As we wrap up the final weeks of what we would consider decent bodyboarding waves here on the north shore, the fellas at Heights Productions & Skylarking dug through the vaults and found a few video clips of the waveriders that were fortunate enough to be around and blessed with a great month of bodyboarding in April.  Check out the latest video.  Video footage is courtesy of Skylarking & Heights Productions.  Brought to you by It’s Soap soap company.  It’s Soap is a natural line of handmade soaps fresh from the North Shore sold weekly at the Haleiwa Farmer’s Market on the north end of Haleiwa town.  Check them out next time you feel like you gotta take one showa!  …SpUnJaHcHrOnIc…

Locals only at this time of the year on the North Shore. Micah McMullin scoping the waves with his quiver of No.6 bodyboards & Hinano Tahiti surf shorts. Support the brands that support bodyboarders. Aloha!

WATCH IT IN HD!

We went pro!  You can too!  With the revolution and release of the Go Pro HD Surf Hero over 2 years ago, waveriders around the world have been capturing amazing video footage and images in the water that previously only the most experienced ocean cinematographers could convey to the general waverider.  The plastic waterproof housing and compact fixed fisheye camera has revolutionized what many have called “Point of view” water photography & videography.  Before the invention of the Go Pro, riders rode waves with cameras crudely mounted onto their boards & other body parts weighing up to 20+ pounds!  The Go Pro still cannot rival all of the qualities of that type of prosumer camera equipment, but it’s a big step ahead of anything in comparison to it’s size and durability.  With all of this being said the Go Pro camera still delivers amazing angles that only it can in this day in age.  The design of the camera allows riders to use  limitless imagination based upon self perception and experience.

Spunjah Chronic recently received a video submission from Heights Productions by Mark Balasbas.  The clips offer a collection of late springtime waves that the islands have been blessed with over the last 30+days from the famous stretch on the North Shore of Oahu between Rocky Point and Off the Wall, including the famous Banzai Pipeline. Although the Go Pro is relatively inexpensive compared to other high definition video cameras on the market, it still takes some experience to operate and capture these images, but we all have to start somewhere right?  Experience in point of view of shooting in the ocean definitely creates a plus and an edge when capturing these moments.  Enjoy the following video with an old familiar tune that most locals in generation x would consider a classic by now.  Ahui Hou!  ….spunjahchronic….

The NS is still producing some juice, while trade swell at the moment, northwest swells are expected to pick up again next week.  Check out the caption on the Surfline.com photo below.  Of course the “two suicidal bodyboarders” were getting waves but Surfline is probably afraid to show them because those two guys Nakana Riveira & Mark Balasbas were getting shacked.  Pipe was unridable this day until about 4:30 pm when Nakana & Mark Healy paddled out.  Shortly after they were joined by Mark B & Chris Kalima who was bodysurfer.  Chris commented right before dark saying “I wish I could have just teleported my bodyboard out there for a few before I went in”.  Stay tuned as we bring you more late season north shore action.  SpUnJaHcHrOnIc…

Jeff Hubbard is the new Pipeline Champion for 2011.  If pipe is your local spot like it is for Jeff Hubbard you deserve the Pipeline title!  In the last 5 minutes of competition Jeff Hubbard topped young gun Australian Tom Rigby for the Pipe title.  Jeff’s blood sweat & tears once again took control of the heat 5 years later since his last win in 2006.  A crew of Australian’s were along the shoreline thinking Tom Rigby had it sealed as Hubb’s wave count and selection was lacking.  Soon enough Hubb slowly made his comeback as north shore locals Happy Zurowski & Colin Black stood on shore alongside the 50+ Australians.  Hubb then in the final minutes of the heat took off @ backdoor and blazed through a mental serction and reversed out in the flats as he claimed it showing the crowd that he was gonna make a comeback.  Soon enough the Hawaiians started pouring down the beach cheering Jeff on as he sealed the deal and followed up the tube with a huge ARS and a rollo that led him to shore.  Experience and local knowledge took Hubb into his 3rd Pipeline Championship.

Mahalo nui loa to Maurice Aubuchon & Surge bodyboarding magazine for hooking us up with the shot and supporting the sport all the way.

Jeff Hubbard 2011 Pipeline Champion

Competition continued yesterday on the north shore for the Pipeline Pro.  The contest organizers decided to run despite the unpredictable variable winds which created bad surfing conditions for mid morning heats and the rest of the day.  Round 5 of the Men’s was completed as well as the Women’s division.  Today the dropknee division was completed with Kim Feast from Australia taking first place!  Congrats to the Aussie and his first DK title.  Monday is a holiday in America, President’s Day so that means no competition can be run on that day.  A medium sized north north swell is expected to hit Monday into Tuesday. Competition should resume on Tuesday and may even finish up if time and waves permit.  Stay tuned as we’ll show you what video highlights we were able to obtain from some of our friends out on the beach during competition Friday & Saturday…spunjahchronic…

Day 1 of competition of the bodyboarding Pipeline Pro went down today but not over the exact section of reef called Pipeline.  It went down straight out from Ehukai beach park.  Swell from the north over the last week has shifted the sand into places that don’t make conditions quite ideal for riding Pipe but do create contestable conditions at the beach park.  The swell today was from the north and the majority of the contest area covered in sand today the waves were challenging.  Big el rollos and combos were what got riders through heats.  It came down to consistency and style.  Stay tuned to SpunjahChronic and head down the beach park again tomorrow morning if you are interested in watching some of the best bodyboarders in the world.

Most of the sand at Ehukai was piled up directly in front of the park and towards Gums. The sectioning ares of the sandbar created challenging conditions and well rounded riders really got to show their experience these types of conditions

A bodyboarder in the second heat of the day hits a no cross leg loft reverse

The setup for the Pipeline pro isn't what it used to be but the riders are still thankful for those who dedicate their time and effort into continuing to make this event happen for over 20 years

A basic move was the staple for today's competition. A bodyboarder here hits a nice round el rollo off of a closeout section. As you can see he tries to extend his arms to catch the judges eyes.

In recent months some new faces have showed up locally on the north shore. Here's Keoni Haina snapping a reverse 360 into an open face

Nakana Riveira was the only person out at Rockpiles this morning. Here he is coming down the face of a wave looking more like Pipe. Word had it that Nakana was contacted by the IBA to participate in a last minute slot that opened up in the contest. Nakana did not return the call from the IBA. And compared to the size of the sandbar and what the rest of the contest forecast looked like we don't think he missed anything. On top of that you can't beat this crowd, no one out in the water and a lone ranger on the beach picking shells.

Small waves prevail on the north shore although a small bump did start showing in the evening today.  As you can see the sand in the Pipeline area is not exactly in the prime spots for Pipeline to do it’s thing.  But rest assured that the top riders involved in the 2011 Turbo Pipeline Pro will be putting on a show like only the sport of bodyboarding can do.  Stay tuned as we’ll do our best to show you what’s happening.  Will competition begin it’s first day tomorrow?  We shall be patient and wait and see!…SpUnJaHcHrOnIc…