RETURN FROM FIJI

Hello web world,

How are we all? Been a while since I wrote, been a little lazy and having a little too much fun!

What’s been happening with me? Well, contest wise, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag. Tahiti went well (besides giving Manoa a 10), I had a ball, living the dream at Teahupoo, getting tubed, keeping fit playing footy in the yard, and enjoying a cold Hinano as the sun set.

Taking it all in at Teahupoo. © Joli

Two wildcards in the final was a bit strange. They went well and used their "nothing to lose" advantage well in the inconsistent surf (ha ha, I sound sour).

Fiji was a different ball game - looking at the maps we were all so excited to get there. I got sick about four days before we left and didn’t get healthy ’til I got home. That place is so, so fun, and watching the boys surf, eat and have fun all day was the worst as I slept all day, but I guess u got to cop it on the chin. I manned-up and tried to surf my heat but the old chicken legs had no power and lost with a tiny total.

Oh well, take it as a throwaway and move on. Plenty of contests to go and should be fun watching everyone chasing that freak with the lady’s name!!! He has been on fire, looking totally relaxed yet focused and not holding back, really impressive.

Enough about contests, we have been home for a while and it’s been so cool. Not the best weather but lots of waves. Getting into the rhythm is epic; doing some training, and the best stuff - watching the Roosters and playing golf.

Well, looks like more waves for us here in Syd after this rank storm moves off us. Might have a sneaky run down the coast with a few of the boys, think Bede is even flying down for a day or two. Will let u know how our trip went!

The boy from Straddie is such a legend and making the tour look easy this year! © Joli

Well, that’s what this kid has been up to. Hope you’re all getting fun waves.

See ya round,

Whits

WEDDING CRASHING

Haha, so this one’s not from a wedding, but a real funny shot of TB and Ben Dunn … Oh shit, wait, that’s not Ben, it’s Snake Pato, with hair!!!

Hello all,

Sorry it’s been a little while, us pro surfers get bit selfish sometimes! It’s been such a crazy-busy start to the year; haven’t really stopped since Christmas.

I won’t bore you with all the details but — along with the usual training and getting ready for the start to the year (which has started pretty slowly for me, with two 17ths) — I’ve had about one million weddings to go to. Must be a sign of getting old! Haha, not that old ay, Snake!!! From the Goldie to Sydney to NZ it’s been fun.

Here’s some shots of a few and I’ll try and get more fun ones soon. Still recovering from Anthony Macdonald’s (brother of Phil’s) wedding!

Oops, not a wedding but a cool shot of the boys at a charity night for Y.O.D.A (Youth Organ Donation Awareness).

How good is a wedding on the beach!!! Lifetime friend Caruscy, gettin’ hitched.

With Azza Graham and my old sparring partner Hitcho.

These gents’ names are actually Dick and Harry so all three of us together was funny stuff.

The new Mr and Mrs James. An amazing wedding in Queenstown NZ.

RANCHO RELAXO

Christmas with the mates at Bronte.

Hello all u freaks in web world, hope u all had a great festive season and Santa was kind to u all! Gee it’s been great to be home although I haven’t enjoyed the swell like all the boys up the coast. Speaking to Luke Munro, he said it was some of the best waves he has ever seen — even had Luke Stedman not letting go of the rope on his first wave as he saw it triple sucking up!!! Hahahahahaha.

Sure, they had some strange boardies and a little less rocker on their boards, but since the olden days, surfing and beer have been always been ruling the roost during Christmas at Bronte.

Spent Chrissy at home, ending with plenty of drinks on top of Bronte clock where all the boys end up for a beer! Showed some overseas friends the Syd fireworks for New Year’s and enjoyed a lot of good food and cold beers, so the rig is looking not the best! Time to get into shape now for the new season.

Sydney New Year’s.

Heading to South Africa tomorrow for a surf trip with my sponsor Oakley which should be good!! Always fun to check out a new area, hope we get some waves. I will be hooking up with the South African BRUs; Davey Weare, Royden and Greg Emo so that will be wicked!!

Keep safe and I’ll fill u in with the trip when I’m back!!

Hope you’re getting waves!

Whits

ROLLIN’ IN BRAZIL

It may have taken a damn long time to get here but there’s no complaints now!!!

This is morning, at sunset we’ll have beers in our hands!

We have no idea about these poses but we look good.

Taj and the best view in Santa Catarina, well worth the mission flights.

This guy nose all the crip places to stay in Brazil.

Ha ha, don’t mean to rub it in, but what the hell ay!! Bring on the contest, Yeeeeeeew.

- Whits

Grand Final Weekend

Team Australia 2007. Belly’s Place.

What an amazing time of year in an amazing place.

I bloody love France and this time of year is special, not only is the weather all-time, the surf pumps and the fairways are lush and green… BUT, September
is Grand-Final weekend!

I’ve been to Homebush to watch the mighty Roosters play in the NRL Grand Final and I’m sure the MCG is crazy for the AFL Grand Final but if u cannot get to the game then the place u want to be at is our mate Belly’s house in France!!!

U wouldn’t know u were on the other side of the globe when Belly puts on an Aussie Grand Final barbie, turns the TV up loud and the roars begin.

Did I mention the AFL game is on at 5am? but that doesn’t stop the boys cracking an Aussie beer for breakfast!!! Well, this blog is only short but u get that when the NRL grandy is kicking off in ten!

Well done Mr Eugene Fanning, and come-on the Wallabies now that the world cup of rugby is getting serious!!

Now, get offline and get back to work punks!!!!
see yas whits

KINGS OF CRUNK

Here is the shot — Booooooooooom. Old frog skins Rule!!! o yeah that’s lil john!!

OK, blog time. It’s been a while and I am sorry but little Tommy Whits hasn’t been in the best of health! There was some stinky bug going around in J-Bay which got me good and proper. Loaded up on painkillers for my heat, I felt OK, just the waves didn’t go my way, and in surfing u get that!

No time to dwell though, just take a moment and see what u could have done different, learn and then move the hell on. It’s only halfway through the year so it’s still game on.

The long trip home didn’t do the health much help (downside of travel), and I was struck down with the flu pretty damn bad, lots of water and sweating and I was on another flight to The States for the US Open. I’m not going to do the WQS but it’s a good contest to hang out with your sponsors and enjoy a bit of summer! The waves were terrible and I tried to sit down the beach on Machado’s bank … Oh well. again the waves didn’t go my way but u can’t get too down with our lifestyle.

I planned to hang around for a couple of reasons, (1) I enjoy the warmth and good times with some great people I have met over the years, (2) get some sessions out Trestles - it’s only five weeks away — and get a head start on trying boards out there.

Well the good times were first, as the swell was hitting later and one of the things about The States is u never know what or who you’re going to rock out with.

Last year we partied in Hollywood at a well-known celeb hang out, silly little surfers were blind drunk mixing it with five or six big name celebs, ha ha ha the perks of knowing a few people!

This year I had a signing on the first day I felt half decent. It was a circus and after it we grabbed a table at a Mexican for a feed and some margaritas! Well, being sponsored by Oakley has its huge extras, we ended up rocking out with a Rapper Lil John (who also wears Oakley) all afternoon, getting on the sip and laughing our way around lots of establishments!

Boom, it was a bangin’ afternoon and I would like to fill u in on all the detail but some stuff is just better left to the imagination.

Few days later I had dealt with the hangover and organised a session at Trestles, waves had come up and it was really fun, surfed for three and a half hours straight, tried two boards out and feel good about it! Off to the airport that night for a red eye home, business class … Wicked I’ll get some sleep!

Slept well but think I went a little hard too early. The sickness has attacked again and I am bedridden with Broncitis! Oh well, I have a good month to get over it, get fit and come out blazing for the second half of the year because as I said its time to pull the finger out and get back up those ratings!

Hope it’s an OK read, did my best with how I’m feeling (whinge, whinge, etc).

Catch ya soon.

Whits.

SUD AFRIKA

OK, here we are sitting in my hotel room in Durban South Africa. I came to this wild country a little early for a few reasons: 1. I went to J-Bay for a day to get some waves before the rest of the circus turns up!
2. The jetlag from Aus to SA is really bad, so I wanted to get that out of the way.
3. And the third? To hopefully make some pocket money in the WQS event in Durban!

Not too sure I want to talk about the Chile event. For me, that event didn’t exactly go to plan. I had a few fun free surfs and some nice barrels but a few poor decisions in my heats led me to some of the biggest hammerings I think I have ever had!

The place was really cool though and damn cheap - felt like I had money to burn!. So I’ve taken that contest result as a big kick up the butt and am excited about getting back down the J-Bay.

Its a pretty special place down there; great people; nice food; some cool golf courses (one new Jack Nicholas course I’m really keen to hack round); oh yeah, and of course its got a pretty damn good wave!

There isn’t a much better sight in surfing than seeing J-Bay stacked to the horizon with lines, offshore winds, and let’s just throw OCCY drawing his crazy powerful lines in for good measure! It’s got that really cool climate where you get to rug up mornings and nights (the coffee tastes a little better when its cold), but is warm most of the days.

Another cool thing this year is my good old mate and veteran of our sport, Jake The Snake, is going to be around! He’s here in Durban with me and it’s really cool to be hangin’ out again but the best thing is that the two-time J-Bay champ has hand-crafted me a weapon to ride at the famous spot! Not to take anything away from my shaper Rod Dahlberg who always puts gems under my feet but can u imagine one of ya best mates and all time great surfers surprising u with a board he made specifically for spot he has won twice at!

Snakeman knows his way around a board. © Shield.

It looks like a pig but gee I’m excited!(Hahaha, just kidding, it looks great!) Well, better run, this little sport nut is watching Wimbledon then heading to shark park to watch some local rugby, hit the hay, then get up for a heat.

Hope u are all well and getting some waves or enjoying a cold beer! (Both really good things!)

Beat It.

Whits.

SPORTS & RORTS

Here we go again, Round Two of the blog match! I’m writing it a day after the dreaded Queenslanders just went two up and won the State Of Origin series (Rugby League). Oh well, that’s cool they can have that as long as my team The Roosters keep winning! Oh crap they’re on the bottom of the table as well.

Ummm, What other sports are happening? Tennis? Nah, Lleyton lost in France and second round at Queens. I know… Golf! If we don’t mention how Adam Scott crumbled in the last round in the St Jude we can all get excited that an Aussie might win another major!!!.

Wicked ,and lets not forget about our little mate Casey Stoner in the Moto GP, winning the world title race ahead of Rossi that’s like say, Fanning beating Kelly!! Wow, that’s happening as well!!!!!!! Pretty bangin’ times to be a sports NUT!!!!

Lleyton may be losing but he’s doing a bit better than England’s favourite laughing stock Tim Henman in this shot.

So what has little Tommy Whits been up too after his trip in Indo? Lets see … It’s again time to talk about the really cool things about being a pro surfer. After returning from Indo I had four brand new Rod Dahlberg (sponsor plug) short boards to try out which over the last three weeks has been really fun. Put new sprays on them, stickered them up and am still trying to see which one goes the best!

I picked up Troy Brooks and Luke Munro from the airport and had breakfast with them (talked a whole lot of nothing). They were on their way to the Maldives event (hard gig)!!

I also had a game of golf with Mr Jarrod Howse in which he narrowly missed out on the wooden spoon by one stoke to our mate Bobby Spoon Yaldwin!!!!!!!! A huge congrats to Clouse-dog for his big efforts with two 2nds putting him 4th on the WQS and looking good to rejoin our travel team on the WCT!

There’s the little stories from my time off, but the big trip was a golf weekend away with eight of my good mates including ex-’CT surfer Luke Hitcho. With the terrible weather hitting the East Coast our trip was shortened by a day but that just meant we had to go harder in what time we had! We played plenty of golf, sipped on plenty of drinks and ate plenty of great food!!! Does it get much better?

Hitcho, deep concentration in his flash red pants.

One quick story was a silly game we played under the influence of beers in which u had to stand in front of your clubs and the rest of the boys get to rip in and say what they think about your golf game!! It was pretty standard until I got up, first guy tore shreds off me, but not about golf it was all about how bad I surf heats and why I loose and how I should win,!! Ouch, it kind of hurt but hopefully u will see some better results come out of it!!! (That’s if I remember any of it, ha ha ha). Hangin’ out with Hitcho again was absolute gold, that guy is the funniest man and best bloke eva. To all those who have meet him; YES he still loves a beer; YES he still sleeps standing, sitting or dancing when he is drunk; and YES he still snores louder than ever (out of both ends!)

Back home I heard the waves were pumping while I was away, which always seems to happen!!!! (Cry me a river). But I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Too much work and not enough play makes little Whits a sore grape!!!! Hahahaha. Off to Chile in a few days and from all reports it’s been pumping and looks like it will continue for the event!! Looks like Rip Curl will score again.

This is “El Buey” in Arica, just down the beach from “El Gringo”. Doesn’t make any sense? Well, it’s close to the Casino anyway. © Andrez Z

I’ll be sure to let u all know how the place and surf is over there. I heard we are staying next door to the casino. Look out Oceans 13.

Think of me when u are having a beer and I am dragging my two board bags through an airport because I’ll make sure I’ll think of u while standing in a nice tube!!(little bit mean, sorry)

Catch ya soon,

Whits.

Ski Carnage, Rik Love in Indo, & Bizarre Chest Waxing Rituals

Blog time get rooted, YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW.

Big step for T Whits. Most people who know me would laugh at the sight of a sport addict sitting in front of a computer for any extended period of time. I’m one who jumps on the net to (a) Check my footy tipping results, (b) See if Bronte Reef is breaking and (c) every third day get my emails!(Normally about three emails a week and I find that hard to deal with).

Anyhow, here we go. After having a chat with Jake Pato, aka “The Godfather”, I’m going to attempt to put a few words together. I’ve got the French Open tennis on the TV and a huge cup of steamy hot Java and right now I’m feeing like a bit of a nerd/professional!(I kind of like it!)

Federer is leading the first set 5-4. (I’ll keep u updated!)

South Coast, a couple of months back. © Billy Morris

OK. ‘07 so far has been pretty damn fun, I won’t bore u with a recap but just a real quick overview (they are probably the same thing, ha ha ha). Contest wise its been OK, one big result at Bells and beating that guy, what’s his name? Mr Kelly Slater, goes down as one of my career highlights. Besides that its been all fun with a bit of torturous training.

My sponno Oakley brought me a new jet ski, yes, us pro surfers are spoilt, and if u ask my mates again it would be a toss of the coin what I’m more comfortable on, the ski or my computer!!! Just to prove it, my first outing was a trip across to Straddie while at the Goldie contest. Luke Steds and I nailed the test and got our licence, (I won’t tell u how many times we needed to take it but Steds did it a few more than me, ha ha). We took Phil Macca who regards himself as “Aussie Laird”(Sorry Snake, I know u like that title too). and off we went! A few little hiccups but nothing major until we arrive at Straddie and need to drive it up the beach,

“Time it just behind a wave, gun it and switch it off as u hit the beach,” Phil told me, Sweet, I nailed it, except Steds who was on the back wasn’t ready for the tip of the slide and fell off as we hit the beach at 70kms. He grabbed Phil as he fell, who then grabbed me and all of us rolled up the hard sand laughing our arses off. Phil and I kept laughing even harder when we discovered Steds had broken the tip of his board in all the fun!!!

I have made myself look pretty good here so I must confess while towing Steds into some fun peaks I thought I was the king on my new ride. As soon as u get too confident you’re gone, and yes, in my first outing I flipped the thing! IDIOT but gee we had fun.

So there is my first story and I wont kill u with too many as I’m sure these blog thingos will get harder and harder.

Rain Delay in tennis, Federer leading and one cup of coffee drunk!

The beach scene after the epic Straddie jet-ski landing

I’ll take u straight to the present. I have just arrived home from one of my funniest trips ever and also one of the most touching. A boat trip in the Mentawais with most of my best mates on tour! Snake, TB, Steds, Clouse , the always hilarious Ronnie Blakey, photogs Nath Smith, Nate Lawrence and Pete. But the best and most incredible surfer on our trip was the freak Richard Dic Lovitt.

What an amazing story, a year and a half ago he was surfing and beating the best surfers in the world when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Now with a metal hip he was back surfing solid 6-8′ waves with the biggest grin on his face ever. Yeah, he got the best bed and we had to make his cups of tea, and do some stuff for him I’m sure he could do himself but not one of us cared less! I have never been in a line up and watched pro surfers watch and cheer another pro surfer so much, we are normally way too competitive.

To see Ric surf like he did and push it more and more was easily one of the best surfing experiences I (and I’m sure the others) have ever had! My hats off to u Ric u truly are a legend of our sport!

On a lighter side to our trip (i wont bore u with the surf but yeah it was pumping) was a few weird music clips we did and a couple of good drinking sessions! The music clips were hilarious, can you imagine what our Indo boat crew were thinking when Snake, with a dress shirt undone, tiny bike tights and his bald head, got up and mimed and sung into a camera? I’m sure u might see a bit of it on our web site, I might start a poll to see who wants it!

Drinking games are pretty normal on boat trips and so is shaving hair so the quick outcome was: SNAKE - No hair on head (ha ha, had to throw that in), and chest. Also had to put on Clouse’s shaved hair. TAJ- No armpit hair (yuk), had his eyebrows almost gone but won them back just in time!

RIC LOVE - Chest hair gooooone.

CLOUSE- Shaved head, pretty heavy for a super model.

RONNIE - Shaved back, chest and armpits, think he liked it so much he did his testicles!!

MYSELF - Shaved chest, said I never would and now the boys at Bondi Rescue think I have finally come around! Ouch.

Well, there u go, just a few stories I hoped u enjoyed. If I get up to anything fun before Chile I’ll keep u informed. I do have a golf weekend booked with all my mates including ex WCT surfer Hitcho, so that will be a lot of laughs.

‘Til next time, keep your stubs cold, in case I drop in for one or twenty!

See Ya,

Whits

PS: Tennis still on rain delay!