Lowe Predicts Bumper Swells

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday February 26, 2004

By MIKE GANDON

MICHAEL Lowe checked out a weather site on his laptop then predicted heavy swells along the east coast well into next week.

That means young contestants in events like the Billabong Pro Teen junior tournament at Sandon Point starting today and the NSW State Junior Surf Life Saving Championships at Shellharbour Beach tomorrow can expect testing conditions over the weekend.

Lowe, 26, his wife, Amanda, and dog, Hercules, left for Queensland yesterday for the start of the 2004 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) men's World Championship Tour (WCT) kicking off with the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast next Tuesday, March 2, to March 14.

``It looks like the conditions are going to be incredible, definitely the best swell of the year for the whole east coast of Australia," Lowe said.

``We have two lows from a cyclone off New Caledonia which is probably a bit unfortunate for them but good for us, and there's another one forming out from us as well down here so the swell is going to be really good all weekend.

``It looks like there could be another swell for the start of the event next Tuesday which should see us going on the first day which is pretty rare these days.

``Last year we had to wait around a long time."

The Port Kembla professional finished the 2003 ASP WCT in eighth place and is hellbent on a top five placing this year with a burning desire to win the world title.

``Last year my goal was to finish in the five and I was unlucky the year before last to fall out of the five and finish sixth," Lowe said.

``So I was three spots out and realistically if you're in the five, you've got a shot at the title.

``That's where I want to be this year."

Lowe brought some new boards back from Hawaii and has been trying them out over summer.

``It seems like everything has been going really well and I've probably got the best boards I've had for years."

Last week, just down the hill from Lowe's home overlooking Port Kembla Beach, surfers were out in force riding big waves.

``Two days last week - on the Tuesday and the Friday - was probably the best swell we've had in months," Lowe said.

``I surfed for about seven hours on the Tuesday and on the Friday for 51/2 hours, so I put in pretty good hours then and I rode a few different boards - a few new boards and everything felt really good."