"We’re sick of these situations, and embarrassing for WSL."
The World Surf League’s Championship Tour machinery is either near, or in, the United Arab Emirates as the Abu Dhabi Pro is but hours away. Kaipo Guerrero taking in the sights. Joe Turpel taking in the sounds. The social media manager doing whatever he, or she, can to stave of an Italian nationalist uprising that could threaten the very foundations of top-tier professional surfing.
At issue is the exciting Lexus Pipe Pro finals that wrapped but hours ago. It was a thrilling affair, the North Shore’s Barron Mamiya coming up against Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti, on the men’s side. Both had surfed very fine over the course of the event and both surfed very fine in the last frame, trading pipelines etc. Fioravanti was down, as time melted away, but snagged a Backdoor stunner that appeared good enough for him to take the lead. The judging came in wonky, Fioravanti lost and his countrymen dug deep to find a country-first passion that had gone relatively dormant in the past fifty years.
A sampling:
“Leo you are the champ.”
“LEO 100% deserved the win. The fact that 2 judges threw 8.8 on his wave is super suspicious. Was at least a 9+ all day long.”
“Investigate the 8.80 judge.”
“Real champion is Leo! 9.80 overscored or 9.10 underscored! We’re sick of these situations, and embarrassing for WSL.
“You are embarassing. Leo got robbed in front of everyone.”
“Congrats, Leo!!! You are the real champion. Barron definitely where the best surfer during the entire event, but he lost the final. Once again, WSL shaming itself.”
“You guys got the wrong pic, Leo won.”
Etc.
Though possibly not Italian, the great Johnny Boy Gomes even swung in with “I said congrats, I didn’t say I agree with the judges‼️ Everyone else on the wsl panel thought Leo got the score too except the judges
Now, do you think the World Surf League powers that be are worried about shaming itself, once again, or are they too busy enjoying a fine khuzi?
Yum.
Do you, anyhow, have further thoughts on the matter or has care vanished in your heart too?