The Dream Tour Cliff Notes

The word surfing instinctively evokes images of enticing exotic locales and perfect A-frame barrels—the fantasy land doodled on your notebook while your math teacher droned on about inverse fractions. The 2007 Foster’s Men’s World Tour makes these daydreams reality with 10 larger-than-life events spanning the globe. Each contest is drastically different and success depends on wave knowledge, skill and a little bit of luck.

Here’s the inside line on the events, breaks and conditions that make it the ultimate “Dream Tour”, as well as what it takes to win. This is one lesson that won’t leave you asleep and droolin’ on your desk.

 

PHOTO GALLERY    Check out photos of the different stops of the ASP World Tour View Gallery>

Quiksilver Pro—Gold Coast, New South Wales, Australia
February 27 - March 11
It’s no mystery why Mick Fanning is one of the fastest surfers in the world—you’ve got to move quick when one of your home breaks is the most crowded in the world! Snapper Rocks is a long peeling right-hander that, when the sand is right, can extend for a ride of over one kilometer. This phenomenon is known as “Superbank”. Regular-footed progressive surfers enjoy success here. If Snapper isn’t cooperating, Kirra, D-bah and Burleigh Heads are other viable options for the contest. In addition to some of the best breaks in the world, the Gold Coast is home to nightlife that easily rivals Miami and boasts a bevy of beautiful women.

Favorites: Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Dean Morrison

 

Rip Curl Pro—Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 3 - April 13
Bells Beach is one of the most misunderstood breaks on the tour. Featured in Point Break as the spot where Bohdi rode his last wave to the hereafter, the wave seen in the movie was actually filmed on the Oregon Coast. Additionally, Bells Beach doesn’t have much beach to it. A fast right-hand reef break surrounded by rocky cliffs and bucolic farmland, Bells is home to the longest running contest on the tour and has seen some of the most exciting face-offs in surfing. The winner historically is honored by getting to ring the bell that sits as part of the trophy.

Favorites: Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo

 

Billabong Pro Teahupo‘o—Taiarapu, Tahiti
May 4 - May 14
A heaving three-story wall of water straight out of a sweat-drenched nightmare crashing on a sharp shallow reef, Teahupo‘o (pronounced Cho-poo) is easily the most feared wave on tour. Even watching the action from the channel is not for the faint of heart, where rogue outside sets have been known to capsize boats (the preferred method of reaching the competition area) and swallow expensive camera equipment. The wave is a ledgy left-hand barrel, which could easily double as a garage for a mack truck. What does it take to win here? No hesitation and cojones...big ones.

Favorites: Cory Lopez, Bobby Martinez, Andy Irons, Kelly Slater

Rip Curl Pro Search—Somewhere In Chile
June 20 - July 1
In just it’s third year of existence, the Rip Curl Pro Search quenches every surfer’s thirst for far-flung, relatively unknown pristine waves. This year, The Search travels to Chile, a country where surfing didn’t gain popularity until the 1980s. The water is frigid and most spots are either heavy reef breaks or left-handed point breaks. With over xx miles of coastline, the exact location is anyone’s guess—and Rip Curl ain’t tellin’. Past years events have been held at St Leu on Reunion Island and a super-secret spot “Somewhere In Mexico”.

Favorites: Taj Burrow, Taylor Knox, Bobby Martinez

 

Billabong Pro—Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
July 11 - July 22
South Africa’s long, epic point breaks were immortalized by Bruce Brown’s epic tale Endless Summer. J-Bay has gone from a sparsely populated sand dune to a bustling tourist location supported in good part by surfing. The wave, which on the surface appears to be a beautiful, peeling right blessed with prevailing offshore winds, is actually far more complicated. The bottom contour is marked by a lava reef of varying depths, the water cold and extremely sharky. One shark in particular took an intense liking to Taj Burrow, sending him quickly to shore! The main event is generally surfed at Supertubes. Wave knowledge and ability to improvise are event winning skills at this spot.

Favorites: Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Pancho Sullivan

Boost Mobile Pro of Surf Presented By Hurley—Trestles, California
September 7 - September 18
The pressure is on at the Boost Mobile Pro. With the event held smack dab in the middle of the surf industry’s home base of Orange County, many of the surfers’ sponsors are on hand. Arguably the best wave in Southern California, Lower Trestles is located in one of the area’s last stretches of undeveloped coastline. Lowers is a pointbreak with two waves—a short, punchy left with barrel potential and a long, workable right. The Boost Mobile Pro is the only tour event on the Mainland U.S., and has a history of being won by Aussies.

Favorites: Joel Parkinson, Chris Ward, Phil MacDonald

Quiksilver Pro France—South West Coast, France
September 21 - September 30
Barrels, baguettes and bare-breasted women, France is a surfer’s wet dream. A sandy beach break with conditions that can change at a moments notice, Hossegor is one spot that will keep any competitor on their toes. Surf can quickly jump from two feet to 10 and tidal swings can range over 20 feet. Warm, shorebreak barrels and peaky lines are the ordre du jour. The surfer with a well-rounded repertoire has the advantage here—barrel riding, powerful carves and innovative airs.

Favorites: Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning, Jeremy Flores

Billabong Pro - Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain
October 1 - October 14
Located in the historic Basque Country, Mundaka is home to one of the best left-handed surf spots on the planet and is a goofyfooter’s paradise. The rivermouth provides a paddle-free ride to the lineup and the rides can extend up to 400 meters if the conditions are right. The event was cancelled in 2005, after shifting sandbars caused the wave to disappear, but in 2006, the sand returned and rookie Bobby Martinez took the title. Each year, the event winner is ceremoniously tossed into the harbor by competitors and locals.

Favorites: Bobby Martinez, Kelly Slater, Andy Irons


Nova Schin Pro Brasil Presented by Billabong—Santa Catarina, Brazil
October 30 - November 7
Brazilians are fiercely passionate about surfing and when the tour comes to town, the crowds show up in droves. A smaller wave than most of the other spots on tour, the Nova Schin Pro held in Florianopolis, Brazil can play a big role in determining the outcome of the world title. This year the event will be based at Imbituba, a short beachbreak with waves in both directions. This event favors progressive surfing and aerial maneuvers.

Favorites: Taj Burrow, Damien Hobgood, Josh Kerr

Billabong Pipeline Masters—Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawai‘i
Pipeline is the deadliest wave in the world. It’s also one of the most famous, breathtaking and coveted surf spots known to man. Heavily localized, the occasional beatdowns serve more as a warning to those not prepared to deal with the heaviness of the break than unfriendliness Pipeline is the steep, left-handed hollow barrel, with Backdoor serving as its mirrored opposite. Surf here can range from fun to frightening, but wipeouts are always critical. No other event carries the prestige of the Pipe Masters, and it provides a fitting conclusion to Foster’s ASP World Tour. Experience triumphs at Pipe...there is no substitute.

Favorites: Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Bruce Irons.