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