Cloudbreak Cleans-Up

"THAT was the best wave I have ever seen in my life." Dave Wassel said as Stu Johnson transported him from his boat to the top of the line and a single unridden 20ft bomb reeled down the reef, untamed by the 20-25 big wave maniacs out at Cloudbreak. "People were comparing this session all day to the waves in July last year, and honestly it wasnt quite as big as July but the surfing was undeniably more polished. Guys were making the craziest sections." Said Stu. "Top performers I would have to say: Ian Walsh, Ramon Navaro, Reef Mcintosh, Dave Wassel, John Florence, Mark Healy and honorable mention and then some for everyone else." Waiting after so much hype was intolerable - two weeks ago this swell lit up the charts and we dropped the big word, then it leaked that the event would swap to Restaurants and boom the bottom dropped out of the world. But hang on, the morning surf check saw small onshore Restaurants and 10ft building Cloudbreak, cue: the great swap. After a maddening few hours frantically hauling kit into the tower at Cloudbreak, a two mile tinny bump and thump across the water from Tavarua the event was on. The second Adam Melling dropped into a bomb you saw why they wanted to surf Restaurants. Cloudbreak was tricky, big waves, mountainous moguls on the face, rivers of water rushing through the line-up and no real barrels. Turns out Cloudbreak doesn't look perfect all the time, espcially not at this size. Adam Melling's board was chattering like a gurning teen on Tavarua face chunks, the face of the wave not much much smaller than a Big Wave World Tour stop. Balls to the wall, no real barrels to kick-off but heck these guys can surf the big stuff don't doubt that. © 2013 Stu Johnson

"Cloudbreak is 12ft and onshore, Restaurants is 3ft and onshore - if the wind would just cooperate we'd have the best day on tour." Said Parko shortly before the contest was called off. Almost the moment they called off the comp at 2pm having only managed two heats, the wind dropped and Parko went out and got one of the best waves of his life.

Sure the quality is a bit grimy but if you want 10 minutes of Kelly Slater commentating on the sickest surfing you'll ever see then press that play button.

Reef Mcintosh in his usual environment.

Ian Walsh, all the red really helps when you need to be picked out by the ski from the almost inevitable apocalyptic ending.

Kai Otten, now a legit big wave demon. "Those were the biggest most perfect waves I've ever surfed," He said. "It was pretty nerve-wracking being first up. We were on and then off and then on again. You have to be prepared to go. I think everyone on tour is more than capable of handling Cloudbreak as big as it gets, we just have to pick our window with the wind. Mello (Adam Melling) was charging out there too so tough luck to him but I'm pumped to get some bombs and get through to Round 3."

Bede Durbidge faces up against Taj in Rd3 which word on the water says will be held at Restaurants tomorrow if, as expected, the forecast south east winds turn up.

Ian Walsh, game face for the paparazzi.

Kai Borg played the ski patrol role alone at one point, here him and Nate Fletcher contemplate the carnage around them.

One of the Aussie boys getting a fair dinkum dig.

Damien Hobgood paddled out on a 6.5 because he's really good at taking off vertically into steaming left-hand barrels and making it.

There he goes.

And bang he's away. If you haven't got him in your Fantasy Surfer team here then you're an idiot.

Quite a few waves went unridden but not unwatched.

Kohl Christensen is always a standout here, back in July 2011 he almost made the most insane barrel here and was back doing much of the same today.

The safer side of the lineup on the huge expanse of reef commonly known as Cloudbreak.

Early morning train to catch

It started off looking pretty manageable on the odd set.

Throw the dice and see what happens.