There will be blood.
But how good does it feel to have our US Open of Surfing back in Huntington Beach, California? Two years ago, the Covid pandemic upended it entirely. Last year, it was but a shell of its former self. Now, though, the sands are packed with rabid fans, the water teeming with Championship Tour hopefuls.
As you know, the “world’s most popular surf contest” is a Challenger Series event, much like the Quiksilver Pro France that was, days ago, beheaded and tossed into a shallow grave. Being such, it contains many multiples of points for which the aforementioned Championship Tour hopefuls to pocket and join the top ranks (before being beheaded themselves mid-year, shallow grave etc.).
Exciting and even more exciting with the possibility that Hawaii’s Zeke Lau is very much in the mix.
Lau, you will recall, won last summer’s Ultimate Surfer on ABC proving to himself, and the world, that he was the greatest living surfer. The reward for such a feat was multiple wildcard entries into 2022 Championship Tour events though our hero did not need as he qualified on his own. Well, he was cut, mid-year, no telling what happened to the golden Ultimate Surfer tickets, and is there, in Huntington, tan, rested and ready.
“I feel good coming back to Huntington. It’s just somewhere that feels comfortable,” Lau told the The Orange County Register‘s Laylan Connelly. “It was pretty rough today, there weren’t a lot of waves. It looks like there’s going to be some waves later this week. Every event at this point is a make or break. If I do good here, it will put me in a really good spot to re-qualify. I’m just focused on surfing and do good in the events I’m in, and enjoy it.”
Make or Break, it must be noted, is the watchable World Surf League series as opposed to The Ultimate Surfer.
In any case, if Lau qualifies soon it will be three qualifications in one calendar year.
Historic?
It must be.
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auction item…
https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….
I’m stoned…and laughing! great lead-in CS…
no fan of Finnegan…(banish his putz’s award)
he’s depressive…
Wide Wide World Of SportsGrit…
(and not once have you asked me to remove the ad blocker)
“I’ll take an order of Lau Lau…and buy my cowboy friend at the bar…a barley pop…looks like he needs a drink…you hungry bro?”
Made sorbet out of it.
1. Why bother to continue competing when he’s proven himself as the Best of the Best vis a vis The Ultimate Surfer? Shirley, he could retired with all glory and various book deals?
2. I still want to know what happen with Zeke getting knocked out. I know it was David Scales who mentioned it, but it seems incumbent upon Chas as a co-host to unpack the statement here.
Jake Zeke guy surfs better
If any ones been paying attn ,Zeke Lou has the best selling jersey for the WSL, followed by Yago Dora , therefore they both must re- qualify.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
But the photo in the article is not even the Slater Superocean. Just a regular old Superocean, which means that Kelly’s watch was not determined to be cool enough looking to be displayed. I think Laird wins this exchange.
‘Lau be dammed!
Maybe John John shoots the pier in the Gunboat, beaches it and tells the WSL to fuck off.
THAT would be exciting!
Typical clickbait.
Tl:dr (and non-emo) version: Zeke is working on requalifying.
The Huntington event is borderline unwatchable. I’d rather watch the mangos getting ripe in my yard.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Jesus, that is a huge mango.
Small hand!
2.5 lbs. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
id tune in to watch him get knocked
Yeah, kind of a clown.
Didn’t he get his ass kicked on the south shore recently?