"It's been a quiet couple of weeks in the Tasman Sea and unfortunately the outlook for coming week isn't overly promising", says Swellnet forecaster Craig Brokensha.

"A couple of small pulses of southerly swell are expected late in the week, but they won't be enough to get the Island up to standard. There is a chance that we will see a low off the coast on Sunday which may lead to a contestable swell on Monday, but this is still a long time away. We'll update later in the week as more data comes to hand."

Some varied reports ranging from swell chasing to working the daily grind 9-5 here is a quick run down from a picking of the challengers for 2010.

Nick Ormerod - I chopped off the paddlepop lion mop off... About time I think. The waves have been pretty epic on the Gold Coast over the last week or two, not big at all but easily some of the longest barrels I've ever had or seen. There's even been the odd 20 second barrel... sounds ridiculous but you'd believe when you see how good the banks are. Definitely a good feeling after I was out of action for a few weeks from a bad virus in Chile.

Ryan Hardy - Well since a couple of 2ft sessions at Island after the briefing night I flew back home to West Oz and have been taking it fairly easy. In between some EBB shifts I have been getting in the water mostly with my twin bro Brett on one of his hand me down thrusters in some Perth beachies and around Margs...I'd like to claim on the training front that its amazing arm paddling fitness!...reality is I haven't ridden my boogie in 2weeks, but it gets you so amped to bodyboard when you've had a decent break...I'm psyched for some pits with my boogie mates!

Sam Strachan - Been a serious lack of waves in Cronulla, been playing xbox and creeping on the internet haha. Got fun nuggan last week.

Jared Houston - Just been crusing in Cronulla, living with Des Govender and his chick Lauren from Emerald. Been such cool times just cruising in the shop and hanging with all the Grommies. Jacob Romero has been around too so we have been missioning with a Video guy collecting a few clips here and there.
I went down to Luna Park the last swell with Jacob and Glen Sullivan. Ray Collins was there and we met up with him. Was a real eye opening experience, to be honest id never surfed a wave like that but it was super good and I saw and got some amazing waves! All the ozzies were charging I was just stoked to get in on the action!

Ben Player - I'm been surfing around home. I have been loving being able to stay in the same place long enough to get a regular thing happening. So I've just been surfing heaps and practising my A-Z of bodyboarding and taking advantage of not surfing with peers. I know that it sounds weird being excited about surfing normal waves at home but it's a rate opportunity and the best way to get better. 
It is awesome because the 2 beaches I grew up surfing are always pretty good. There has been a sweet right hand sand bank at South Avalon and insane banks at Whale Beach and I've been pretty much surfing them by myself. 

Brenden Newton - I've been running every morning - miles of cruising, getting vision while the endorphines are smoking.
I've also been riding MV Rip Bowl in the arvo's - post labouring sessions.
Doing the odd trip beyond NSW borders - last proper session was at Luna's on tues - one of the best sessions of my life - 15ft sets by myself in the arvo - nothing but incredible (Photog: Ray Collins. Lets get a lineup/paddle-out for this rant? There is one i had to go straight on - the best shot maybe I have ever had of myself i reckon - such an emotional experience. Man - felt so beautiful driving the hire car back to MEL Avalon by myself) Had some mad close-out bowls at Whaley today - SBC comp 4. 2nd Place. Good day. Sun was out. Wife was sipping coffee, encouraging me thru the heats.

Andrew Lester - I have been on the road up and down the coast visiting stores and trying to bring in sales for turbo. I have only surfed twice since the waiting period started. I really feel i need to get in the water more regularly if I am to have a chance of winning. But I am loving the new sweet Turbo van!

Shaun Pyne - I've just been training heaps, probably been doing more spearfishing than bodyboarding. I've come up with an amazing program down the gym and all my mates from home are always down to work on our fitness so someones always keen to go for a run or swim. The team have almost finished editing for PyneoTV Podcasts. As for waves- Strachan and I scored fun Nuggan mid last week.

Thomas Robinson - I have been just hanging out with friends and surfing when the waves are over one foot, same deal as usual really. Nothing to foam heavy on in the waves department, but a few fun sessions round home all the same.

Dan Worsley - Well there hasn't been many waves lately, and the swell that has hit has been pretty small. So I don't see the need to practise grovelling in small waves for the Island comp. So I've just been fishing loads. Bought myself a new reel and rod so been frothing to use it! I think I've surfed two or three times since the trials. Need to get my act together, but it's been really cold and waves have been pretty bad where I am so it makes it kind of hard to get amped for that. We've still been looking for waves but no luck!

Damian King - Yeah I have been pretty busy! I had a baby about 2 weeks ago, also had the Teams Challenge in Port ( which we won..HA!) and just only got back from a swell at Luna's which was mind blowing!
North Wall has been really fun and consistent, which has been great to practice on rights and the tech side of things for the event. Also yeah just got luna's which was pretty nuts.

Glen Sullivan - Last week I went down to Victoria for Lunas with a few of the other guys. It was fully out of control the first day but pretty pumping the second day. I only managed to catch 3 waves and on my 3rd i got beat down hard on the reef and caught inside pretty badly the one after. I am pretty sure its the hardest I have hit the reef anywhere in my life. I badly corked both of my legs cut sliced up both of my feet. I also lost my board. The combination of me not being able to bend my legs/walk properly and the fact that I didn't have a second board with me was enough to swing my vote to head home a day early. Its not really the kind of place you want to sample someone else's board!

We also had our Local Cronulla (Emerald) Bodyboard club comp on Sunday. I placed 4th behind Jacob Romero, Jared Houston and Lloyd Taylor from the south coast. Waves were fun but it made me realise all the boards I had at home were all too worn in and flexy. As turbo has no boards my size in stock they were nice enough to organise for me to grab one from a local shop that sells them. So the next few days ill be wearing in my brand new Turbo 4 (Hopefully at the island). Also check out my site for some other cool images and clips. CLICK HERE.