One contest to run on former penal colony famous for having "the largest mass burial site in Australia." Can you guess?
As reported yesterday, the WSL has iced its Snapper Rocks event after the Queensland state government refused to cover the cost of quarantining surfers and the WSL’s entourage and NSW and WA state gov’s turned the money spigot on, offering five million bucks or thereabouts per event.
The Australian leg of the CT is gonna be, Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona: April 1 – 11, Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic pres. by Corona: April 16 – 26, Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona: May 2-12, Rip Curl Rottnest Search pres. by Corona: May 16 – 26
It’s got a whiff of the old Billabong Junior Series events, which ain’t a bad thing.
And Rotto, where your ol pal DR once lived and loved, is one of the dreamiest joints on earth, a government-run, mostly no-car limestone and coral outcrop paradise, famous for its giant rats (hence name, Rat’s Nest) and a bumper crop of Great Whites.
Read, Discover Rottnest’s Wildlife here, spearos getting charged by a White, here, a father-and-son being circled by a White in their lil boat, here, the swimmer doin’ the Perth-to-Rotto race and being followed by a White, here, diver killed by a Great White at Little Armstrong Bay, here.
“Cowardly” Italo and Gabriel are going to love it.
Rottnest was also, at one point, a penal colony for indigenous Australians and features “the largest mass burial site in Australia.
“More than 371 men sent to the Island died as a result of disease, torture, execution and murder and their remains lie in an unmarked grave.”
You’re not gonna be able to watch, howevs, broadcast only, no spectators. Contest held at Strickland Bay, a fun peak, short right, longer left over coral floor.
Rip Curl, meanwhile, has scooped up naming rights to three of the contests.
From the presser,
“When the WSL told us they had three alternative World Tour events to sponsor after the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach got cancelled due to Covid 19 we did what comes natural and got involved,” said Rip Curl Founder Doug ‘Claw’ Warbrick. The former WSL judge, competitor and Board Member sees it as a great opportunity to keep pro surfing rolling. Newcastle, Narrabeen and Margaret River have long-term pro surfing histories; and Rottnest Island gave us the chance to bring back the Rip Curl Search, which hasn’t run since twice world champion Gabe Medina won in San Francisco a decade ago. The Cup, The Classic, The Masters and The Search. That’s a great Quaddie to go for! Congratulations to WSL. They are working very hard to keep the Tour alive and we are privileged to be onboard. We love watching the world’s best surfers ripping in great waves.”
More from tour correspondent Steve “Longtom” Shearer shortly.
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OK… but is this really, finally, the actual answer to what actually happens in 2021?…
What happened to ‘Drug aware’ … Pro? Didn’t really wanna catch on down under spose.
How I yearn to hear the laconic drone of Turpel, ’89 the neutered & sedated rottweiller who has forgotten how to bite & Woz the over excited little hunchback of the lineup, thinking to himself ‘they pay me for this, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!’, I can’t wait to hear again them use overly familiar & awkward middleaged call outs of R-Cal, Tatti, O-Dawg, Robbo, Griff & Ace
I almost want the whole thing to be really successful…just to see a grovelling apology from longtom
What does Gabby think ?
mostly ” what does Neymar”
Fn love Coronas. With a lime.
So damn good
Pip’s dream tour becomes reality… newly motivated by today’s announcement he is unable to sleep and is seen running Blockies in a garbage bag in a bid to get back to fighting weight. Rockets back into contention.
But a giant *
No one wants that.
The semi-pros who are still standing will happily take a * if it means they can delay having to fend for themselves in the real world
Good to go… Beach breaks tend to neutralise the field but could of been worse. Bondi- Manly- Triggs
Surely Jakes woulda been a better choice than the rich cunt playground of rotto. I’m sure the locals would greet the WSL with open arms
Would love to see that just for the Barry locals butt hurt.
(I am hurt because I’m not a local)
But jeez they really are cunts.
They’re probably the only locals in the world that claim ownership of such a large stretch of coast. Fair enough if they don’t want it at Jakes right in front of their house, but to then kick up a stink about a spot 600km away is a bit rich.
How ’bout you invite ’em to your local Turts?
I just did we. As a resident of Northampton, I’d really like to see them at my local, which is Jakes
I wanna hear more about the roots on rotto Derek. 80’s, 90’s, beyond??
let’s check in on Elo
Heard Pat’O has signed to do Endless Summer III, and resigned from WSL!
WHAT happened to Pat O’Connell and why haven’t you guys written about it yet?!?!!?
chas is unable to type from a weeks worth of knuckle dragging.
And Derek is neck deep in pussy.
So bells was cancelled because vic couldn’t confirm they could land there charter flight there.. i understand that means it cant be first event but they could of done it after the newy event most likely. Then snapper was cancelled because qld wouldn’t just give WSL 5 million bucks. Sure crossing those boarders from NSW to QLD or Vic isnt a garentee, but neither will the WA boarder if there are cases in and around syd/newy. WSL have acted like a bag of dicks, and have got a shit tour to reflect it, cant wait for them to go broke and the world Boog tour to take over.
Don’t like their chances of holding a comp at snapper any time soon. Which is gonna be weird because the wsl offices are in Coolangatta.
Be first !
#FuckWSL
In the early stages of covid rotto was used to quarantine cruise ship passengers, if the covid situation changed they could swap the dates with Margaret’s, fly the wsl straight into rotto and and do quarantine while also running the event.
That makes way too much sense
*coral is limestone.
Not a bad result really but still hinges upon WA border restrictions that could deliver the WSL an unexpected no lube experience.
Have a back up wave at Rotto box. That’ll test everyone.
Whoa! Front page news in Sydney!
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Actually excited to see this. Learnt from the pros trying to surf North Point that they’re really not that good at surfing waves they haven’t practiced on a million times.
I’m honestly sick of the snapper and jbay contests. Beautiful mechanical waves but give us some carnage.
Throw some random waves into the mix (strickos) and you’ve got a good show.
Fucking classic. Very real potential for shark attacks at minimum 2 of those venues. Hopefully Fanning is suiting up.
Corona gifith corona taketh away
The Dream Tour is now the Reality Tour. Surfing all your shit local spots with a bunch of dirty Brazzos. When the most exotic location is Rottnest Island you gotta wonder whether this is worth the plane tickets involved. I think WSL should take a moment and reset. Wrap it up Dirk. Put your cash into Women’s cricket or some shit.
I’m into the Reality Tour idea. Make em sort themselves out. Up at at 4am and drive to the servo for fuel, buy ice coffees and pies, drive for a bit, lose reception, get bogged, get lost, get stung, get skunked, get punched, jump off at the wrong spot, get scraped, finally figure it out, see how many waves they get, if any, get home, find their own drugs by the pub, get punched again, get laid, spew pies and longlife coffee milk and beer, and do it again the next day. Make it an endurance test. I’d watch that.
all the pros seem like a bunch of three-beer queers. cant hold their drink for nothing
ever seen Strickos?