“We really wanted to run, too. There’s nothing better. The WSL loves to see big, perfect Pipeline.”
Earlier today, the WSL’s Chief of Sport Jessi Miley Dyer jumped on Instagram to explain the reasons behind yesterday’s decision to not run the Lexus Pipe Pro on the best day of the waiting period.
“We figured it’s worth coming on here and chatting a little bit about yesterday. Obviously we saw all the comments. We really wanted to run (the Lexus Pipe Pro), too. There’s nothing better…the WSL loves to see big, perfect Pipeline. I know our surfers also want to surf those conditions, too.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite there yesterday. We had a lot of wash-throughs. It was really big. It kind of cleaned up in the afternoon for sure. But that’s outside competition hours for us. When you get to about 4:00 o’clock in our permit, we have to be off the beach at 4:30. So, it was a bit late for us to start the contest yesterday.
“We’re looking forward to today, and crossing fingers for a couple big barrels.”
All pretty reasonable, one man’s cloud is another man’s rainbow and so on.
The Hawaiian strongman Johnny Boy Gomes who reacted angrily to the WSL’s decision not to run the Lexus Pipe Pro despite the eight-to-twelve-foot waves (“WTF happened to pro surfing now days 🤪 It’s a circus 🎪 run by clowns”) lit up again writing:
View this post on Instagram
“You can stop your BS bcus everyone could see how perfect pipeline yesterday on @surfline cam 💯”
And,
“You guys f#% up by canceling the contest on the best day of the year yesterday.”
Surf fans were similarly unconvinced despite the well-presented missive from the talented goofyfooter and former tour surfer.
“It’s on? are you sure it’s not too big & hollow maybe we should wait.”
“I understand yesterday would not have had tons of opportunity. There were washthroughs and the beatings would have been gnarly. But the best waves would have been remembered for years. Walking away from offshore 2nd reef bombs to run in crumbly, broken up Gums/Backdoor? It’s impossible to justify.”
“When you try to justify a mistake makes it even worst … Why not just come and say what it’s obvious: we were wrong , my bad , you guys were right , we will work to do better next time …. at least it would show respect to the fans …”
“WSL NEWS : Since the waves are Small and Contestable today a new womens wildcard has been announced Shellipé Toledo will be surfing in rd 1 (of the Lexus Pipe Pro.)”
“i’ve been trying to support you guys but sending kelly out in
that this am and then having to listen to felicity giggle thru the
heat was PAINFUL #wslfail
#majorfail”
“are you serious? how many times do we have to say, we were watching the live surf cam and could see non stop huge bombing pipeline, the occasional wash through but insane ones every few mins.. could have been a historic day.. you guys kooked it just admit it.”
Pipe yesterday per Strider Wasilewski’s Instagram.
A branding question of sorts.
Should the WSL have addressed the issue thereby giving the no-contest-on-epic-day narrative another couple of days of airtime or sat quietly and waited for the noise to disappear.
Rip Curl, you’ll remember, chose the former tack when they celebrated trans icon Sasha Jane Lowerson only to disappear the stylish longboarder when the anti T-Girls in sports hillbillies arrived with their banjos and vats of moonshine etc.
