THE BALI RECOVERY PLAN

What’s not to love about this island?

I love Bali! Bali, Bali, Bali.
Especially when I have had three of the biggest nights of the year in a row.

It’s been a super fun few weeks. I spent three weeks in Bells this year and had my most fun time in the Victorian state ever. TB, his trainer Johnny Cannon, High Nevel and I; surfed, trained, listened to filthy beats and watched many clips for the whole time and to tell you the truth I could do it forever.

High Nevel, hard at work.

We scored really fun waves and hot weather, which was cool for that time of year. TB knocked me in the 4th round of the event which was a bummer but he surfed really well and I was happy to lose to someone in form.

I then started my party planning. A big night at the Event party was really fun but it was hard driving to Mel airport at 7am. It was all good though because that night I went to watch Queens Of The Stone Age with a pass that allowed me to basically go and sit on Joey Castillo’s lap while he played the drums.

I was there with Kai Otton and we got to take Josh Homme and the band out on the town and I was pretty much like a little kid in a candy store. Otto could not string two words together because he was so excited and he was not even drunk; at 3am, when we walked out of the bar, I can tell you one thing, I was. Hahahaha.

I then had to get over a hangover and get ready for the V Festival where I watched the Queens again and also Smashing Pumpkins, Air and the Presets. All were amazing but I was starting to hit a serious wall.

Here’s hoping the Bukit gets some of this on the horizon before too long.

I’m now kicking it in Bali and the surf is dead flat so I’m really getting to know the massages and I’m pretty much the most rested kid on the island.

Awesome.

LS

HELLS BELLS

What a banging joint at Easter time. I had such a ball down there. Staying with Jack Pezza and his family, I got looked after like a king. I’ve never been down to Bells when the Rip Curl Pro has been on. So to check it out, and at the same time competing in it, was a pretty cool experience for me.

Bells Beach, Australia

I was running down the track for a surf one arvo with Tommy Whits a few days before the contest started and I was saying, “It’s a pretty sick set-up here, hey Whits.”
(Tommy got a 3rd here last year) And he said, “Wait till it actually all starts up and they play ‘Hells Bells’ over the massive sound system while you’re free-surfing … It’s bullshit, haha.”

KP checking himself out, haha.

I got goosebumps at the thought of it, and before I knew it I was out at 6-8′ Bells bowl for my first heat, and frothing, haha. I felt unreal out in the water and had managed to shake off those nerves that I had on the Gold Coast.

I got a couple of good scores and picked off better waves than what Bede and Timmy could find, and ended up with my first heat win. Yeeewww - I was a happy kid.

Really got into the AFL down in Vicco. 45 - Linga’s number.

I had the chance to keep the run going after a good start in my Round 3 heat against Taj, but again my mind got the better of me in the last two minutes and I made a mistake that pretty much handed the heat over to him. As much as it stings - it was another good lesson learnt.

Me and Talig.

My Dad, brother, and his family were all down for two weeks, so it was awesome to catch up with them and spend some time with my nephews - the little legends.

Talig and Jaspur in their new wetties.

I’m in Newy now and then off to West Oz at the end of the week for the WQS event down at Margaret River, it’s always sick fun down there, I can’t wait! I’ve also been practicing some breath holds and doing underwater training for when we go to Tahiti at the start of next month …

Packing for the MR Pro in Newcastle.

… I’m up to 2 1/2 minutes at the moment but I’d say that I would be a little more relaxed on the bottom of a swimming pool, than at the top of a 10′ Chopes bomb. Haha. Good times.

Chat to you soon,

Dan