Here’s Why North Point Is A High Performance Epicentre

The grand North Point ballyhoo of a few days past missed its target. While we waited for the first event at West Oz’s premiere rifling point, mouths salivated. We said a “great day in pro surf” could unfold (key word: could), had it validated by both the forecast and local ex-CTer and Pipe Master turned coach, Jake “Snake” Patterson. The sun rose and each hour the event was pushed back another hour. From Oz to Venice rumours of a fractured webcast buzzed through in SMS; in California, we stewed. When the comp went green, caps popped off chilled refreshments; it was Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and the rookie Leo Fioravanti. Almost a superheat…until Kelly won with a total score of eight. Those who elected to catch up on the heat analyser were the real victors.

Days before the waiting period visions of alley-oops, tubes and carves courtesy of NP flooded our inbox–the same day as this episode of Single Sessions with Filipe Toledo was filmed. The wave, when on and consistent caters to high-performance surfing, and although there were glimpses of excellence during the comp, for the most part, we yawned.