John John (pictured) on top. Photo: WSL
John John (pictured) on top. Photo: WSL

John John Florence, Yago Dora and the “throbbing vigour of engorged bullocks” mark spectacular El Salvador Pro final

"And suddenly, it looks like we could be heading to one of the most compelling finishes to a season in recent memory. Everyone who matters is in the mix (and Jordy Smith)."

Straight reporting I hear you cry?

Well ok then. I’ll save my digression for a separate essay.

For once, the day might warrant talk just of surfing.

An almost hitchless day of inviting, glassy waves peeled down the Punta Roca point, and when the two men who attacked them with the throbbing vigour of engorged bullocks met in the final, all seemed right.

There was progression of the highest order, committed turns, and ranking shake-ups that titillate even the prospect of Trestles.

However, before we get into the weeds here, let me ask this: if all you want to hear is a simple post-match analysis of pro surfing, then what are you?

Do you not see with your eyes?

Are you such a simple organism, an amoeba, say, that you cannot formulate thoughts?

Worse: are you Joe Turpel or Mitch Salazar, primitive AI programmed solely for surf commentary (one a rudimentary Spanglish version)?

Go on, live a little.

But I suppose it’s true that on days like today, not even mealy-mouthed Mitch could mis-pronounce or matttarrrrrr the vibe.

And it’s true, as Chris Cote proclaimed, there is little us comment board heroes can cast across the interweb to darken his cloud of joy or lay waste to the WSL after days like this.

Gabriel Medina began the day hacking and slashing at the bared throat of Joao Chianca. A pair of high sevens were enough to dispatch Chianca, who exhibited enough in this competition to remind us what we’ve missed. The tenacious violence he applies to heat strategy is much needed on this Tour.

But Medina is Specimen X in this regard, and although Joao tried to paddle him up the point and sit on his nose without priority, it was too little, too late.

Despite the obvious competitive tension, the two men embraced at the end, and not for the first time I admired the ability Brazilian surfers have to treat heats with life and death importance, yet show genuine warmth towards their countrymen before and after the horn.

Quarter final two saw friends and travel partners Yago Dora and Jack Robinson face off. From the beginning it was clear that Dora was in a rare rhythm.

Yet he was disconcertingly lowballed for a clean and explosive rotation that Chris Cote labelled as a backside 540.

The wave had surely elicited guttural utterances from all who witnessed it. 7.67 felt inappropriate for such a visceral reaction.

And what do you make of the deep dive into the history of skateboard culture, as led by Chris Cote and Kaipo Guerrero?

It seemed a calculated (and slightly desperate) attempt to assimilate surf and skate “tricks”, which Cote has long been a proponent of. We learned (from Kaipo) the origin story of both indy grabs and varials, among other things I probably missed.

I can only presume that Kaipo bears the mark of the last person who spoke to him, and as such Chris Cote has been the most prominent yap in his ear in El Salvador.

I can take it or leave it, but I broadly agree about spin conventions.

Yago Dora was the catalyst for nearly every discussion. Even under the priority of Robinson he was busy, a tactic he employed to great effect all the way to the final. He struck first and conclusively in both his quarter and semi-final, leaving his opponents searching for a great wave rather than just a good one, and therefore neutralised by his aerial vivacity.

John Florence employed the same tactic in his quarter final match with Crosby Colapinto, perhaps owing to rhythm rather than design. His first two scores were his keepers, an 8.00 and a 7.17, both of which spoke to the sharpness of rail and focus he would carry til the end.

The heat wasn’t much of a contest, but Kaipo’s segue to begin is worthy of note.

“Yesterday was the anniversary of Michelangelo’s Statue of David being erected in Florence, Italy”, he began. “This is John John Florence, and this is David & Goliath.”

Truly, Kaipo’s brain should be studied.

Both semi finals took place in comboland. (If comboland was a world where your most vile nightmares as a pro surfer (not involving Sarge) come true.)

Rarely have both match-ups at this stage been so one-sided.

On one side, Yago Dora hung, drew and quartered Gabriel Medina, sending pieces of him to Cuba, Mexico and Ecuador, and leaving his head on a spike, embedded in Mama Roca.

On the other, John Florence disembowelled Matt McGilivray, leaving his entrails floating uselessly in the silt.

Dora’s flow was undeniable. Notching an 8.33 early, he followed quickly with a 9.33 for a tweaked rotation with an indy grab. It could’ve been a ten, perhaps it should have been. Regardless, every time Dora took off on a wave it was edge-of-your-seat stuff.

Gabriel Medina’s surfing (and I can’t believe I’m writing this) looked flat by comparison. Pedestrian, even. He stuck to the face of the wave, notching typically solid backhand hits. But they were beige in comparison to Yago, who was just too smooth, too incendiary.

Medina tried some airs late, realising his predicament, but it was too late. Everyone knew it, most of all him. I can’t recall ever seeing him beaten so comprehensively.

Has Medina deadlifted himself into a corner where he’s lost an edge in waves like this, I wondered? He’s certainly heavier than at any point in the past, and perhaps his surfing lacks lightness as a result.

Or perhaps he simply met a man in such a high state of arousal that there was nothing to be done.

Similarly aroused was John Florence. And even if his victory in the opposing semi final against Matt McGilivray was predictable, the style with which he did it was absolute.

Florence gralloched McGilivray with a perfect ten point ride for a high, clean spin followed by some typically incisive carves. At first I was affronted that this wave could elicit perfection from the judges but Dora’s could not, but the replay showed that Florence had not only performed his spin on the first section, but lost no speed on the landing, then followed up with some razor rail work, the likes of which perhaps only he can do.

And so it was a Florence vs Dora final. The two form surfers of the event, both locked into an elevated state of consciousness that seemed to carry from heat to heat.

How often do the two best surfers of any given event actually meet in the final? Was this testament to running the whole thing in three days, more or less back to back?

But the final was to be a comedown of sorts. John Florence had retained his rhythm, opening with an 8.50, followed quickly with a 7.83.

Dora’s flow was disrupted, then more so when he landed awkwardly on his board, breaking a fin and needing a replacement. His 9.77 came almost from nothing and gave him a chance. Then the ocean went flat for the longest period of the day. All Yago needed was a mid-six, but he couldn’t even find a wave. It was a limp ending to a day that deserved a better climax.

Undeterred, Mitch Salazar proclaimed “he (Florence) must be on top of the moon right now”.

Right enough, it was Florence’s first win since 2021, a stat that might seem shocking. But with it, his top five berth has been assured.

And suddenly, it looks like we could be heading to one of the most compelling finishes to a season in recent memory. Everyone who matters is in the mix (and Jordy Smith).

The Brazilian triumvirate of Medina, Ferreira and Dora are howling at the gate of the top five in positions six to eight. With Rio and Fiji to go, you’d have to fancy their chances of displacing Smith and Ewing at least.

So, that’s the surfing. All filler, no killer. What larks etc.

I’ll be packing my bicycle and moseying down to Germany this week. But I’d like to give you a little something before I go. Something a little sexier. A little dalliance with darkness. A musing on purpose, envy, lust, and John Florence.

Look out for it.

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Troublesome behavior (pictured).
Troublesome behavior (pictured).

Surfers ally with nude sunbathers after “herds of perverted men in street clothing” descend on beach

"We are seeing a large influx of folks coming in that have no interest in getting naked or enjoying the beach."

Now, the sister sports of nude sunbathing and surfing rarely, if ever, come into conflict. Surfers generally ply our trade in the waters, often colder or dangerous and have no care for what happens on the sand. Nude sunbathers ply theirs on the beach, exposing gentle bits to the warm rays of the sun. The two groups form a sort of yin-yang representing a wonderful balance of opposites. Nude sunbathers and surfers can be witnessed peacefully sharing the same environment at Blacks, in San Diego, or the coastline of France. A balm for this polarized age.

Surfers, then, are providing allyship for a group of nude sunbathers in Canada’s Vancouver who are complaining about “hordes of perverted men in street clothing” descending upon their once bucolic sands.

Wreck Beach has long been a favorite. Sometimes called “The Topless Teahupo’o,” nude sunbathers have been “pulling it” since 1989. Large logs provide both backrests and wind stops for the naked except, now, the city is removing them opening up sight lines and generally causing mayhem.

While the city is citing safety, its lifeguards being unable to spot those in need of assistance, others are saying bigger issues than mass drownings must be considered.

“We are seeing a large influx of folks coming in that have no interest in getting naked or enjoying the beach,” the chair of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society Stephen Biduk told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, adding, “They’re just coming down to look at people, to look at naked bodies, and that’s becoming a bigger concern.”

Mary Jean Dunsdon, who enjoys participating in nude sunbathing, is furious about the whole situation, boldly declaring, “I know that Wreck Beach is a tourist destination, but I am not a tourist attraction. I am not the Eiffel Tower.”

A petition has been circulated in order to stop log removal. It lists the key concerns including:

Increased Intimidation: Herds of men in city clothing are coming to the beach, intimidating visitors, and filming women and children. This is directly correlated to the open sight lines and the monitoring metro claims it needs. Metro Vancouver’s response of “trying to educate them” is insufficient. We need more safe spaces and a reduction in voyeuristic behavior. Correcting the mistake of removing the larger logs and safe spaces is a simple and effective answer.

All surfers encouraged to sign here.

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Kelly Slater delivers surprise verdict on Colapinto-Chianca controversy!

But surf fans quick to point out champ's hypocrisy!

The retired surf star and daddy-to-be Kelly Slater, fifty-two, has finally delivered his verdict on the Colapinto-Chianca controversy that bedevilled the recently completed El Salvador Pro.

Griffin, often referred to as the Gandhi of Surfing for his relentless search for self-improvement and north star positivity, posted his response to the events of two days earlier when João Chianca used theatre to provoke an interference ruling.

“Never give up! Whether the paddle interference call was right or not, I still put myself in a vulnerable situation,” wrote Griffin. “This obviously hurts when I have my best heat of the year and still lose. All I know is I will use this to dig deeper and learn from my mistakes. If I can take any positives from this, it’s that I can come from behind and still perform my best under pressure. This situation also pushed me to raise my level in a jersey that I may have forgotten that I’m capable of. With all great success stories there’s adversity. This is part of the deal. No holding back the rest of the year! Everything happens for us.”

Kelly Slater, however, made his own feelings, which were far less languid, clear in the comment pane.

“Well, the interference was beyond lame,” wrote Kelly. “He paddled at a 45 degree angle into you from where the wave couldn’t even be ridden. Yes, you also put yourself in that position but I felt it was the wrong call. Nice surfing.”

Kelly Slater delivers verdict on El Salvador controversy.

Kelly’s verdict drew ire from mostly Brazilian surf fans who were quick to point out Kelly did the exact same thing in his US Open Final with Shane Beschen in 1996, against Andy Irons at Pipe in 2000 and Adrian de Souza in Puerto Rico in 2010.

“Slater, you’re my all time favourite…the best to ever do it by far. The GOAT. But the move on Beschen was and still is one of the ‘snakiest’ moves ever seen. At Pipe, you paddled for a left and last minute turned to Backdoor in hopes Andy would go and get the interference. Love you but your judgement has always been biased.”

“Man, really??? Are you every day getting crazier?? You did exactly the same against Adriano de Souza in Puerto Rico!!! Don’t be selective, you only complain about WSL when it is against your friends. Go raise your kid, you already did that and would do it again, don’t come crying.”

“How do you call what you did against Shane Beschen?”

Never one to let an insult go unchallenged, Kelly wrote:

“I actually ride the wave behind Beschen and he could have looked. As for Andy, he was on the shoulder from me and paddled around me. I allowed him to and he got the wave. Joao didn’t even try to stand up on the wave and paddled into the whitewater sideways. I love that people who probably don’t even compete are debating this with me though.”

As for the argument that Kelly disputed the decision ‘cause Joao is Brazilian he wrote:

“My argument has zero to do with Joao’s nationality. It’s Brazilians in the comment section claiming it’s against them which it is not. That’s ridiculous. You guys are being way too sensitive and reactive.”

Let’s run ’em side by side, 1996 US Open Final and El Sal with Griff and Chianca.

Who did it better?

Kelly or João ?

 

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Griffin Colapinto, controversial exit from El Salvador Pro.
“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."

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?

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John John Florence wins El Salvador Pro
John John Florence, officially in the top 5 for Lowers, unstoppable in El Salvador.

Papa John John Florence “wipes butter off Yago Dora’s face” in dominant El Salvador Pro win

Dominant.

El Salvador’s Punta Roca came to life, Sunday morning, gorgeous, unruffled right lines in the 4 –  6 ft range forming into the proverbial “skate park” for those remaining in the draw. The heat that snatched the very breath out of surf fans’ nostrils was semifinal number 1 featuring Gabriel Medina and Yago Dora.

Now, momentum was theoretically with Medina, heading in. The two-time world champion had just come off a dominant return to form at Teahupo’o where, even though he was bested by John John Florence, had a different sort of crackle. The tour moved, quickly, to Surf City, Medina continued his seemingly unstoppable charge meeting Yago Dora in the aforementioned semi.

It was an utter dismantling. Oh, not of Dora, as conventional wisdom would have held, but of Medina. The lanky screwfoot abused his countryman, tossing effortlessly dynamic airs, stuffing Medina into an unbreakable combination. Making him look silly, even, as the Dark Knight flailed.

“One of the most aggressive displays we’ve seen this year,” Kaipo Guerrero exhaled.

“Ohhhhhh. Ahhhhhh. Yessssssss,” Mitch Salazar moaned.

But it deserved all superlatives.

Then John John Florence arrived. Semifinal number 2 featured the North Shore prodigy facing up against South Africa’s Matthew McGillivray where he proceeded to fly even higher than Dora, stomping an alley-oop so delightfully that Salazar had a stroke, gushing, “There is a murder on the dance floor.”

Unclear who died and where the dance floor was but, McGillivary, in any case, had no prayer.

And so surf fans were treated to Dora, possessed, and Florence, inspired, in the final.

The waves backed off, lightly, as they do but the wind stayed chill as the opening hooter sounded. Florence and Dora bobbed while Salazar dialed both his Spanish and Portuguese pronunciations to 11. “Salvador,” for instance, becoming a completely incomprehensible “Slalbaddddoooo.”

Then, finally, at the 30 minute mark, John John took off, almost got barreled, punted and stomped. Yago very much on notice. Salazar insisting on calling Florence “double J.” Guerrero somehow hearing it for the first time, every time, and responding, “So good they had to name him twice.”

8.50.

Dora then took off, went for a wild spin, hit is board on the landing and elicited a grunt from Salazar never heard before from a man. Guttural. Like he was giving birth. Back fin box busted right out.

Florence backed his excellent score with another very good one leaving Dora in a brutal combination situation.

16.33.

The call went to Strider Wasilewski, in the lineup, and he discussed the “combination platter,” apparently featuring steak and lobster with Dora hoping to wipe butter off John John’s face? The metaphor was, unfortunately, unclear.

Dora, maybe listening, did? “Tapping into the rhythm of the wave,” the “skinny goat” laced together a gorgeous backhand ride with a smoker.

9.77.

Salazar, out of nowhere, found 12 on the pronunciation dial turning “Dora” to “Doddda,” and the broadcast thankfully cut to a Bonsoy Brew Break at peak tension, thrilling surf fans with poorly conceptualized advertisements from Apple, iHeartRadio and El Slalbaddddoooo.

Upon return, Wasilewski wondered if Doddda would also steal Florence’s champagne, now that he had grabbed the lobster, or langoustine.

The ocean turned itself off, at the end, and Florence held the flute firmly, no wiggle in his grip. He is now, officially, in the Trestles top 5.

JP Currie coming tomorrow.

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