Brazilian surfer João Chianca accused of soccer-style theatrics in controversial interference win over Griffin Colapinto

"Like basketball or soccer defenders taking flops, knowing they have no answer for the relentless drive of a man on a mission."

Rules are rules are rules, as they say. But there’s always gotta be a little room for nuance in the pursuit of justice and there was no nuance in a decision to kneecap El Salvador Pro favourite Griffin Colapinto a couple of days back.

You know the play. 

One minute into Griff and João’s round of sixteen heat and the pair are jostling for priority. Griff has to do a little duck-dive under João, whom we last saw getting his head belted into the Pipeline reef, who appears to be going left at the righthand point although wiser heads know he’s hunting an interference.

Like a Johny Depp mugging for his fans outside his defamation suit, João theatrically throws his hands in the air and demands the paddling interference although where Griff is supposed to teleport to is unclear.

The WSL’s Brazilian Deputy Commissioner Renato Hickel agrees with Chianca and describes it as a “classic block” penalising Griff with a fifty percent discount on his second-scoring wave. 

 

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And, despite ruling the heat, Griff loses by half a point. Without the interference he would’ve won 17:43 to 14.50.

Now, Griff’s shaper Matt Biolos, who ain’t afraid to call a spade a spade, a red a commie etc, has delivered a wild salvo across Chianca’s and the WSL’s bows.

It follows his immediate reaction to the decision when he wrote: “Complete and utter bullshit, flagrantly and purposefully caused by one man’s insecurity, knowing he was vastly inferior in the conditions.”

From his new missive:

“I will always defend our crew,” writes Biolos. “We work too hard not to. Griffin can keep his cool and take it in stride. But it as a blown call. In a world title race, Joao is a great surfer and a fine young man. But between his tactics and the judging we all lose some credibility.

“Griffin was so locked in yesterday. Toledo style locked in. Best looking surfer in the comp. Third year in a row. Unfortunately, sneaky tactics prevailed over proper surfing. Like basketball or soccer defenders taking flops, knowing they have no answer for the relentless drive of a man on a mission.

“Part of the game, yes. Within the rules, yes. But not the spirit of the sport. Most of us ‘knew’ Griff probably handed over priority. But interfering? Bullshit.

“The surfing audience loses out. The WSL…as well.” 

True?

Or did the bum decision give Colapinto license to deliver his finest performance of the year?