Do you believe in fairytales? We do!
It’s the morning of the finals! Good thing too,
I’m getting tired of writing about this Snapper joint. Surf comps
now come with homework, which is a recipe for making me hate them.
I’m not jaded just yet, but the slopey walls of Bells Beach will
surely put me over the edge.
Quarters
Joel vs. Wilko
Joel looked slooooow today. Not sure what the deal was,
as he’s looked lively throughout the rest of the event, but
maybe someone in the Wilko camp slipped a couple Valiums this
morning. He still would have made it if Matty didn’t burn him
on that one bomb. Reminiscent of Joel vs. Kelly at Kirra in
2013.
Wilko on the other hand was straight into it, full rail and full
speed ahead. Matt’s vert to slide is damn endearing, I must admit.
He looks glued to his board and will be difficult to beat in
conditions like these.
John vs. Italo
John’s one of two guys I have remaining on my Fantasy team, so I
was relieved when he strolled into that first
tube-to-double-arm-layback combo. The rest of the heat was
lackluster for the Hawaiian, but that high eight proved to be
enough. He’ll need more to beat Wilko.
The little pipe bomb lost his explosive spark. I’ve gotta tip my
cap to him though, as there’s nothing like spontaneity to keep the
viewer on the edge of his seat. He may not be the best surfer or
competitor, but Italo’d never have to eat
Porta’s ass.
Owen vs. Connor
The Battle of the lanky screwfoots was a big disappointment. Its
climax came in the dying seconds when Owen, who needed a
two-something to advance, got a long, warbly right down the point.
He joined all the dots but the wave was more survival than
spice.
Connor followed Owen with a smaller but more aggressively surfed
wave, but since Owen’s backup was higher he got the nod. Still a
great result for the Cronulla rook.
Kelly vs. Gabby
An injured supergrom takes on the aged GOAT and youth reigns
supreme. It was a grueling battle between an obviously-hurting
Medina and a still-competitive Slater.
Gab needed a middling score in the dying minutes and surfed his
last effort to a nine. Lucky he went so far above the requirement
because, right behind him, Slater was busy dismantling the best
wave of his heat.
Huddling in the competitors’ area after the heat, waiting for the
scores to filter through, Gab and Kelly shared a moment. When
Slater’s face went from anxious to disillusioned, and Gab’s from
blank to elated, the viewer knew what had been decided. Out with
the old, in with the new.
Semis
John vs. Wilko
With a nine-five in the opening minutes, this heat what’s John
to lose. Thanks to conservative surfing, he did just that.
Wanting to back-up his opening banger, John opted to safety-surf
an inside runner; banking where he should have banged, floating
where he should have lofted. He got a flat six on a wave that could
have delivered an eight, if only he’d surfed it with
confidence.
This left the door open for a frothing Wilko who, with a
high-seven on his opener, needed only a replica of his first to
steal the heat. With a few minutes remaining, Wilko faked John into
a dud and picked up the second wave of the set. It provided a
steady wall upon which Wilko repeatedly swung his hammer for the
heat win.
Gab vs. Owen
Medina looks really, really wounded. Like, he probably shouldn’t
be surfing. On his highest-scoring wave, a six-something, Gab found
himself stuck in the whitewater and unable to escape, likely due to
his tender knee-cap. He later fell on two major opportunities to
turn the heat. He needs some solid rehab before Margies.
And if Wilko isn’t enough of a Cinderella story, how bout this
chap Owen Wright! The Avatar has defied the odds after a year-plus
of brain damage control. His surfing hasn’t been exceptional but
he’s played the competitive game to perfection, and is that not
more impressive than any rodeo flip or full rote?
Final
Wilko vs. Owen
The only pair happier than Owen and Wilko are
super-caddies/coaches/buffet mates Micro and Fletch. Together
they’ve led their pupils to the final of the year’s first event,
and both of them against the odds. Who’re they rooting for? Hard to
say. It seems Wilko may have a heartier bond with both parties, but
it’s hard to root against Owen, given the circumstances.
The final was slow and mostly unenthused. Even the crowd seemed
disinterested, at least from this side of the monitor. Owen’s eight
was the only wave that caused much of a stir, but even that ride
was pretty average for professional standards. More of a comment on
the waves presented than the athletes who rode them.
After not knowing whether he’d ever surf again in 2016, Owen
Wright is now the world’s top rater surfer in 2017. The big guy was
chaired up the beach by his loving siblings, Mikey and Tyler, and
shared tearful words on the podium about his passion for surfing
and love for his newfound family.
So, how did Owen manage this monumental win?
“Dad strength,” apparently!
