fresh tomorrow.

Super Tuesday will now host all 4 finals as the Open Women’s final scheduled for 1.00pm today was shifted back to Tuesday due to the conditions. Organisers were able to run the women’s semi-finals earlier in the day with eventual semi winners Stephanie Single and Laura Macaulay going head to head tomorrow in what promises to be an epic battle between 2 highly skilled female surfers.

Local hope in the men’s division Cody Robinson has advanced through to the quarter finals of both the Open Men’s and the Pro Junior Men’s and has the daunting task of facing event favourite Nathan Hedge in the Open Men’s division. Another local hope Tristan Forras was unlucky not to join Robinson in the quarters after being knocked out by a fraction of a point in the last minute of his round. Such a huge effort by the local boys this week.Cody Robinson has been solid all week.Nathan Hedge is stoked after a huge 8+ heat wave and will face-off with Robinson tomorrow

With the Men’s and Pro Junior Men’s divisions up to the quarter final stage there should be plenty of hot surfing on display tomorrow. The Junior Women’s category has advanced 1 step further and will start with the semi-finals.

Action is expected to commence around 7.00am.

For more details on the event go to http://www.pipinghotsurffestival.com/

MENS IMAGES FROM TODAY

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Surf Fest Moves Into Quarters Action.

05/01/2014, Geelong, Surfing, Piping Hot Surfing Festival, Article # 1415815

Surf Fest Moves Into Quarters Action.

By Mark Humphrey

The 2014 Piping Hot Surfwear Surf Fest continued at Bells Beach today in conditions that would eventually see a halt in proceedings for the day. With strong off-shore breezes and a declining swell organizers had no other option but to call it a day having partially completed the day’s program.Grace Styman-Lane on her way to a quarter final heat win

The WQS 1 men’s event failed to get a contest in the water and have to date only completed round 1 of their program. Like their male counterparts the WQS 1 women’s event also failed to run a heat today and will resume at the quarter final stages of their program when proceeding re-commence.

The Pro Junior Men’s division were lucky enough to get in their 2^nd and 3^rd round of heats with the Pro Junior Women’s conducting their quarter finals.

Round 2 of the Pro Junior Men’s division had the nations hot shots going head to head looking to advance from the round of 32. Australian junior representatives such as Hynd and Bailey had their work cut out to advance to the round of 16 with Luke Hynd scratching through to the next round.

Elliot Paerata-Reid posted the highest wave score of the round with an 8.50 to win his heat with Jake Thompson, Kalani Ball and Kelly Norris all posting heat scores of 13.50 to safely move through to the next round. Other heat winners were Jacob Willcox, Harrison Mann, Hamish Renwick and Bells Beach local Cody Robinson.

The round of 16 in the Pro Junior Men’s had some big match ups with a couple of the hot guys eliminated from the event in conditions that were now uneven to say at best. Wave selection was so critical and the odd bit of luck certainly was an advantage.

Heat 1 started the ball rolling with one of the fancied surfers in Jake Thompson finishing 4^th and being eliminated along with Jordan Lawler. After posting the equal highest combination in the round of 32, Thompson was unable tore- capture the same form and subsequently said good-bye to the Pro Junior Men’s division. The heat was tied with both Kelly Norris and Johnnie Keith advancing to the quarters.

Heat 2 had Elliot Paerata-Reid sensationally follow on from his previous heat and post the day’s highest combination score of 18.50 to dominate his heat. His combined total of 18.50 consisted of a 9.50 and a 9.0 wave score to follow on from his previous round high of 8.50. Joining Paerata-Reid in the quarters was Kalani Ball with Harrison Martin and Josh Hay dropping out of the event.

Heat 3 had a couple of the pre-tournament favourites in Jacob Willcox and Soli Bailey go head to head with both guys advancing to the next round. Willcox comfortably took the heat from Bailey with Louis Gillick and Harrison Mann knocked out.

The final round of 16 heat was won by local surfer Cody Robinson. Robinson a member of the strong Torquay Boardriders Club used his local knowledge to safely win through to the quarters with Sheldon Simkus closely following. Unfortunately for Hamish Renwick and Luke Hynd the Pro Junior Men’s tournament has finish for both of them. It wasn’t that long ago that Hynd was dominating for Australia at the ISA World Juniors and now finds himself eliminated from the ASP rated Surf Fest.

Match ups for the next round will no doubt provide plenty of interest with Keith up against Ball in the first heat. Norris will take on in-form Paerata-Reid followed by Willcox up against Simkus. The final heat of the quarters has Robinson taking on Soli Bailey which should be a fantastic heat. Bailey is no stranger to success at Bells having dominated at last year’s indigenous titles at Bells Beach.

The other action of the day came from the Pro Junior Women’s section where the quarter finals were contested with some close results.

In QF 1 Grace Styman-Lane proved too strong for Lucy Callister and comfortably moved into the semis where she will go head to head with Billy Melinz who posted the 2^nd highest heat score of the round on her way to beating a gallant Bronte Macaulay. Macaulay surfed well and posted a combo that would have won the next heat. The next heat was in fact taken out by Sophia Bernard over Isabella Nichols. This was a huge win for Bernard as Nichols looked to be the in-form surfer from day 1 of the championships. Bernard will take on event favourite Keely Andrew in the other semi-final after Andrew posted the highest heat score of 16.90 to comfortably beat Eden Putland who like Nichols had been surfing strong throughout the event. Well done to Putland, Nichols and all the other Pro Junior Women who had managed to get this far in the tournament. The strength of Australian women’s surfing is at an all-time high and sits well for the future of the sport.

PRO JUNIOR WOMENS IMAGESKeely AndrewSophia BernardLucy CallisterBronte MacaulayBillie MelinzIsabella NicholsEden PutlandEden PutlandGrace Styman-Lane

Action will resume tomorrow at Bells Beach depending on conditions.

For more info go to http://www.pipinghotsurffestival.com

or Surfing Victoria on http://www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/

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Piping Hot Surf Fest Pumps @ Bells

04/01/2014, Geelong, Surfing, Piping Hot Surfing Festival, Article # 1409882

Piping Hot Surf Fest Pumps @ Bells

By Mark Humphrey

Day 2 of the Piping Hot Surfwear Surf Fest shifted to the famous Bells Beach surfing precinct for round 2 of the tournament.

In perfect off-shore conditions the bowl dished up its famous 5’ sets to challenge the big guns of the tournament. Both the open men’s and women’s divisions were contested today with the round of 16 for the women also completed.

First up was the men’s division which was a who’s who of grass roots surfing. Last year’s Rip Curl Pro Wingman Jack Perry was in the line-up along with some other familiar names such as Willcox, Ball, Hynd, Thompson, Archibald, Fowler and Bell- Warren. Actually you could go through the whole list such was the talent on display for the Surf Fest. The usual suspects made it through to the next round of the men’s division with some big heat scores recorded. Nathan Hedge and Mitch Parkinson both recorded the men’s highest heat score of 16.50 with Brent Dorrington recording a combination of 16.00. Parkinson recorded the highest men’s wave score with a classic 9.25. With the 1^st round now completed the action will get even hotter for the men from here on in.

In the open women’s section the field was made up by a majority of the pro junior girls who competed in the division yesterday demonstrating the future strength of women’s surfing in Australia. No doubt these girls will surely go on and represent Australia in pro women’s surfing for years to come.

With the round 1 eliminations out of the way the women followed up with the round of 16 heats to determine the quarter final combatants. After the dust had settled the quarter finals took shape with QF 1 to be decided between Keely Andrew & Bronte Macaulay. QF 2 will see Amiya Doyle and Laura Macaulay go head to head. Yesterday Doyle was knocked out of the Pro Junior Women’s section citing that she and Jan Juc just don’t like each other. It seems that Doyle feels more at home in the famous bowl as she comfortably finished in the top 2 in her heat. QF 3 will see Tayla Hanak and Stephanie Single go head to head with the remaining QF heat between Laura Poncini and Freya Prumm.

Surfing action is at Bells Beach again tomorrow with a scheduled 7.30am start. All divisions are on notice.

For more information go to http://www.pipinghotsurffestival.com

MENS IMAGES FROM BELLS

WOMENS IMAGES FROM BELLS

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Girls Light Up Piping Hot Surf

03/01/2014, Geelong, Surfing, Piping Hot Surfing Festival, Article # 1408109

Girls Light Up Piping Hot Surf

By Mark Humphrey

Go back 30 years on the Westcoast of Victoria and the iconic brand of Piping Hot littered every beach in the region along with another iconic brand Golden Breed. Making a splash back into competition surfing, the Piping Hot Surf Festival kicks off the ASP schedule in Australia for 2014.

The ASP 1 rated Piping Hot Surf Festival kicked off today on Victoria’s Westcoast. Today’s round of junior men’s and women’s was conducted at Victoria’s Jan Juc beach with the festival to move to the iconic Bells Beach tomorrow.

The day’s proceedings started off with the junior men taking to the water for round 1. The list of surfers reads through a who’s who of junior men’s surfing with Australian representatives spread throughout the field. Add to that the strong presence of local surfing talent and we are in for some hot surfing over the weekend.

In the junior women’s section rounds 1 & 2 were completed in varying conditions that ranged around the 3’ mark with winds initially strong on-shore that abated to a lighter cross-shore breeze.

With conditions being lumpy at best the women found it hard to secure waves that rolled out with the majority of scoring being marked sub 5. One of the category favourites Eden Putland dominated her heat with the day’s high score of 9.00 and then followed it up with a round of 16 win with the day’s second highest wave score of 8.75. Earlier in the day Grace Styman-Lane recorded an 8.25 wave in her heat to easily advance to the round of 16.

Heat 1 in the round of 16 was won by Lucy Callister with a combination score of 13. Billie Melinz was second with Amiya Doyle just getting the nod over Zoe Clarke. Clarke a local to Jan Juc found it hard to pick up scoring waves today with only 4 waves recorded in the heat.Lucy Callister Billie MelinzAmiya DoyleZoe Clarke

Heat 2 had Bronte Macaulay with a heat high 7.75 wave record a narrow win from Grace Styman – Lane with Steph Single 3^rd in front of Brodie Doyle.Bronte MacaulayGrace Styman-LaneStephanie SingleBrodie Doyle

Heat 3 was the closest round of 16 heats with Isabella Nichols winning by .70 from Keely Andrew with Holly Wawn and Holly-Sue Coffee rounding out the 4. Both Coffee and Andrew had more scoring waves than Nichols but a high score of 7.00 combined with her next highest was enough for Nichols to take out the heat.Isabella NicholsKeely AndrewHolly WawnHolly-Sue Coffee

The final round of 16 heats was won by Eden Putland in another hotly contested heat from Sophia Bernard with Laura Poncini and Cali McDonagh closely following. Putland’s high wave score of 8.75 was enough to get her the nod from the judges even though the other 3 girls had posted 2 scoring waves each that were higher than Putland’s second scoring wave. It just highlighted the importance today of wave selection and posting a high wave score.Eden PutlandSophia BernardLaura PonciniCali McDonagh