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Jordy talks head judge Pritamo Ahrendt through his version of what he believed was a paddle interference in his round of 32 heat with Jackson Baker.

Wild behind-the-scenes drama at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach as surfers threaten to boycott next event at Margaret River in protest at mid-year cut, “Tensions flaring… people in tears. Men and women united!”

Western Australian leg under threat as pro surfers mobilise against mid-year tour cut!

Wild scenes at the steamy surf ghetto of Torquay, that plastic bubble of windswept hairdos and teen sexpots, with both sides of the pro surfing gender divide united in their hate for this year’s mid-year tour cut. 

The cut, which erases anyone below 22 in the men, ten in the women, comes into play after the next event at  Margaret River; for slow-to-start tour rookies it means their career in the big leagues is over before it’s even begun. For Owen Wright, the biggest name to fall, it spells the end of fifteen years on tour. 

Our man on the ground says there is “talk of a boycott. There was a surfer’s meeting with Jessi Miley-Dyer on-site at Bells and tensions flaring, some people in tears. Men and women united, not happy with mid-year cut off, not happy with Challenger series calendar.” 

Jordy Smith, who lost in controversial circumstances in the round of 32 after the judges weren’t convinced by a paddle interference that would’ve won him the heat, alluded to the boycott in his post-heat presser.

When asked about his Margs prep, the world number nine sighed deeply and said, “I’m not sure, yet. There’s a lot of chat between the surfers’ groups about what’s on with the cut and everything. I’ll wait and see what comes of that.” 

What a story, yes?

Tears!

A boycott!

The existence of the Western Australian leg of the tour threatened.

This is what sport is about!

A little excitement etc.

The on-site interviewer, the usually fabulous Ms Laura Enever, however, quickly cut the interview short lest anyone’s pulse race.

“Amazing. Thanks Jordy.”

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

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Nose hose

What’s the problem? I’m sure they have real life skills besides instagram and lip filler?

PRN

Yes and yes. They can still qualify via challenger for the next year and it makes for a quicker contest with better surfers. Done and done.

Capt Sensible

I am in full support of the cut off , the WSL is forcing the surfers to perform at the highest level in all events and conditions , this is exactly what the tour needs and it will also make for a far greater experience for the fan base.
The CT should not be a gravey train for meldiocrity , and unfortuantly that is what it has become.

Capt Sensible

Let em boycott it , in the end they are the losers

Audit In Progress

OBVIOUSLY it was “Cryin” Jordy Smith shedding the tears.

James Bickerton
Urchin Sepsis

He got confused and thought he was at his moonlighting gig with BTS.

Pat V Mann

No way Claw errrr I Mean Rip Curl is Happy if Morgs Misses the Cut & Owen with Gabe playing heads and Tails with Isis Valverde and Vanessa Lopes. They got Fanning out of Moth Balls & anti social Curren to Phone in while he was Baked out of his mind… Rip Curl is spending a sizeable chunk of change to sponsor events and if they don’t have surfers in the events whats the point. I have watched surfing for alot of years and over the years one thing is for certain I have a hard time believing that washed up veteran(s) who are going to get kicked off tour or young Rookies are leading this charge and are rocking the boat unless your Name is Bobby Martinez. Nobody ever says anything remotely controversial about the WSL which lends me to believe that this is advice from a Sponsor who has a vested interest.

Phat-wan kerr

hypothetical. lets say the cut line is 8000, MF wins bells or gets runner up. does someone under the cut get promoted or do they fill the empty slot with from the QS?

Sean Connery

If Con con getting cut means no more 805 beer commercials it will be a win win for me. My dad flew me to fiji, my dad flew me to hawaii, but I’m always thinking about home. Fuck off.

Phat-wan kerr

he grows nice organic vegetables. that must count for something.

Occ Topus

Only if they’re weed, mushrooms, opium poppies, peyote, and/or coca.

Black Rubber

In another WSL head scratcher, wtf is the deal with the combined rankings at the top of their site?
That makes no sense. Or is this part of their alleged equality?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

astro

Hahahahar – nice catch.
Ffs, that’s otherworldly….
Wokeist agenda shit.

Picard Madeoff

Sucks to have go get a real job

Black Rubber

So everyone thinks we need change until they get cut? Didn’t see that coming.

Bring it.

Doobalachy

Get rid of the cut, get rid of the elimination round, if you still think the comp is to long dont tune in until the quarters.

PRN

Good point. Keep the cut and get rid of elimination round. 1 day comp. Done

Firelipe Torpedo

Imagine spending all that money to chase qualification through the qs, the wsl promises a spot mid year if you make it, you somehow pull a miracle and make it, the ct starts and everyone grumbles but agrees to play ball. The axe starts to fall mid year and all the nay sayers at the beginning of the year start whining about being eliminated. And you could potentially lose your earned spot on tour because Owen Wright or whoever had a bit of a cry. The reality is this tour should be half the size as is.

Stick man

To claim that fuckin hard…and lose.

Occ Topus

Epic claim fail.

german_surfer_007

Owen is still in the comp !? Jordy is such a wet blanket

german_surfer_007

Nah. At pipe, half the surfers can’t get a wave in free surfs. Bells was flat in the lead-up to the event. Cull half the surfers and run overlapping heats.. will make challenger series more interesting too having more top surfers there.

Gil Gunderson

If only there was a team of producers and camera people to capture this highly emotive yet entirely relatable unscripted drama!?

Gil Gunderson

And package it into a totally bingeable series of 42 minute episodes! DRAMA 🎭

Less dickthanballs

If wsl wants to be professional they need a bigger independent press presence for checks and balances. Judges should be scored on there judging by algorithm and contestants. Score of judges last performance displayed before Contest, gaining more trust of audience especially gamblers. Then it will be more sport and less country club.

Keith Grace

How does Jordy/ Mr. Priority and anyone else planning a boycott not realize they’ll get nowhere without Kelly being a part of this alleged boycott. I’ll never support the dweebs in slick footwear who run WSL/destroy a CT tour, but the surfers about to have their season end don’t have a leg to stand on without Kelly leading the charge…

Iain Platt

fill us in, you seem to know a lot. I haven’t read Stabs article but I listened to Jordy and he never actually said he was part of the boycott, and if he is who cares. He was not in jeopardy when those discussions happened. If there is more to it I’d love to know


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