What’s up? How about some surfing soul ...

Earlier this morning the main man behind the counter at the Laguna Coffee company asked me: “What’s up in the world of surfing?”

My reply was: “Not much, except for some earlier than anticipated June gloom and more flatness in the lake that we commonly call the ocean.”

However, that wasn’t completely accurate.

The Body Glove pro Surfbout finished last Saturday in sometimes windy conditions in the three- to four-foot range.

The unheralded 21-year-old Dustin Cuizon, of Hawaii, took the victory followed by last year’s Macy’s series champion Asher Nolan, and Luke Syedman, a World Championship Tour surfer and recent runner up to Kelly Slater at the last WCT event in Australia. Rounding out the four-man pro final was surfing’s funny man Alex Gray.

My prediction for this event was that the plastic-fantastic man Rob Machado would be standing once again in the winner’s circle. Well, not exactly.

After bowing out of the Body Glove pro held at Lower Trestles, Machado once again stood in the winner’s circle. However, it was after winning the Cosmic Creek challenge held last weekend at Salt Creek ? not the Body Glove pro as I had predicted. Details. Details.

The Cosmic Creek event is unique for one reason. It’s a step back on the good old time machine, in that it only allows competitors to surf on the allocated quiver of surfboards that have been hand-picked for this special event.

Those were either used single-fin or twin-fin surfboards that were shaped and ridden in the heyday of the 1970s.

Knowing Machado and his soulfulness, I’m willing to bet that he wasn’t too upset about not making the finals of the Trestles event. Because the Cosmic Creek is all about surfing soul and Rob’s surfing sure has a lot of it.

Also making the finals of the pro division was So Cal veteran surfer Dino Andino, Daniel Thompson and Salt Creek local Micha Pitts taking fourth.

Looking ahead: Beginning May 4 will be the starting period for the infamous Billabong pro, Tahiti, and once again I am putting my money on Kelly Slater to make it three for three on this years WCT Tour.

Any takers?

Till next week, stay healthy, keep surfing.

Peace.