THE TAJ CHARGE CONTINUES

TB Takes Snapper

Jordy was coming off the back of a victory over Dane and was looking just plain dangerous, not in height or girth but in sheer intent.

As he put on a too-small contest singlet, manager Shmoo proferred: "Jordy wants it. He wants to silence any critics this year, and he knows he's going to have to surf real well to beat Taj right now. But man is he ready."

Taj looked out over the surf with his parents Vance and Nancy, who'd made a surprise trip from Yallingup: "He didn't even know we were coming." Taj threw on his singlet and hit the jump-off."

Snapper was all wobbly walls and foam, sun shining through the back like lime jelly and ice cream, There were still glimpses of whackable pockets.

Despite Jordy rampaging through the line-up like Godzilla the final was Taj's. He got the sets, he swung like a wrecking ball, from trough to lip, coming out of each episode with twice as much speed.

When you realise Taj Burrow hasn't lost a heat since October you start to wonder what he's doing differently than anyone else?

Those gouge/hack things in the lip almost defy the human range of motion for ankle, knee and hip sockets. If anyone knows how a human being can surf more critical than this they will be able to beat Taj. Until then, the roll will continue.