Dancing for dollars.
The World Surf League Championship Tour is a tough place to scratch out a living. With the surf industry downgraded to the surf sector, tariffs absolutely gutting the fin category, uncertain economies, influencers vacuuming up advertising dollars etc. there are more sticker-less boards in each competition than ever before.
It might be understood, then, that professional surfers at the highest level of the spart (sport + art) are rabidly celebrating ever dirham earned. The global home of surfing is dishing out a reported $11 million in prize money this year. Just showing up then becoming eliminated earns a cool $10,000 in the seven pre-cut events. The winner earns a whopping $80,000. After the cut, that number jumps to $100,000 per win and $12,000 per last.
But its the middle bits, where most surfers bow out, that matter. Seventeenth equals $11,610, ninth $13,500, fifth $16,000.
Real money.
And thus, the wild post-wave celebrations currently trending amongst our heroes and heroines. In years past, “claims” were unseemly and especially for a score less than “excellent.” This year chests are pounded, hands jived, mouths hung open emitting passionate screams for fours and not just by our Brazilian friends. No, Italians, Japanese, Australians and Americans are all dancing for dollars.
But do you enjoy this new exuberance or do you miss the days of too-cool-for-school elan? David Lee Scales and I briefly touched upon during our weekly chat though I can’t remember where I landed regarding the issue. We also leaned into the relative value of surf mats in a surfer’s life.
Listen here.
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like an NBA player celebrating a made free throw on some of those
one could also cover china taking over the USa?
Wish there was audio of Julian chewing out Filipe.
Japanese surfers are a pleasure to watch. Whenever the young ones come up this way and surf the points I am in awe of there style and timing. And these are ones that aren’t even household names. Full rando groms. Never understood why they haven’t had more success on world stage. Too bad Kanoa didn’t grow up there. His style is less island of the sun and more MAGA by the sea.
Spart?
Sport + art?
Shirley—you jest?
The only Brazilian guy I like is Yago….but his claiming is getting more and more out of hand. I like him less every time I see that lame-ass Brazilian showboating.
But whatever….stoked Betty got her first W
JROBBO is following suit fist clench pump after nearly every wave totally cringe.
Did I miss something?
What double f-u are you referring to?
I think there’s a big difference between a surfer expressing his stoke in the water— compared to a pro trying to impress and sway the judges— the first is motivated by stoke—the second is motivated by ego.
I do like the fact though, that Dora ‘mooned’ the judges.
second is probably more influenced by money than ego – the need/ urgency for $ has an unseemly effect on us..
There’s like six women ‘ripping’ – please.
“Just showing up then becoming eliminated earns a cool $10,000 in the seven pre-cut events.”
How much of that gets spent on air fare, accomodation, boards etc? Nice lifestyle, but curious about the economic reality of the lower half of the CT. Not saying they are ‘suffering’. Probably doing well via sponno $ on top.
I think no more sponsorship.
Sorry I was busy sparting
Howzit Gila. Agree that Australia has done a lot for the sport especially competition. I fully appreciate the stoke Oz brings.
I like seeing you around here and your posts are always funny and insightful.
Maybe you guys will adopt Kaipo too?
No beef with BL mate, she shreds and charges.
But nothing she did at Burleigh stood out to me, except she was the winner when all the dust settled.
Ha I poked ya good. I have to admit she’s not a flash whirly twirler but slow and steady. Maybe someday she’ll bust a full roto.
I start surfing as a little kid in the 1970s when it was okay to openly display joy and enthusiasm in the water. I’m not that old of a guy, but I refuse the anti-claim culture – my surf personality was formed before football face was standard in the water. If something makes me happy, I’m going to smile; if something makes me excited, I’m going to hoot.
But I totally agree that the amount and level of claiming at Burleigh Heads was unseemly. Felt like disingenuous pandering to a weird spectator dynamic. So much orgasmic chest thumping. It felt embarrassing to watch.
I think there’s a big difference between a surfer expressing his stoke in the water— compared to a pro trying to impress and sway the judges.
Seems a fair point but I reckon
they should claim before they do the big end section move. Like when Diamond Dallas Page used to give the symbol before pulling out the diamond cutter back in the WCW days.
I’ve nailed my Oz leg worst performance forecast thus far , with TC , Bugs n Fluck all making complete arses of themselves , now for TB or Mitch Boringson to complete my has been forecast in Western byronbay
Where’s JP’s write up? Thoughts on the heritage heat anyone?
Jeez and here I was thinking I that it was the Brazzos who were the only bunch of complaining claim monkeys. But the Aussies now have surpassed them in every claim and whine category. The current Oz overwrought nationalism and bias was so manifest in and out of the WSL booth that all we heard all fricken day were dick-sucking bleats about Jules, Steph and Sal. And don’t even get me started on that clown Vaughn brother on the glass. Don’t get me wrong – I love Aussies and their spirit and I’ve been hanging with them over here and over there for 40+ years, but fuck me, dial it back boys.
And farking douche bag Longtom/FR over at SN, who you can usually depend on for brilliant objective writing, just shit all over the women’s winner calling her deserved win safety surfing and calling Erin the best surfer of the day. No doubt that Erin spanked his golden girl Steph hard and fast with her searing backside in their heat but Shearer’s undeserved and barely veiled malevolence against Betty Lou is stunning and failed to even include a photo of her in the article. I’m a huge fan of both Vahine and Betty Lou but to piss all over BL for her sustained and measured performance just because Vahine made a critical rookie mistake is stupidly disingenuous.
Totally agree with the epic WSL production fail and the viewing platform. And here’s a new rule WSL should enact: any clown claiming should be an automatic points deduction on that ride.
I think they love the claiming and the bias, mate.
Friction attracts more eyeballs and furious, long, one-paragraph socio media rants than everyone being objective
What about the hawah eee talk during the backdoor blowout?
You’re right about those insufferable cunts too Bexy.
The difference is the Shootout is the Hui’s little club event with plenty of fake-ass wannabe Hawaiians.
Don’t worry we got 1 more on the Auzzzzieeee treble for the car bro
Expect it to be dialed up
“Sustained and measured performance” that’s just a round about way of saying safety surfing. Congrats to Betty, but it was a very tame final and an easy run to the final.
Bettys average heat total was 14.5 v her competitors 11.3.
Usually I’m reasonably engaged with the Womans draw, but I found this event they just didn’t rise to the occasion?
Maybe it was just that the men went so hard in comparison? One of the better events in awhile though.
Yeah fair enough. I agree this was a good event no matter what. I find myself more interested in the women nowadays.
Yeah so have I. Be interesting to see next season with the extended field if it’ll make it more competitive or we’ll end up with more boring cannon fodder heats. I’d rather they tightened up the mens numbers to match the women’s instead of adding more women.
definitely bigger strides made with the women in the last 5 years, no question
Lets be honest she was not and was never going to be pushed in that final. She just needed to do what she did.
I agree that there seems to be more nationalistic fervor , and surfers are feeding off the nationalism…..seems like a global trend !
With LT he’s never competed and has become a commentator on competition…but he has more of a hipster view of surfing which colors his reviews……and SN is a very nationalistic publication, so no surprise they didn’t print a photo……
Jules was great , Pip was better!
Hey Mo. Don’t mean to go so hard on old Longtom or the Aussies but with so few Hawaiians interested in contests nowadays I really pull for those few left. Especially BLSJ who has been quietly working her way forward.
Hope your doing well braddah man. Stay healthy.
That’s probably the worst thing about the contest calendar not starting at Pipe, is that guys like Barron will find it way tougher. Starting at Bells isn’t going to suit the heavy water chargers.
hopefully one day we will get back el Nino and Big Bells….
hey Huli, I think you had a valid point…I have alsways said the aussies have always been passionate competitors as are the crowds , that’s why I think the Brazilians are another version of old aussie surf culture…nothing to complain about…I turn down the sound when Iwatch the replays……
doing OK , still trying to get back to Hawaii , still visa problems and health’s ok….I actually would love to catch up with ya self and happy camper …when I come back…God willing!
Bunch of old hippies up there in Lennox and 99% of Stu’s subscriber base at SN is Australian, so they keep the Aussie perspective and priorities front and centre!
no hippies here mate. Last one was run out of town/couldn’t afford the rent decades ago.
and they were replaced by a more affluent demographic, pretend to be hippies…..so Hipsters are alive and well……maybe there’s still a few hippies holed up in the hills ,LOL?
few out at Nimbin and some hold outs at Mullumbimby.
I think that it’s just not old hippies….but a mutated version of hippies that has been adopted by the new age Hipsters , but a lot more PC than us old hippies…yes I was one once,LOL!
Hipster view of surfing —–baahaahahahahahaahhaah.
glad you agree , as the Northern Rivers area is Hipster central….and good ol’ Steve has his commentary/narrative colored by Hipster culture!
You’re talking to good ol’Steve.
🤣
always, not a problem…..
Betty Lou’s new name is Cheap Trick Betty.
only mistake Vahine made was even being near Cheap Trick who is known for priority games.
Just ask Carissa….and many others.
I want to see Vahine make the cut with BLSJ.
Then add Erin at huge Tahiti and Fiji.
Both Erin and Vahine would have the goofy advantage and we can see what Betty’s backside game is.
Howz those Dodgers
unfortunately Vahine is below the cut. hope she does good in WA….or gets a wildcard in Tahiti.
Brooks is gonna flair up on the backside of the tour. she may need a bit of work on her boards, but if she makes it to the Fiji final, reckon she’ll bring home the title…..wherever home may be.
Dodgers are like a woman on menopause, somedays they’re hot, somedays they’re not. today they were not….but yesterday was maybe one of the best baseball games ever.
Anybody ever seen this Chad Campbell film? I’ve never even heard of it before.
https://www.surfer.com/news/lagunabeachmovies
My favorite part about these podcasts is Chas’ inability regarding math.
The claims were brutal. Legit Chopes or Pipe I’d let it go. But at Burleigh in those conditions… brutal. Keep an eye on Groggia to win the claim title at Margs, right before he’s sent packing back to the ‘CS. We forgot all about his early round silliness when Burleigh began what seems like 2 months ago, by the time of Felipe’s silliness in the final.
One quick exception to all the claiming though… Julian’s double middle fingers in the final (that’s what it looked like to me) I’m 100% ok with.
I concur on Jules double birds. He was psyched and hyped.
Skynet claim…..who will be the first?
We are royally fucked!!!
haha , you know the answer…the chinese will be the first as they have the rare mineral magnets…..musky quoted ,” we cannot continue developing robot technology as we don’t have the magnets!”
china now has factories which are 100% robots , which manufacture 24/7 , 7 days a week…….
Tia the future me-thinks.
Also, Big Brother is watching you….