"Meltdown."
The best bit of yesterday’s penultimate running of the 2026 New Zealand Pro was, no doubt, Yago Dora’s perfect 10. The 2025 World Surf League champ was surfing in a quarterfinal matchup against Andrew Tate “G” Cole Houshmand and things were looking bleak. As the clock wound down to single digits, Dora bobbed in the brine needing a 9.50 in order to steal the heat. A tall order anywhere, in any conditions, but especially at somewhat chonky Raglan. With just over three minutes remaining, though, a special wave appeared. The spindly Brazilian did not hesitate, throwing a big hands-free full rotation on the first section then backing it up with a series of razor sharp snaps.
He was awarded a perfect 10 from all five judges.
Those watching at home were thrilled, those watching from Manu Bay’s rocks were thrilled, Ronald Blakey and Richard Lovett (I think), in the booth, were thrilled. Blakey delivered the call with his inimitable baritone being pushed to the brink.
He teased the excitement as Yago began paddling, “Well this is it, this is, this could be his last shot at it so he’s gonna go big, you know that… AND HE THROWS THE AIR! UNBELIEVABLE! STICKS THE LANDING! THE TURN OF THE EVENT RIGHT WHEN HE NEEDS IT!”
Lovett (I think) moaned uncontrollably in the background.
It was a passionate bit of commentary, one appreciated by surf fans around the globe but not, apparently, by the staid mainstream media. This morning, The Guardian splashed the headline “Yago Dora sends World Surf League into meltdown with perfect 10 aerial.”
Rude to describe Blakey’s elevated pitch and Lovett (I think)’s vigorous groaning a “meltdown,” no?
Well, the action gets underway, again, soon. Hopefully hurt feelings will be mended by then and the commentary crew will be able to give it there all without holding back.
I must confess to preferring Ronnie’s baritone to his brother’s irritating scratchy squawking. Larrikins the pair though.
Maybe when writers know the difference between there and their, can we all agree on something.
What are the side effects of 10 redbulls per day?
It was a great wave.
It was not a 10.
It was not historic.
Felipe’s wave at JBay was a historic wave and very much a 10. That wave will be etched into most surfer’s minds til death.
https://youtu.be/ItkVh_B8PYQ?si=Tf03blF_hImqXOR9
Embarrassing how the WSL feels the need to overhype. First Felipe’s “historic” board choice and now this.
And people eat it up.
and you thought you were having a bad day https://x.com/Turbinetraveler/status/2058588250227216641?s=20
Man o man…Mano y Mano…Dora the explorer!
Hats off to Vaughan “Lovett” Blakey for the sound effects and also to Cole for one of the best losers interviews in recent memory.
It was enough for me to personally throw some dirt on the grave of his Andrew Tate side quest and chalk it up to retarded things that young Dudes do and the perils of social media.
For comparison, go listen to Joe Turpel’s call during Carissa Moore’s 9.8 quarterfinal ride yesterday afternoon. Whilst she is delivering the highest single wave score in the Woman’s division so far, and maybe the 2nd highest scoring ride of the WSL season to date, he’s monotonically blathering about Stephanie Gilmore.
Sleep inducing Cali nothingness during the apex moment.
Why is it so?
At least he dosent have a photo with chris ward.
https://youtu.be/8w03YYfc7FY?si=5-JApr2hRJzfQTEL
Do you feature your own posts or is there another mod? Honest question, not jabbing.
If it’s information that helps I do. As in this case Chas posted the whole heat video, me just the wave itself. It’s not like I’m featuring a comment of my own that I think is hilarious.
I’m awarding the commenting a solid 9.5
Ronnie approached the decisive wave with caution, starting off slowly, building up as yago stalled and then justifiably raised the tone, peak booth volume, ingeniously framed in the local crowds cheers, holding tone for the following 2/3 of the ride, only fading out as the wave itself finally turns to slop at the end, allowing space for sidekick to contribute with some unintelligible grunts. Bravo.
Cherry on top was sending cole g home to his laptop for some more ‘eating your own sperm will make you invincible’ manosphere videos on youtube
For once, the commentary was both justified by the moment and enhanced it.
Oh don’t worry, we won’t hold anything back….
You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
The future’s open wide