Yesterday Saturday September 3th was a day of practice, the contest site was still getting its finishing touches and it was a perfect day to see some of the pros in the surf without the crowds. One might think that the pro's are unavailable or have attitudes of greatness, well, exactly the opposite.

Just going inside the Allegria Hotel, headquarter of the event, Taj Burrow happened to be hanging out there. We couldn't help but to greet him and wish him luck – He's been trying for a world title for his whole career and has gotten close, but like so many others, gets outdone by Kelly Slater - and he kindly shacked our hands and said "thanks mate".

At the beach, we ran into the young star Clay Marzo (hawaii) who is one of the favorites for the last wildcard spot. Marzo is a sufferer of Asperger Syndrome, Aspergers is a form of autism and people with Aspergers often display intense interests, in Clays case it is surfing. Clay is heavily involved with the Surfers Healing organization www.surfershealing.org.

Also competing for the wildcard is Christobal De Col (Peru) who has been to Costa Rica to Salsa Brava wave a few times. He said he would love to go back to Costa Rica and surf with local surfer and friend Gilberth Brown. De Col's home wave is a wave called Organos in Northern Peru.

We noticed CJ Hobgood as well going for practice surf. CJ is in the contest and is from Florida so he should be very happy to be competing on the East Coast of the USA after having to take planes to the other parts of the world, he finally get to jump into a 2 hrs flight. Another surfer here from Florida is Jeremy Johnston who told us of his friend now living and shaping boards in Costa Rica under the brand Wooster Surfboards.

Just before they paddled out we got to say hello to Adriano De Souza (Brasil) , currently ranked 4th in the world, and his friend also on tour Heitor Alves (Brasil). Adriano has been to Costa Rica before to Hermosa and Tamarindo and he knows pro surfer Carlos Munoz, when asked why he believes none of the Costa Ricans are on the world tour he simply replied "don't worry, its coming! Patience you will see".

One spot left in the contest
Today Sunday the 4th is the Wildcard Trials for the last spot in the contest sponsored by local surf shop Unsound.. As with all Association of Surfing Professionals events, there are two wildcards selected to mix it up with the world's Top 34 ranked surfers. And this is where it really gets interesting. The two wildcards are always immediately drawn against the two top seeds of the event. That sounds like a good deal for the top seeds, but as often as not, the youthful ambition and nothing-to-lose mentality of a wildcard can prove to be the undoing of a champion.

Long beach local Balaran Stack has secured one wildcard already, so today is the big day for just one of the 16 surfers competing for their chance at the million dollar prize money. Stay tuned as we bring you more and Hurricane Katia's swell grows near.

More Surf News

Final Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
Owen Wrights Revenge

Yesterday was one of those days where you turn to your wife and say "honey the kids are staying home from school", and by the looks of things on the beach either the unemployment rate is very high or a lot of people called in sick to work. Either way you did not want to miss the action.

Round 4 with surprises at the Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
"I've never beaten Kelly and I'm just so stoked right now", Josh Kerr

The world's best surfers tore through a marathon on the day 3 of competition with some incredible performances to decide the event's quarterfinalists in pumping six foot (1.5 metre) surf.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Round 2
Do Or Die at the Quiksilver Pro

This Wednesday 7 was a day for elimination, its time to start narrowing down the pack, as these surfers each fight like wolves to sniff out that $300,000 first place prize. The Hurricane generated surf is here and with waves like this there is no time to waste.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Round 1
Bad weather brings good waves

Every surfer knows that you need low pressure and bad weather to make good surf, and the sky was grey and rainy here today in New York as the contest has begun. We woke up to offshore winds and a small groundswell, enough to run the first round. The swell is only growing and by the time the finals come around in a few days we will see the largest surf. Everyone is starting to see what Long Beach can offer.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Opening Ceremonies
Ladies and gentlemen start your engines.

Today Monday the 5th was the opening Ceremony in New York. The day began at 11 am with a traditional Hawaiian Lei ceremony blessing the event given by Hawaiian ambassadors of Aloha Mel Pu'u and Titus Kinimaka. All the surfers lined up and then the blessing was given in traditional Hawaiian language and Leis were put on all the surfers.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011 Wildcard competition Nolan Grabs Final Spot

Its amazing what these guys can do in small surf. On a day you might pass up, these pros are turning nothing into something. By the time you make one bottom turn they make 3 slashes. Truly amazing to watch as the 16 athletes trying to gain the wildcard spot. Competition started this morning at at 8am.

Quiksilver Pro NY 2011
Surf Contest Moves Forward Despite Hurricane Irene Damage and VON Is There to Cover the Event.

Hurricane Irene battered the shores of Long Beach NY with a direct hit a week before the Quiksilver Pro was to start, but the city of Long Beach is digging themselves out and the contest will go on. Voice of Nosara is in New York based out of Long beach and will be posting news, results, pics and video on a daily basis.

Crocodiles in the Ocean: Myth or Truth?

How many times have you heard the rumor that crocodiles surf the ocean during September and October? Surely several times, especially if you live in Playa Guiones, Peladas or Ostional. But many times rumors are just that, rumors, so in order to free myself from all doubt I have taken on the task of finding out if this is true or not.

Don Redondo Part 19