Because we all love to have the latest gossip

I don't think that anyone gossips as much as surfers. Our sport remains on the cutting edge of technology with images and movies beamed around the world in milliseconds from our compitions - letting our bored cubicle buddies sip their coffee and pretend to be working while they secretly watch the action at J Bay -yet, as a culture, we rely mostly on word of mouth.

Just think how many times you've asked some random guy with a surfboard how the waves were, and then told him that you had good waves at the same spot a few weeks ago on the Easterly swell, in the morning.

Like he cares.

But really, he does. Because in surfing, information is power, and knowledge is paramount to getting good, uncrowded waves. From these small discussions about surf rose the surfer's penchant for gossip - which makes our conversations about waves and sandbanks just a little bit more exciting.

With that in mind, here's the latest:
It looks like Jordy will not surf Pipeline because of the hip injury that he sustained in the Sunset contest. The big question is, will he get an injury wildcard for next year? And we all care because a no show at this stage of the game almost certainly sinks him. He will only miss one event, however, which weighs against him getting the wildcard.
Damien Fahrenfort has torn ligaments in his ankle on a wipeout at Pipe, and will not be surfing for four weeks. It looks like he and Jordy will be heading to California soon, to escape "The Rock."
Bobby Martinez has left His main sponsor, Reef Brazil, after a fight with one of the main guys at Reef.
Target (USA's Mr Price) are waving big money at Quiksilver team rider Dane Reynolds. Like really big money. And with Quiksilver USA cutting back across the board, he might be a little more interested than he would have before the financial crisis...

Now go and get some good waves. If you don't, at least you have something to talk about in the car on the way to the beach.