Italian Edoardo and Spain’s Gonzalo Gutierrez put double world champ to the sword in El Salvador…
The Olympic qualifier in El Salvador is, if anything, a lesson in relevance as highly fancied Team USA, whose team members included world champs John John Florence and Carissa Moore as well as tour leader Griffin Colapinto plunged to 21st place overnight.
John John was put to the sword by Italian Edoardo Papa and Spain’s Gonzalo Gutierrez, Griffin, a no-show and Carissa exited courtesy of German Noah Klapp, Saffi Vette from New Zealand and Spain’s Garazi Sanchez.
Venezuela (19), Israel (17), Germany (11), Italy (9), Canada (6), France (4), Peru (2) and Japan (1) all stand on the throat on the biggest surf nation in the world.
Is this shift to surfing’s new world permanent or is there a little more to it, a nuance less discussed?
It ain’t easy to work out the format, endless heats, repechage loser rounds etc, but, bottom line, you can’t lose more than twice, and it would seem that, along with the withdrawal of Brazil’s Gabriel Medina and Joao Chianca, the endless format has drained the interest of the world’s best surfers whose eyes are on the CT event which begins in two days and which is also in lesbian-unfriendly El Salvador.
The question we ask therefore, is this: are tour surfers throwing heats through a lack of interest and making a mockery of the system by withdrawing mid-contest or is the diff between, say, John John from Team USA and Italy’s Edoarado Papa smaller than the surf industry might like you to think?
I’d suggest the former although I’m open to any sorta conspiracy if it gets the click-o-meter spinning.
You?
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F….to Slater…he is past. He just he what is convinient to him not surf. He is done. He is partner WSL or was….not ethical. If doesn’t agree with bad judgment in surf is his opinion most of surfers don’t agree with him….but can’t talk like Medina does. Power is everything and now Slater PAST has somebody giving voice to low WSL tecnical skill at all.
The ISA has the same problem the WSL has…The long, painful comps often don’t result in the “best surfer”. Subjective, of course but even a newb would recognize that John is a more pleasing surfer than 98% of the participants in that event. The events just don’t showcase good surfing.
if these dotheads learn to surf well, its over for the rest of us
Big yawn .
I’m assuming the judges aren’t owned by Ziff for the Olympics and the judging is legit ?
What’s the criteria?
Nothing like the wsl?
Who needs the a rebel league when we have the Olympics every four years?
Goodbye WSL, goodbye Elo, goodbye Ziff, goodbye
I thought the headline pretty average too poor?
I would have gone with “ pro surfers bleed too win gold”
If it was without the repercharge, it could get interesting, for the athletes and for the public.
Wow! Mind blowing! I never considered that John John might be a closet kook. No wonder my marineX rashy isn’t helping me make barrels
Is it Team India World Police? Dirka dirka.
The standard of surfing globally has jumped massively that’s for sure. Obviously in Brazil but also from Indo to Europe and beyond I’ve seen rippers on my recent travels equal to what I’m used to seeing in the waves at old school surfing countries like the US, Australia and South Africa. Gone are the days when I assumed my identity as a competent South African surfer offered any type of advantage at scoring the sets on my travels. It’s no surprise that surfers like Marlon Lipke from Germany/Portugal or Fioravanti from Italy have cracked the WCT and we can expect many more.
your DP should get you in the good books most places though.
Haha, I try my best
The funny thing is the level of talent I see from the young kids coming up at my local hasn’t gotten any better in two decades. Every few years one kid comes through who is pleasing to the eye but the rest ehhh.
Also let’s here more on how Joao and Gabby eloped?! Left in a fluster to a more gay friendly country? Currently getting hitched in Vegas? Dueling unsheathed swords in a jungle hideaway? More questions than answers! Hoooeeee tell me that wouldn’t be some hot sex xox
You seem very interested 🤣
Curious 😏💪xox
I’m quite sure just like us…..the pro’s really want the most opportunity to see some cunt from Slovenia or Sweden cartwheel over the ledge at Chope’s.
chicks too – it’s for the equality.
Look out for Sarah Baum who just qualified for South Africa with Jordy. Goofy footer who loves a tube.
Absolute gem of a human too.
The yank surfers stomping on Kelly’s dreams. How it must gall him to be 10 years late to the party.
“The Olympic qualifier in El Salvador is, if anything, a lesson in relevance”
Pretty much- it’s showing the whole ISA thing to be irrelevant.
I believe in collaboration theorys
ISA games and women’s periods, doesn’t get much better.
Who gives a shit mang
Yo yo no no yeo
Uh oh.