Nikki steps up

Phillip Island's Nikki Van Dijk has been turning heads in the water with her clinical attack of waves at home and on international shores for many years. She's been winning junior contests and stepped up to challenge the big names at the Rip Curl Pro for the past four years, and that was before she even turned 18.

This year, Nikki made history, becoming the first Victorian female to qualify for the world tour, after taking out the ASP 6-Star Pantin Classic Galacia Pro in Spain.
It must have been an emotional moment, having missed out on making the 2013 world tour by just three ranking spots last year.
Check out Nikki surfing Spain below and that moment (she's the natural-footer in the fluro green suit and white rashy).

Go back a few months, and Nikki was turning heads at Bells Beach, winning her Round One heat over world number one Tyler Wright and Malia Manuel, and defeating 5-time world champ Steph Gilmore in Round 3; eventually bowing out to New Zealand's Paige Hareb in round four.
There's a lot of discussion going on in surfing circles right now about the place of wildcards in pro surfing competition.
I think wildcards add extra excitement for the fans, are an opportunity for rising stars to step up and challenge the pros and if world tour competitors can freely enter lesser rated events, then I think the wildcard system should stay.

Check out what Nikki had to say following the excitement of the Rip Curl Pro in my interview for Pulse Television.

Congratulating Nikki Van Dijk after the Rip Curl Pro at Easter.

Last year, I stole a few minutes once again with Nikki after Easter before she headed back to the Island. She let me in on why she loves competing, where she feels her surfing's at, and how much Bells means to her.

Keep an eye out for Nikki's name, and her younger brother Joe Van Dijk who's also killing it in junior competition.

On board with Miss Method

If you’re into action sports, or dying to get out there and give them a go – then you’ve got to get on board with Miss Method.

Miss Method is all about progression, style and having fun through sports.

In the past, action sports and their industries – especially skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding have been extremely male-dominated.

I travelled across Melbourne and Australia skating; competing in inline skating, snowboarded and competed round the world, and am coming up to my 7^th summer in the surf.

As a girl it can be intimidating getting out there, giving new things a go, and losing those inhibitions of being a beginner, and caring about “who’s watching”, or how you look.

Things are changing though – more and more girls are getting into, and getting really good at action sports. Sports like roller derby, snowboarding, surfing, standup paddle boarding, mountain biking… and heaps more. You might not see them all that much in the media – but I’m seeing HEAPS more out in the line-up, and on the hill.

The motivator for me has always been that I’d rather be doing something – than sitting on the sidelines watching; it is just WAY more fun.

Erin Height and Ali Deane are behind the new video trick tip series
Miss Method.

We created Miss Method – complete with sequences, descriptions, tips, video trick tips, gear reviews, advice, athlete interviews and Q & A’s as a fun introduction to action sports and a portal for learning new things, stepping up, and progressing.

Miss Method dishes up the know-how on:

-trying new things

-learning and improving your technique

-facing your fears

-taking calculated risks

-learning new tricks

-ripping in the park

-crossing over your board sports

-getting fitter, stronger and more flexible

-being healthy and happy

Progression's the best feeling, and personal achievement is measured by how much stoke you feel - so get ready to get out there, step it up and have some fun!

Check in with Miss Method regularly to get the latest tips and tricks as well as exclusive female athlete interviews! And if you've got any questions or want some advice - hit us up!

See you out there!

Ali and Erin x

Pushing the limits in Geelong

Some top names in the world of triathlon decended on Geelong over the weekend for the third annual USM Events Long course, Olympic distance and the UTI elite sprint distance events, all under the Geelong Multisport banner.

Two-time Olympian and two-time world champ Emma Moffatt, London Olympian Emma Jackson and international challengers competed alongside a contingent of young triathletes looking to make an impact in 2013, the first year out from the Olympics.

The event on Geelong’s waterfront was blessed with perfect weather and buzzing with excitement from fans who cheered their friends on from the sidelines.

I was stoked to catch the action and excitement of the sprint events, and get some insight into the game of tactics and the mental focus required when racing at these distances.

Geelong’s Peter Kerr crossed the line third in the men’s, and claimed the 2013 Australian championship title.

I caught up with the women’s champ New Zealander Sophie Corbidge and newly crowned 2013 Australian champion Grace Musgrove who placed second, and you couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces.

Check out my interview with Grace from the finish line - it was her first elite open tri!

Keep your eye out for her and other Aussie champs challenging at upcoming events this year. If you get the chance, head down to a triathlon sometime to check out all the excitement of multi-sport racing.

Catching up with Parko

2012 was Parko’s year. He took out the final stop the prestigious Pipeline Masters in memory of Andy Irons, over fellow Queenslander Josh Kerr. With Kelly out in the semi’s, Parko paddled out for the final already the world champ.

His consistency continued from the early rounds, and barrel after barrel he got deep and gained the scores he needed.

For Parko, the two-time junior world champ and four-time world tour runner-up, taking the mantle from Slater and the pinnacle in competition surfing, it was clear how much it meant to him.

“Thanks to Andy for pushing those things in. It really felt like he was a part of it out there… he’ll always be a part of it.

“It feels amazing. Thanks Kelly, I’m honoured to accept this from you.”

I was lucky enough to catch up with Joel a week out from stop #2 on the circuit, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, earlier in the year. We spoke about summer, his preparations, the prestige around ringing the Bell and his hopes for the year ahead.

5-foot Cathedral was the perfect setting.

Check out the interview here: 

And keep an eye out for the world champ this year, when things kick off at the Quiky Pro on the Gold Coast, March 2-15.

On snow trick tips

After what was a pretty epic season up at our snowfields coaching the next generation of rippers, I spent some time at Mt Hotham's park breaking down a few tricks to basics. I had so much fun filming the first series of trick tips for Anakie Outerwear, with the help from head designer the lovely Erin Height. If you want to check out some good ways to approach boxes, rails and step up from 50-50's check out the video!

And if you aren't able to hit the hill till next season, keep these tips in mind for next time.

Watch this space for some more trick tips, and always remember don't let fear hold you back too much, get out there and Have some Fun!

On the field with GVTV

Earlier this winter I joined forces with a dedicated crew to help produce and co-host the first season of Gridiron Victoria Television - GVTV. I've been loving getting out on the field, catching some exciting Gridiron action, interviewing the guys post-game and throwing a ball in between takes.

They're about to head into the finals series, so it's only going to get more exciting. Even if you don't know the game, it's a blast to watch, and pretty cool to catch when it's on in your locale. Head to their website or facebook to find out more, in the mean time, here's a few clips from Episode 2, where I profile the Croydon Rangers and Gippsland Gladiators, and help create a buzz around the first ever Victorian Women's side, the Western Foxes.

You can catch GVTV monthly, on the second Monday of the month, on Channel 31, Digital 44 at 6:30pm. 

Reporting from the Rip Curl Pro

This year's Rip Curl Pro was another epic week of surfing from the world's best, and Bells Beach was firing all week. The aerial surfing and epic battles made it super exciting to wait for the scores to drop, and watch the stories unfold. I was down on-site to catch some of the action on the beach, and it was sweet to watch the men's finals with the sand between my toes. I had the opportunity to catch up with some more of my idols and the people that make an event like this happen. Herb Corona captured it for News Geelong, in between his heat analysis. You can check out the story here.

Our local Vicco surfers also represented and it was awesome to catch up with Nikki van Dijk and Nic Muscroft after their impressive surfing, winning the Trials and competing against the best.

Here's some more coverage I put together - 'Victorians step it up at the Pro'.

Helping protect Bells Beach

Apart from being home to a rich Indigenous history and some of the most best known quality surf breaks in the world, Bells Beach on Victoria’s Surf Coast is also a raw and beautiful reserve that needs protection from high visitation and over-development. Population increase and growing numbers of visitors means places like Bells are under even more pressure than ever before from human impacts.

Luckily, caring members of the community have taken Bells under their wing; as part of groups like the Surfrider Foundation, Bells Beach Preservation Society and Surfers Appreciating NaturalEnvironment.

Clean Up Australia Day at Bells in March was just one of many environmental events Surf Coast Surfrider Foundation initiate each year, and the day saw the groups get together to clean up Bells with the help of over 50 volunteers from the community. If you haven’t been part of an environmental action day yet, it is just awesome to see the energy, sense of community and good feelings going round, knowing that you are doing something to keep these patches of paradise protected and respected, and raising awareness about the area at the same time.

Surfrider’s Surf Coast Branch president Rich Bennett told me about the local groups’ long history of protecting the Bells reserve; check out what he had to say here.

Rip Curl Gromsearch 2011

I caught up with some of the State's best young rippers for the 12th annual Rip Curl Gromsearch at Jan Juc last September. It's epic what these guys are doing, and as always it was awesome to catch the stoke that comes from sporting competition, when I spoke with Joe van Dijk, Naomi McCarthy and event organiser Mark Flanagan at the presentations.

Layne continues to inspire

After meeting one of my ultimate heroes Layne Beachley over Easter, I was stoked to catch up with her again this week! Layne recently came second in the Four Seasons Surfing Champions Trophy in the Maldives, amid an all-star, all-male field. We spoke about surfing single fins, and her passion for helping the environment, in particular the huge plastic problem in our oceans due mostly to misinformation, confusion and inaction.

Check out my interview with Layne here:

One of the projects Layne is involved in is the Vac from the Sea Initiative, by the Surfrider Foundation and Electrolux, involving an awareness campaign around non-biodegradable plastics, and the amount that is heading out to sea, and harming animals.

Everyone can help the environment and marine life, by being involved in a local beach clean-up, or contributing to an environmental group.

Who are Chicks with Stix?

Zoe Jaboor is an inspiration for the future of women's sport, and an extremely talented freestyle skier. She's also a great conversationalist, coach, international ski judge and one of the nicest girls I've met. I met Zo over in Mammoth Mountain in California with her sister, and great friend, Anita.

Zoe founded the all-girls freestyle ski and snowboard program Chicks with Stix last year, and this year I was stoked to be a part of the shred days we had up at Mt. Hotham and Mt. Baw Baw. News Geelong caught up with Zo recently to find out how the program's been going.

Check out the story, which was also one of my first News Geelong edits, in Pinnacle Studio Ultimate. 

You can find what Chicks with Stix are up to this season on their website http://www.chickswithstix.com.au/

The lowdown with Herb Corona

With Kelly Slater and Herb Corona at the Rip Curl Pro 2011

Herb Corona is a video maker who hails from Caracas, Venezuela, and now resides in Geelong, Victoria. I met Herb surfing at Jan Juc - he is a super positive, motivated, inspiring, talented and friendly guy and was one of the only ones out there smiling.

Herbie is involved in many sports media projects: a freelancer for his own media company, Surf Coast Media, a cameraman and editor for local media and sport companies, and now a media teacher.

We discussed his attraction to working in sports media, how he got to where he is, his views on new media, advice for potential media workers and what the future holds for him.

Since interviewing Herby, we linked up to cover local news and sport for News Geelong including the 2011 Rip Curl Pro, 2012 Rip Curl Pro and stories with Pulse Television.

Filmed and edited by Herb, check out our coverage of the Rip Curl Pro 2011 here,
(click forward to the 1 minute mark to view the story).

Interview with Deano, Frontier Wakeskates

On Saturday, 26th February I interviewed my brother, Andrew 'Deano' Deane. Although younger than me, he is an inspiration in his creativity, ingenuity, his can-do-anything attitude, his mad board skills and his downright honest personality. He has a fascination with media, design and construction, is a skilled photographer, board rider and the owner and maker of Australia's only wood wake-skate company Frontier Wakeskates.

We spoke about what drew him to photography and digital video, the freedom and ease new media technologies enable in terms of creativity and timely exposure, the benefits underground sports may experience in terms of growth and progression, the advantages a smaller grassroots company can have over the larger brands and I also found out more about his latest project.

Click here to view Part One of my interview with Deano.


And here for Part Two.


I really enjoyed the interview, I discovered some interesting views on sports media and I loved being on location filming.

Here are a couple more clips, filmed and edited by Deano, on wakeskating in Melbourne and Frontier Wakeskates.

On the mic with John 'Reggae' Ellis

John 'Reggae' Ellis has been referred to as a surfing aficionado, he is a commentator on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour, a seasoned snow reporter, and is also the co-publisher and managing editor of Surfing World and Chillfactor magazines.

Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew and Reggae.

I met Reggae up at Thredbo during the filming of snow reports for the 2008 season. Reggae's variety of work in sports media, his friendly and fun personality and his stoke on life intrigue and motivate me to follow my aspirations of working in sports media and I always look forward to catching up with him at surf events or in the mountains.

Reggae's roles in sports media have utmost appeal to me, as he is often travelling, meeting and speaking with exciting people and he seems to have so much fun. I spoke with Reggae recently about how and why he got into surf media, advice he has for entertaining and informing audiences, advice for women hoping to break into a male dominated sport and industry, and the changes that new media are bringing to the sport.

Click here to listen to my interview with Reggae.

I had fun interviewing Reggae from the studio at 94.7 The Pulse. We had a few laughs and it was interesting finding out more of Reggae's path into the various roles in surf and snow media, his opinions on new media, and his advice of being yourself, being natural and maintaining humour when you are on the mic.