Has the World Surf League finally lost the handle? Let's think about it!
The most exiting professional surfing contest of the year is taking place just 30 mins north of my beachside home and I have not been once. Hurley is putting on an incredible show, by all accounts, the surf has been fun and the controversies! Flowing like surfer-owned microbrewed beers!
And so why haven’t I been? Oh many reasons and I won’t bore them with you now but let’s turn our attention, quickly, to the cacophony raining down upon the World Surf League’s bowed head!
All of Brazil is enraged. Fans of John John are livid. The second prettiest boy to ever don a singlet (Julian Wilson) is fuming and wow! Has the WSL ever faced so much criticism from so many corners?
Now, I hate to be hyperbolic here but could this be the end of this particular incantation of professional surfing? Could this be the moment when both surfers and fans demand wholesale change?
I will not push the judges under the bus, or not yet anyhow. I don’t believe in any sort of conspiracy as far as they are concerned and also think they are doing the very best they can with such an imperfect hand.
It is that imperfect hand that might have finally forced a fold.
Maybe.
Let’s think about it for just one moment. Does the League have enough structural integrity to move forward, as is? Will the surfers believe they are getting scored properly? Will the fans know that, when it is close, the right man will end up on top?
It seems like a 50/50 proposition at the moment which doesn’t seem workable.
Of course both surfers and fans are fickle and never satisfied. We are thin reeds that bend in the softest breeze. But it does feel like the last few days of surfing might necessitate a sea-change. The kind of across-the-board rage boiling over doesn’t happen in professional skateboarding or professional snowboarding. Of course both those things happen in static environments. The dynamism of surfing makes it fun but the system, in place, is not equipped to handle it.
And will this be the time where it finally all falls down? The watershed moment?
i cant believe people give this much of a shit about pro surfing
This article reminds of the kind of disappointment you get from experiencing the let down of “good from far but far from good.”
Unfortunately for us.. Gabe has 4.7 MILLION Instagram followers. Kelly has 2 as does the WSL. It’s really not a big deal for anyone who doesn’t speak Portuguese. But the sheer amount of crazies imbedded in that 4.7 mill appears to make it seem like a big deal but in reality it’s mostly just one segment of the world that gives two fucks. I guess in that sense we’re just fueling the fire. If no one acknowledged these fanatics… It will go away faster. I will heed my own advice and and quit commenting on this shit show. Lol
anyone else enjoy Barton Lynch?
BL should be permanently on the panel. Best insight of them all.
Will the WSL burst into flames like it’s title sponsor’s flagship product (and stock price)!?!?! http://money.cnn.com/2016/0…
The great lucky for Medina is that Double J single F feels so uncomfortable, but so uncomfortable (to the dispair of the WSL and surf media …) with the yellow jersey, that the title will follow open until Pipe …
There they crown bald guy … again!
Oh come on. All sport is about argument. The more people argue over the judging, the better pro surfing’s doing.
All this kind of reminds me of a post-modern version of the infamous “Christian Fletcher Letter” all those pros signed in old schol ink after the great flying mohawked muse kicked a bunch of ass with some new move called an aerial.
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Or as Basil Fawlty so memorably stated, “Don’t mention the war!”
I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it
and the more “people” think they need to surf better to get the same score the better they will get, this is also good to pro surfing.
Agree. Nothing new in terms of judging quality, it’s always been spotty, and losing our collective shit over a bad call (calls) is a big part of the fun. I tend to think it evens out in the end. Anti-Medina conspiracy? I’d say he was less liked two years ago when he won the title. Trestles call was botched in my opinion, but not out of malice. As far as the judges having to explain what they’re looking for prior to each event of whatnot — that’d just be serving up spaghetti at a food fight. And we already have so many things to throw at each other.
Without conflict, there is no news.
Sorry to delete your comments on the thread, but was thinking of plastering the rumour online in the name of a viral click bait prank and didn’t want the cat let out of the bag… I soo wish you were Slater!
I am Slater…if you believe I am.
Chas, please just go out and talk to people. Interview Julian, Medina, Wilko, a judge. That would be much more interesting than sitting at home looking at social media and streaming contests. We’re all already doing that.
I don’t know why I expect more from you, but I do.
Oh you think I was watching? No no no and non! I haven’t watched one heat! I’ve been busy!
Tight heats can go either way… It’s up to the Surfers to beat the other guy by surfing to the full criteria. For instance Medina has the capability to do massive backhand rotations… Yet he choose to try and beat Tanner with backhand hits. Something Tanner has been doing well the whole contest.
Point of difference surfing will lever the scores.
The problem is that it was not a tight heat.
Medina second wave was by a mile better than his first wave or any of Tanner. No need to be a surfer to realize this.
This type of error is inexcusable.
Negatron is Beach Grit moderator and JJF cheerleader.
Hey! I teared up when Gabe won his maiden title. I was stoked a Brazillan grom took it to the World. But yeah, go John John!
Nega, can’t you see that a given title will kill the blond diva motivation? the guy is pure surf, hard to make him show his talent in heats. What do you think will happen when he is with his friends (Matt Meola for instace, who made his point very clearly about what happened)? Medina would not care, but John cares, and a lot. He is a good guy and this shit will get into his head. This is a shot in the foot.
If ONE heat counts as JJF being gifted a world title, then ADS was “gifted” his title last year when they grossly overscored a weak air by Gabe on a 3ft pipe wave. Can’t have it both waves bro. And it’s pretty safe to say that JJF could give two fucks what Matt Meola would say if he wins a world title. JJF is the best surfer in the world. No one is going to call bullshit on his title except butthurt brazilians.
as a matter of fact, i agree about JJF, he is the most talented surfer today, complete, best style. but not in comp. and if you think tha JJF does not give a shit about what others think, you are wrong….that’s Medina.
medina second wave looked a lot slower than his first wave, hence lower score. duh.
Gabby surfed too safe…. I could have done those turns…… I shouldn’t be able to say that
Negatron, once Martin Potter said that to beat a world champion you must kick his ass. So, this works on the opposite side when the world champion is from Brazil?
Tanner obviously didn’t “kick his arse”.
Have they pulled that judging video yet?
Hahaha!!!
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Who ever approved this really messed up.
Now that is comedy gold.
Tanner is a floor polisher of waves with the bottom of his board Neg.
Gabrel will surf against him 20 times and will win 22 …
Of course, if the judges…
Tight heat ? Kelly, Fanning, Bourez, Julian, Flores, Ross williams, Pottz, turpel, strider, and 90% of the world surfing community are saying ( openly on the web and webcast) that gabby won the heat. Versus Negatron.
That is not tight my friend…… youre comboed.
Did I ever say Tanner was the clear winner? No.
Anyone that says it wasn’t a close or tight heat is a fool. They were both ripping. But i’ll humour you… lets give Mendina that 9 that Matt Biolos and 90% of the World surfing community speaks of… He wins the heat.
Final scores: Mendina 17.83, Tanner 17.34. Still a tight heat…
What this guy Gabriel above and everyone chirping about Gabe clearly winning is substantiated by dropping names and saying “even so and so said so.” But if any of them watched that heat with no commentary and no score updates.. No one would have a fucking clue who won that heat. It was that close. Even Biolas. He was THERE. He heard Ross saying “it was the best wave of the day… Into the excellent range.” That, along with brazzos on the beach and towers hooting and screaming with every maneuver Gabe did – strong or soft, it skews ones perception. i also find it extremely funny when conspiracy people talk about corrupt judges, but not a single judge had that last wave above an 8.80, so that would include a Brazilian judge I assume.
wow, of course brother, why didnt i think that ???
EVERYBODY was hipnotised and influenced by the commentators !?! including the other commentators, and athletes that do this for 20 years as a daily job…. and put their name on the line on the internet against the wsl to say it…. oh…. thats the reason everybody is saying medina won … you must be right…
EVERYBODY thought ADS floater gate was overscored. EVERYBODY thought Gabe’s weak ass air at Pipe was overscored. Gabriel himself apologized to Mick for the score. If being “fair” is what you idiots are all making a big deal about… why weren’t the Brazzos standing on the beach protesting to reverse the heat score and advancing Mick instead of handing ADS his “fake” world title??
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
you are right, the heat was tight in the numbers… i really like tanners surfing and i think he RIPS !!!!!
what i wanted to say is that, i f you compare the waves in THIS heat theres only one clear winner.
And by the way,, if you pay attention to Tanners first maneuver of his wave was pretty normal. you could compare it to any of medinas other turn on his wave.
matt biolos take…
I’ve been going through the heat analyzer this morning. To be honest, I don’t think it’s obvious the judges have gotten the winners wrong. Based on their two counting waves, Tanner vs Medina was a toss-up and could have gone either way. Same with Wilko vs Simpo and Julian vs. Ribeiro. The Medina heat had particularly bad optics though, in large part due to the reaction of Ross and Barton who were clearly indicating Medina should have taken the lead on his last counting wave. At any rate, the show will move on and, if anything, the attention will be good for WSL viewership. As an aside, Medina’s victory over Mick at pipe last year was the biggest botch in judging in recent history. Mick winning was completely consistent with the WSL’s most compelling storyline, so it’s hard to argue things are “rigged.” One thing that would be nice though: getting some explanations from Richie Porta. WSL did a segment like that last year for Kelly’s 4.17 and it was helpful.
i wouldn’t mind a bit of an explanation of what Richie Porta actually does as the Head Judge.
Chas, I must of missed the ‘We will bury you’ quote in this article! Is it hidden? Has your ironic use of click bait gone too far? The answer is of course, no.
I hit “publish” one tittle too quick! Fixed now!
what’s a “tittle”? (just messing with you, lol)
It’s a real word
Any tittle do