America and Brazil favourites! Europe no chance!
Earlier today, the betting agency William Hill opened its book on the WSL Founders Cup of Surfing, which kicks over next weekend at the Slater-Fincham Surf Ranch.
I’ve got a real good feeling about the Founders Cup. I have a vague memory of a similar teams event that seemed to thrill all involved back when I was a little kid still affixed to mammy teat (The Swan Surfing Super Series)
Mixing surf stars and nationalism, the new-look pool and a three-hour format over each day, kicks me, as I think it will kick you, right in the obliques.
If you’re in Australia or Vegas or whatever, you might want to make it even more interesting by putting a little skin in the game. The odds, as you’ll soon learn, come with enough bait.
The US and Brazil, who clearly have the best teams, come in at $2.50, Australia at six bucks, the World Team, which is captained by Jordy Smith, at eight and the European team, with Reunion Island’s Johanne Defay as skipper, a distant fifteen-to-one.
Now, who you going to throw your money at?
Y’think the US, with John John and the man who has ridden more waves there than anybody and who knows its every kink (Kelly), can be beat?
Or Brazil, with Filipe and Gabriel?
Or will Australia, with Mick Fanning coming out of retirement especially for the event, bring lustre to the tank?
AUSTRALIA TEAM:
Captain: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Julian Wilson (AUS)
Tyler Wright (AUS)
BRAZIL TEAM:
Captain: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Taina Hinckel (BRA)
EUROPE TEAM:
Captain: Johanne Defay (FRA)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Frankie Harrer (DEU)
USA TEAM:
Captain: Kelly Slater (USA)
John John Florence (USA)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Carissa Moore (USA)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)
WORLD TEAM:
Captain: Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
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Proper Aussie team would have Julian, Owen, and (Mick or Joel). Who knows how Wilko weaseled in there.
You can actually bet on a surf contest now?
I believe I’m locked and loaded.
I hope it is underwhelming so you can continue with your form from the Australian leg.
(underwhelming in reference to the event, your coverage captured the events vibe perfectly and I am afraid to many positives may spoil it)
Does Hawaii get to compete in the Commonwealth games?
Usually, JJF is from Hawaii, not the US.
If JJF is in the US team, then Bourez should be in the european team.
Or the other way around, JJF in the world team, and then, they’ll have their chance.
This whole nationality stuff is confusing, it changes depending in what kind of competition you’re in (olympics, this comp, the CT…)
What’s Europe?
off topic but Kellys gal looks cute in the cat suit.
Totally agreed. But what do you think it says about Kelly’s,s psyche that he dresses as a cop? Does he see himself as a twitter policeman of flat earthers? Or a much larger global policeman?
There would be tears, alright.
Howls of anguish and despair.
Dreams sunk, fortunes lost and reputations tarnished and soiled forever.
It’d be utterly fantastic viewing and the ensuing finger pointing would be a joy to behold.
Can we bet on the stock backhand tube avoider? https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Do you regard John John and Carissa as…Hawaiians? Or lucky Americanos whose parents had the foresight to relocate from Jersey (John) and…wait… Chris Moore grew up in Hawaii. How many generations y’gotta be in Hawaii before you’re Hawaiian? Can you be trans-racial? Like feel like a native Hawaiian trapped in a haole body? https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I’ve heard trans-racial is a thing. Very interesting. I don’t know what else to say without sounding racist.
I self-identify as a toaster.
I thinks that’s like trans…uh, fuck… what trans am I?
Sounds like you have a touch of hipster in your heritage?
This is my great Aunt Rohypnobelle.
She was a pioneer in our Trans community.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
The transformer community?
Not Hawaiian unless you have Hawaiian blood. Other wise you are just a “Local”.
It’s not our call. Watch how it pans out.
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By christ the US is gonna have its arse handed to itself paying for that one day.
It’ll happen – just need a little political will and I know of a country that’s got some very good lawyers who know how to milk that cow of every red cent.
Just hope it gets to trickle down to the locals.
Sub out Adriano for Italo and Brazil would be too short to back.
I want to get excited but there there’s too much ageing beefcake and not enough supple youth.
No-one under 30 should be allowed in the tub.
Fucxk I mean over 30!
Oh but when Mick takes off his shirt! https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Do you think Mick will ….flare?
Or power surf the tub into oblivion?
…yeah, I think he will. He’ll be Wagner-esque on those fragile lips. Bombastic!
Agreed! So much beefcake!
Can’t wait to see Jordy v Fred.
Hah – Juarrassic Park !
Fuck, I want to see young velociraptors in this tub not some stompity stomp old TRex trying to power carve. Don’t think that approach is going to cut it in the wilds of Lemoore. But I fully expect Mr Bourez to prove me wrong.
So true. Feels like a missed opportunity
I dunno how anyone can bet on an event in which they have no idea of the format or the form, or the judging approach.
Not to mention how do we know that Jimmy Slade won’t speed up the wave by a click or two when his natives aren’t surfing.
I think the whole thing is fucking crazy that he, and who he chooses, can practice surfing there as much or as little as possible.
his involvement with the governing body while remaining a competitor would be an outrage in any other “sport”, it would be like letting Lance Armstrong run the timing clocks at the Tour de France
It’s a magical lucky dip! Live a little. (But make sure to click the link on the site. We get a cut of your losses.)
“We get a cut of your losses” should be the new BG Manifesto.
A t-shirt like this one that never got made… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I would buy this for my Mum. 3XL please.
Outed !
Welcome to the fatty club, Nik !
MY MUM! MUM! I’m a slim and youthful Medium. Promise!
Ha – you’re in denial, mate.
Wades our man on tour – and now he’s yours, too.
Our man? Fuck!
Hey, you don’t have to bet on him.
Just hope he eats well (no worries there) and surfs good.
I have to admit he needs a boot up the arse in the comp smarts department tho.
want to dip but no link to the bet page
Not everyone is so desperately attached to their last pineapple, Nick. I can get you a job at my work if you need mate.
Can you just lend me $50. I’ll pay you back next Thursday. I’m expecting a money order!
Or a hand-written cheque from Surfer!
Meet me at the Caltex on the highway (the one going towards the beach) in Torquay at 6pm tonight.
Are they still doing those excellent ham and cheese toasties on white bread? Made by authentic Indian chefs? Breakfast of champions.
Hungry Jacks breakfast super stunner meal ham and cheese toastie, 2 hashies, 4 pikelets and a coffee for $5.95 is better.
Mate, tomorrow we’ll be rolling in at 8am
Pls order 2 for me, 2 for Phat and 3 for our new member Nik (he’s having some issues right now so we gotta support him and bulk him up a bit).
Your wish is my command. I’ll mumble some Punjab into the two way.
HJs Wigs !
Double and triple orders for us, throw yours on there too, mate.
I’m shouting
You should make Dr Elephant pick up ya bill
#metoo
2? what the fuck are trying to say.
oh, wait, are we stopping for a couple in geelong HJ’s on the way?
fair enough.
2 is ok, just enough to make pikelet, hash brown and toast tower
fuck me, I was already complaining that we don’t have Tim Hortons in the States now I’m going to be bitter for the lack of Hungry Jacks as well
(tapping foot. hours pass)
Oh hang on I’m at the Caltex in Mona Vale.
you are dead right, just a glance at the teams and I reckon the format would have a pretty big impact on the odds, and who knows, they may consider style in the criteria then it go’s tits up for Brazil.
IF ONLY
Brazil and Oz 1&2 in either order. USA crippled by Kelly, regardless of how many times he’s ridden it. Should’ve had Griffin instead.
Kelly will run eights all day. John will slice fours and tens, Kolohe and Riss too…
Are eights good in the pool or will Felipe be throwing tens like nobody’s biz?
Filipe won’t be showing a full hand until the ‘actual’ comp later in the year. He’ll get 10’s or 9.77s no doubt but those will be his 6’s later in the year.
Ugh, I forgot theres ANOTHER comp there this year.
i’m assuming he didn’t ride out of that alley oop they can’t stop showing in the promos but my guess is that it won’t take him more than 4 waves to dial that bitch in and start shitting on everybody but JJ
Oh ye who have little faith. You think Kelly’s going to be humiliated on his home turf?
If he surfs Founders and pulls out of Rio then his career is officially over.
Correct?
I mean his pro career outside the tub.
He will limp out of the pool on his final wave, Stevie boy. Mark my fucken words.
Fuck, imagine if the software throws a spazz or there’s a good old fashioned mechanical breakdown ?
i’m busy building a mechanical voodoo doll and stabbing some pins in there
Pins? All it needs is a well placed spanner and we’re laughing.
What is the sled goes really crazy and grabs Gabby by the hairless leg and maims him for life? The WSL and Dirk will rue the day they bagged on sharks in the water.
so win or lose, Raimana is carrying him up stairs?
He might be humiliated, just not in a way he’s aware of.