Kelly Slater whirled like the proverbial dervish during last weeks swell on the East Coast. All except for one, that is, and he had good reason to be blase about the royal visit. Steen Barnes was in hospital celebrating the arrival of his first born son, Gwil Maxwell Barnes, when the east swell hit. On Thursday he took a lunchtime leave pass and with camera in tow he headed for the coast.

Their discipline and willpower is positively saintly and lies beyond the understanding of my limited imagination. Yet if it wasn't for the inexplicable proclivities of this weird and wonderful mob we wouldn't have this eye candy to drool over. Today it's Saint Steen Barnes, who denied himself a morning full of shacks to bring you a screen full of joy, and for that we are all thankful. Amen.//STUART NETTLE

The standout surfer of the day was local lad Hayden Blair.

Kneelos should piss off back to the 70's and lids should just piss off.

Barrels - checkSunny blue sky - negativeClear blue water - negativeSwaying palm trees - negativeBikini babes on the beach - not sure, but I highly doubt it Steen Barnes and the 'Gong kneelo crew strip their surfing back to the fundamentals.

Is it just me or does it seem like the Christmas season begins earlier every year?

Waterman status is within my grasp yet