Aerials and food fights on The O’Neill Mission
With the predicted swell failing to materialize, it was with the aid of jetskis that the surfers were flying through the water during the second session of The O’Neill Mission.
The surf might have only been 2 to 3 foot, but Hawaiian water cameraman Larry Haynes, wasn’t having an easy ride as he filmed the aerial escapades of the surfers.
“Justin came a bit close, and almost hit me,” Larry said. And Cory wasn’t too far off either.
“It’s still showing swell to come in…we are beginning to see the leading edge of it now.”
Matt Wilson, Contest Director
The tow-out sessions were the prime opportunity to view the aerial skills of the grom on The Mission, Julian Wilson.
“The waves are pretty small,” he said, “so there is not a lot you can do. But with the jetski you can definitely get some speed up. It’s good fun.”
Cory Lopez’s strong carves were on display, but the standout combination came from Adam Robertson, landing a nice air, maintaining his speed and pulling off a nice carve off the top.
Adam Robertson, the Australian winner of The O’Neill Highland Open is always the first surfer in his wetsuit, running to the water, keen to get in no matter what the conditions.
“If we don’t do that, we are just going to sit in our caravans in the campsite,” Adam said. “I guess its also good practice to surf small waves. I am used to a lot more consistent and bigger waves than this back in Victoria in Australia.”
Adam, who has sacrificed a surf trip in Indonesia with friends to be on the northwest coast of France with The O’Neill Mission is also having no problems entertaining himself out of the water.
“Food fights,” he said. “Jarrad and I have been taking on Julian and Ian. We are definitely winning. We have about a 75 percent strike rate, while they are on about 35 to 40 percent.”
There is an end in sight for the food fights and rugby playing as Matt Wilson, contest director follows the swell charts. “It’s still showing swell to come in,” he said. “We are beginning to see the leading edge of it now.”
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