Portugal Tow In Session With Fanning And Taylor Knox
Justin Cote
- October 21 2009
- 11 comments
Despite what officials thought were sufficient precautions taken, the contest site at the Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubes in Peniche, Portugal was wiped out last night in ten-to-twelve foot storm surf. According to contest director Damien Hardman, the show will go on despite the death by drowning of computers, cameras, and audio equipment. “We really wanted to run today, but the site structure at Supertubos is too badly damaged today and the conditions at Lagido never materialized,” he said. “We’re still seeing plenty of swell on the forecast and better weather so we’ll be back at Supertubos tomorrow at 8am tomorrow.”
Hopefully the “30 Year Storm,” as local Portuguese TV news called it, will bring the yet-to-begin Rip Curl Pro Search some good surf…and didn’t take out all of the Web cast equipment!
While the contest site was being swallowed by North Atlantic storm surf, Rip Curl’s own Mick Fanning and Taylor Knox got a hold of a few jet skis and used them to whip each other into some bombs. Check the exclusive photos of the storm damage and tow-in session below…
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October 21st, 2009 at 9:16 pm
That looks so sketchy!!!
October 21st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Right on guys for charging and ripping, at least someone surfed. Burton H
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
Would have been a really exciting competition today, but Rip Curl stooges set up the event scaffolding on the sand when the "biggest surf in 30 years" is certain to flood the beach. Instead of epic rides and a legendary contest, we get to watch so-called pro surfers get jet ski assisted into 6-10' surf. What a bunch of crap. Now we get to watch another boring dropping swell, WTF??? Whatsup Mick, cant paddle into it? ASP has no balls.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 am
agree with chicken,
besides the uknown current, looks very strokable
water photog gets my vote
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
how come Stu didn't say the surf was shitty in Portugal today???
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Whoever shot the water footage is my hero, love the angles, especially the ones where you can tell he got mowed.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
because it wasn't. That's the type of stuff that deserves a layout on TWS. Not 3 foot Tamarack.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Phelps is better.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 am
30 year swell, and round 1 runs in shoulder high mush. keep searching…