Events El Fronton Warriors

In: Events by philgallagher 3 Comments Tue 23rd Nov '10

Tags: IBA , Ben Player , Damian King , Ryan Hardy , Dave Winchester , Canary Islands , el Fronton

By now unless your living in the non digital age you would have noticed a fair amount of hype going around for the el Fronton Invitational due to run on any given day from the 10th until the 21st of December.

Four lucky Australian men will take part in this event. We fired off some quick questions whilst they finish off packing and preparing for not only this event but also the final event on the IBA Tour at Confital also on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

For an awesome clip of last years freesurfing action at el Fronton, Click HERE.

We also found some tasty images from the first trips there in early 2000 by Australians. Good luck to all the guys and keep an eye online for all the action.

 

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Dave Winchester

 How good is this place really? We see all the footage of massive airs and big pits but how does it rate?

It is an incredible wave, if offers everything you want in bodyboarding, big heavy barrels and big ramps. Its a wedge like Nuggan, but has as much power as any wave out there. It lives up to the hype.

 Lefts or rights out there? Where will we see you hitting the big sections?

The rights are usually easier to land big moves on, but it all depends on the swell direction. If a good left comes your not going to say no. 

With this event being a special showcase event and a non tour event, what is on the line with this event?

Its just really good promotion for the tour next year, show everyone how exciting bodyboarding is. Fingers crossed its pumping waves, thats all we need.

 Who do you see as the biggest threat out there?

Any of those guys, they have all been picked for a reason, but also the locals no the wave better than anyone and they are just as competitive if not more as any of us. Tamega is always a threat, but so are the other 3 guys in his heat.

With Ten Thousand for first place, explain how Christmas day would celebrated in the Winchester household if that sort of green came home?
It would stay pretty similar to how is going to be, Organic roasted turkey, couple of drinks, fun and games with the kids. But it would have a really exciting vibe. Maybe the girls would get a bit more spoiled than they already do.

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Ryan Hardy

How big do you think guys will be pushing it out there in this special exhibition style event?

I think guys will be pushing really hard!! Particularly in going for abnormally large boosts off dangerous sections and pushing over the ledge of hectic slabs that would otherwise be thought twice about! It may not be a title decider event but you only need to look at the invitational Tahiti and shark island events over the years to realise how hard guys are willing to go - at this level, given the chance.

Is it an easy wave to read when your out there like Pipeline or Tahiti? It seems that sometimes the wave have a mind of their own out there?

Yes definitely! It's relatively easy to read the peak coming towards you and where you need to be in relation to it to be able to make it- but it's how many steps the wave has or how heavy it bends and wraps on the reef that's unpredictable!

It's one thing to ride these waves but how hard is it to navigate the inside shelf getting in from a session? Have you had any bad wipeouts out there?

I haven't had any of the big psycho sessions out there yet - they would be real hectic getting in and out - but yeah getting in and out of 'the gauntlet' on your average day can be real touch and go!...but the locals think it's like coming in at your local beach!

Who is the one guy you hope you don't draw in a heat out there?

Probably Tamega...I think he's probably the craziest guy out there with the most ability and knows the reef as well as anyone. He's the favourite in my eyes for sure!

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Damian King

How does this wave stack up against locations like Shark Island or Tahiti?

I think this wave could possibly be better! It has the heavy aspect that those waves have but also a huge ramp to go with it.  In addition it is a peak, so you have the option of going left and right, which will make a huge difference in heats as it give riders more options. 

How do you think the judges will be scoring this wave? Is it all about the pits or do you think the big ramps will be the major scoring factor out there?

Dunno, I would like to say both. I think if you can mix both of them together that will be the key, fronton is a heavy reef and judges need to give credit to late drops and deep tubes just as much as big airs...well have to wait and see.

How do you train for a wave like this?

I think just get in the water as much as possible and try to surf the wave if you have the chance. You will also have to be in the frame of mind that getting hurt is just part of the deal, otherwise you'll end up holding back and if you hold back in this event you wont win. 

Do you feel as if you have a good idea of how to ride this place? Any crazy stories from being out there?

To be honest I have only had a couple of sessions out there, saying that I got a pretty big pit the first session I surfed it and on the other day saw what waves where the best. For me I loved the wave and as long as you enjoy riding the wave your going to feel natural, which should improve your riding.

With big cash and the chance to showcase pretty amazing action via mainstream media, how important is this event?

I think if you take this bad boy out you wont need Santa to line your socking with presents. Obviously the conditions need to meet you half way, but if the waves turn on this will be the most important event of the year for sure!!! Everyone is going to want to prove something, and that always makes for good entertainment so grab your pop corn cause its show time!!!

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Ben Player

You were in the first group of Australian's to venture to the islands, what was it like to surf and be a part of the whole el Fronton explosion?

Canary's is an amazing place, I loved going there back in the day and surfing with the locals, but it's even better going there now  to see my mates and to also see how much bodyboarding has grown there. The locals over there rip. 

You seem to have surfed it from just breaking cross shore to maxing ten feet tubes, how bad is that inside shelf when you take a beat down?

El Fronton is one of the heaviest spots I have ever surfed. The way the wave breaks makes it really dangerous. The wave comes in and bends so hard around the shallow ledge that the swell turns 90 degrees to it's start point, which makes it dangerous as where you end up at the end of the wave is actually inside of the left and vice versa. 

Seeing the locals go full circle from hardly surfing out there to now ruling the place and now this, a World Tour event. It seems it was because of guys like you that the Canarian guys are pushing it so hard these days? Is this a fitting suggestion?

There's always been a solid crew of rippers out there, and guys with careless abandon for their lives. Today the performance level is world class, with guys 16 years old shredding every where all over the islands and the older guys like Yeray and Ardiel taking it to another level. It's pretty fitting that there's a world tour event there, the riders and spot definitely deserve it. 

What sort of conditions will you being hoping for out there? And what sort of conditions do you think will suit a competition out there?

I hope it's pretty west and 4-8ft. I hope it's ripable, but not too big to hit. 

What is the craziest thing you have ever seen out in the lineup of el Fronton?

I saw Andre surfing it a few years back and it really wasn't surfable. He caught six 8ft waves and only made one. It all ended with him smashing his elbow on the reef and having to swim 1km to the next town without a board.