WSL resurrects quarter-century old format in name of progression!
Do you sometimes feel like you live in an alternate universe? Where history doesn’t exist? All rear-view mirrors snapped off? Where everything old is new again, like neoprene shorts, oversized t-shirts with Choose Life written across the chest and ghetto blasters alive with MC Hammer?
Earlier today, it was announced that an aerial component would be added to WSL events in France and Lemoore.
The CEO of the WSL, Sophie Goldschmidt said, “Crowds love the athleticism and creativity of aerial surfing, and so do the surfers. Many say the future of surfing is in the air, and WSL is thrilled to be working with Josh (Kerr) to return a fan and surfer favorite into the competitive mix.”
The future of surfing is in the air.
Airshows. Remember ’em?
They were started by Surfing magazine at the behest of Shawn Barron (RIP both of ’em) in 1996, running alongside ASP tour event The O’Neill Coldwater Classic. Pretty soon there was a six-event tour. Christian Fletcher, naturally, won the first one.
Imitators followed.
The NSSA in the US for amateurs; the Surfing Australia Quiksilver Airshow series (owned by Gold Coaster Dave Reardon-Smith). In 2002, the Quiksilver Airshow World Championship was held at Manly and won by the Hawaiian Randy “Goose” Welch.
The vitality of the air events came from their juxtaposition with a tour that focussed on multiple manoeuvres performed on three waves to the beach, each surfer building houses with sixes not eights.
Airs in tour events? Forget about it.
“Slater would launch one now and then, when he was far enough ahead–which, come to think of it, he was most of the time. But as a rule, the World Tour was not a welcoming place for above-the-lip business,” Matt Warshaw wrote in Surfer magazine. “The Airshow withered and died a few years later as pros began to incorporate the Airshow ethic into WCT contests. Filipe Toledo has no need for Airshows. The World Tour is his Airshow.”
Well, ain’t that still the truth.
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I can’t do airs – especially 360s, but I can do turns – which makes me wonder how anyone can win a heat by only doing turns, especially if that surfer’s opponent has done an air.
My mom loves watching people punt (attempt) airs too. Sophie is the mother sitting on the beach impressed by “jumps” whether or not they are landed, stylish, actually difficult, etc.
I enjoyed the masters events when they’d trot out ex-pros for a heat. Curren at Jbay, yes, please.
Problem with surfing Airshow is we’ve been desensitized by skateboarding and snowboarding big air.
Now the King of the Road tour would be interesting…
God a king of the road tour would be so good! I’ll invest my life’s savings!
Yawn. I can just go find the peak with a bunch of 16 year-old punters if I want to see infinite heinously progressive air attempts.
I better review my friend group to esure I have the correct level of diversity
Sophie reminds me of an English teacher I had in high school. In the beginning she was bright eyed and bushy tailed and full of the joys of life and love and literature. But over time, as she began to face the realities of a Scottish public school which had little respect for female teachers (and even less for the poncy cunts in the Great fucking Gatsby) this faded. Then it plummeted. Eventually she was a husk of her former self. I’m afraid to say it ended in full mental breakdown.
Every time Sophie issues a statement it seems she is slip sliding away.
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You disgust me, until I realise that we sent an Indonesian teacher packing back to the archipelago after he was sure he was gifted the good life in Australia.
Pak Wee, it was funny every time.
Ha ha I sympathise with Sophie but I wouldn’t cry for her, like I bet your old teacher wasn’t pulling down a million a year
Is Sophie earning one million dollars a year?
I do think that there are more similarities between WSL leadership and The Great Gatsby characters to be explored. If only Chas didn’t fancy himself Jay Gatsby incarnate.
Kerrzy – jeez [Yawn]
What next – the big ol smiley Taj tour ?
You know, where he finally gets to win.
Like the Maldives .. fark
The future of surfing is indeed up in the air.
A seal walks into a club etc.
Also in the hair.
(This is a Kelly joke)
FFS