On a day that promised only disappointment after yesterday's theatre at the Box, we still managed to get our kicks…
In all the excitement after yesterday’s Box coliseum, I ended up on the wrong side of a minor local bender and thus felt doomed to suffer a major anti-climax today at four-foot Maggie River Main Break.
It ended up being an entertaining day.
Confusion and disappointment with the way the wonderful rigour of the new judging scale has been given a sea burial. What a wonderful walled garden Pritamo had created, a wonderland where only the finest and most rarefied of fruits would be adjudged excellent. A legacy to be handed down to future generations: to encourage the growth of the sport, and I don’t mean in the number of casuals watching but the actual quality of the sport itself, a headroom had been created to allow the truly excellent to be rewarded.
Now it’s gone.
Kanoa was awarded sevens for pure safety surfing. It was safety surfing the Pritamo reset was designed to consign to the dustbin of history.
“Where’s the major turn?” asked Barton.
There was none!
Thankfully, he lost to Ryan Callinan but it’s doubtful the seedy, weedy mess that now infests the garden can be cleaned up again and set to rights this year.
All that beautiful rigour wasted.
John John Florence surfed an incredible quarter-final heat against Italo. There was perfect dynamic-kinetic stability in his turns. He mowed down Italo, paddled him all around and hustled him into submission.
But a 9.23 for what were essentially three turns and a regulation close-out reentry. You think that 0.77 to perfection encompasses all that John John has to offer at Main Break?
Does that headroom offer sufficient motivation to draw out the best John has to bring? He is building to something special but where is the capacity to absorb it gone?
Yes, the clarity of purpose was there. Yes, there was no emotional confusion.
Pure presence, as Barton so lyrically waxed during a shark break.
The happy-dumb Spicoli media strategy was in full effect, John’s safe place. If he wins Margarets…what is the earliest a Title has been wrapped?
He could wrap it up in Kelly’s tub.
According to Ziff, a disaster.
Not to me, I would love to see John completely set free.
The day started well. Italo has his vertical turns back. He rode lots of waves and whipped Mick Bourez in hard offshore rights. His board towered over him in the presser and had a ton of leverage straight off the bottom.
For the opening turn of his opening wave Kelly looked like the best surfer on Earth. The best top turn on Tour. He fell on the closeout then slowly disintegrated.
It had felt like he had stemmed the flow of incompetent heats. He paddled for shit waves. Caio wasn’t amazing but you could feel the righteous anger in his surfing. He kicked out right in front of Kelly and invited Kelly into a paddle battle. An invitation the champ showed no interest in accepting.
It was a meek response.
What was that look on Kelly’s face? Was it guilt? Was there some sneaky internal acknowledgement that while Caio was holed up on the couch watching Game of Thrones Kelly was surfing in his Tub twice, once in May and once in September as well as taking on J-Bay.
A bit of a rort, as we say in Australia.
It was a strangely ill-formed heat from Kelly. It started bad, it was bad in the middle and bad at the end. Peppered with some lukewarm hustle that never found purchase. In that context, the arm wrassle with the little tow-headed grommy looked mean-spirited and small.
He could have let the kid win, surely?
Jack Robbo could not back up yesterdays dominance at the Box. His top turns were presaged by double and triple pumped bottom turns. He fell twice on opening turns on set waves. A CT skill-set has to bank two scores in a heat.
Kanoa Igarashi figured that out. Seth Moniz got on with the job and beat him easily.
Ryan Callinan was the polar opposite to Jack Robinson. Zero bobble or interruption to the bottom-to-top turn flow. Perfect linkage with huge firehoses of spray. It wasn’t mind blowing but it was enough to disrupt what should be a chapter in the surf coaches handbook titled “The Confidence of Igarashi”.
The broadcast was patchy.
All day, live action had been intruded on by ads.
During womens quarter-final four we cut into the live action with a 9.8 score next to Lakey Peterson’s name.
How? Why? Could you miss live broadcasting the best wave of the day?
Two turns. A brilliant two turns but 0.2 off perfection? If there has been a new directive from the judging panel then they should release a presser. If this is just a case of scale drift then Pritamo needs to rally the troops and pull the reins tight. That heat did give us the enduring image of the day: Lakey aiming up at Steph and Steph raising a hand in protest as she got her face showered in spray.
I must admit to feeling a little confounded and resentful at Caio Ibelli. Not because of his babe waiting for him on the steps, but because he robbed us of a Jordy/JJF Final at Bells in 2017 and I am worried he will do something to John when they meet in the semi.
I mean, beat him. And then John will get that hangdog look on his face and only say super-fun twice instead of three times and we’ll be robbed of greatness again.
Caio beat Jordy fair and square though. Criminally under-scored for a 7.43 and then in a final exchange he was adjudged, after a long pause, to have bested Jordy. The camera cut away from Jordy. We got no post-heat presser so were not able to ascertain if he had “worn the loss lightly.”
After Keramas, I would guess not.
We took a break while a shark cruised the lineup. The second time Kolohe has had a heat interrupted by evolution’s most successful predator.
When it restarted the waves were bathed in a golden light.
Strider stood on the stairs talking softly, reverently.
To be honest I could barely focus on the action.
I was dreaming of backlit lefts and bush chooks by the fire afterwards. Looks like Kolohe won then Julian after him. On a day that could have been as sterile and manufactured as K-Pop we still managed to get our kicks for free.
Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 (Round 4) Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.74 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 12.14
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 13.67 DEF. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.40
Heat 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.26
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.16 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 10.77
Heat 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 14.20 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.97
Heat 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.26 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.73
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.27 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 11.70
Heat 8: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.57 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 14.07
Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.73 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.36
QF 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.26 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.25
QF 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.90 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.34
QF 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.40 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 11.60
Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Matchups:
SF 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
SF 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Margaret River Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 14.26 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.10
QF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.50 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 14.40
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.84 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 8.50
QF 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 18.83 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.16
Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Matchups:
SF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
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I dont think he rightfully won neither that heat neither the next one against Caio. Caio`s last wave underscored
yea but high scores change the other surfers entire strategy. There would be more pressure on them aswell
Kanoa has been getting sevens for safety surfing his entire career and Lakey’s style is an abomination. Every time she advances over Steph it’s an affront to the grace and flow that is the promise of woman’s surfing.
It’s better than Jesse’s husbands style.
Can we talk about those arms?
Unlike D-bah.
Dear Longtom,
Huge fan, quick question:
Currently there are zero WCT contests taking place in the ocean from the tip of Chile north to Alaska.
Any idea why?
$$$$$$
Six $ signs…that’s a lot of $’s.
lack of govt support in underwriting events
are they runnning this morning or afternoon?
Are crocs and alligators the most successful? their seem to be a fuckload of them and they are sneaky as fuck, they scare me more than GW’s, mostly because they will eat anything.. fucking garbage compactors
Would be great if this “low-balling” scale was also applied to JJ. That 9.23 was a joke to beat Italo
Agree. With that score the judges basically told Italo “Sorry dude, we ain’t giving you any chance to win this heat.”
Can’t think of any egregious scoring errors this event and (speculation) to the surfers in the water that’s what matters most. The existential future implications of scale will work themselves out just fine. I liked the low ball scale. Ego mind twister for these pros to get 5’s on what was an 8. All said, they just want to win the heat.
yup the wsl has just gotten lamer and lamer the lose twice still advance the shit judging and boring heats …. waiting for a wave that doesn’t come
This crazy judging is taking down the surf level in general.
I wasn’t watching live and didn’t watch the whole heat between Lakey and Steph, but that 9.8 seemed high. Like, don’t get me wrong, those were legit solid turns! I really liked them! But I’d probs have called it a mid-8. Nice to see Lakey back on it, though, for sure.
Watcheda bunch of Nate Florence’s vlogs yesterday. Really like that kid. He is an animal in the gym. Plus pretty self depreciative and I was thinking if jjf expressed himself openly I bet he is very like Nate. It would be fun to see.
Brother Nate came across as a real character in Tasmania , something which is sadly often missing in the WSL’s way of presenting the sport to the world . Was watching the Julian v Ryan 1/4 final and they panned up to their respective Cronulla Coaches ,and those two blokes Dog and Kingy , alone , have more character than the last 5 years of WSL post heat interviews ?
No doubt
Now you’ve put your kiss of death on Superfun.
Therl be noone left at the end except knoa and the world champ
Robbo wouldn’t beat Paige harreb in the majority of heats. That was cringe worthy.
I thought all the hype about Kelly being “back” was just bullshit until I saw him arm-wrestle a child and win.
#KS12
Two children! He’s twice the knob!
The kid didn’t get the feather but at least he got the cap!
So yesterday I was sitting on a ski watching close up Jacks total demolition of Filipe and came away totally agreeing with LTs comment to get jack on the tour but watching him lose today it’s hard to think the process will be quick he had 2 opportunities to get a score and threw them away as recklessly as an over frothing grom at his local boardriders comp. Anyone want to sponsor some QS 10000’s at box, NP and Tombies?
Flaming torches are being lit as we type
It is 8 to 10 ft at Arica for the QS 3000 ,right now, and Gerrigong slab specialist , Dean Bowen ( not Mick Cronin ) just went down in the semi , where Jack left to attend this event a few days ago . Still a shame that Huntington , of all places ,is still ,a QS 10000 ?
he is young and he over frothed. There is no doubting that he out classed and out balled at the box
-which by the way isn’t called that because its so square cliche monsters
He ain’t young no more
By the way amusing handle, interesting how no surf media wants to touch that story
Must’ve looked good up close.
“Like a paper cut framed with cotton candy “ is how Bill Hick’s Goat Boy described it ……? Which Box are we talkin’ about ?
He is Bill as Goat Boy .
https://youtu.be/KR6tGTYndbA
Caio surfs smooth and smart but I’m surprised he’s made it to the semis and pretty much kept his fins in the water the whole time. Not sure I’ve seen him do a turn that a decent surfer at my local couldn’t pull off on their day. Have I missed something?
Yes you have: seamless rail transitions
Seamless gender transition.
none of those are close to being seamless. Have seen the shit creek women`s sports is in right now?
Maybe Shearer would be so kind to ask former head judge Perry Hatchett what are his thoughts about the new Pritamo’s scale – maybe also ask Steve Fooks same question.
I’d love to hear from those guys.
Since the IPS, distance, wave choice and style.
ASP, turns, wave choice, style and commitement.
Now we have a teeter-totter that still awards heavily on wave choice (not in the criteria) and the most frivolous criterion ever – Speed, power and flow.
Speed, power and flow fits for excellent excuse to legitimate any plea WSL wants…
Does anyone know what the name of the piece of dry reef is called by the locals on the right at main break ? Am happy that it is no longer called The Bricks , and suggest that they call it The Rock that Freddy P Dreamt Of ,or Giligan’s Island and install a judging tower on top so the winners can shoot the Pier and the loses shoot the judges?
Dunno, but I reckon Jaddy earnt right to name the rocks at The Box if they’re not already named.
Jaddy Box Rocks ? He went hard and went down even harder . Respect !
All hail the scorpion king! The best bit is that it happened like 2 minutes after KP said they were moving the event so nobody would get hurt. Famous last words, commish.
William Golding approves of The Scorpion King – I’m sure.
That’s a prickly bit of reef. I was very impressed by how quickly the competitors ran across it. There will be some sore feet tonight for sure. so how about ” the flat piece of reef that is way pricklier than it looks”?
I like it ! Was tempted by the The King Prick Lear ….than it looks ?
“If this is just a case of scale drift then Pritamo needs to rally the troops and pull the reins tight.”
The strategy seems to be to lowball the scores the first few events to bring down the average heat scores for the year, then to let all hell break loose, as happened last year after J-Bay, when Wade Fitzgibbons happened to final and make a mockery of what is deemed good surfing, scoring highly (much like Kanoa has done this year at Keramas and Margs). As long as a “rightful” winner, in this case JJF, takes the whole year, like Gabe last year, no one will care and everyone will pretend this judging panel is different.
P.S. I know LT is talking about Lakey’s score at this point and the scale becoming jacked. Doesn’t matter, point remains same.
It’s making me a little dizzy, the whole changing scales thing.
I imagine it’s having the same effect on competitors.