So much of pro surfing’s recent history seems based on outlandish statements and incredibly short memories. It’s like a modern fairytale with as many of the current shibboleths jammed in there as possible. In the telling of the tale, the cut was going to deliver us an unparalleled experience whereby we’d be maximising swells and finishing at peak moments. Wavepools were going to democratise surfing etc etc.
Reality tends to trump fairytales (but not billionaire money) and today we saw another post-cut Finals Day held in dreary, onshore dribble.
That’s no big deal for WSL spin merchants.
The crowning achievement for corporate storytellers remains unfulfilled but is now in sight. Greenwashing Middle Eastern oil money and even a possible sale to a fossil fuel powerhouse looking for easy image rehabilitation will be the final destination for the current direction of the WSL. We are well down that track now.
Onshore winds and a janky, inconsistent surf turned Finals Day into a game of wave catching and binary strategy. Paddle up the point and sit deep for a two or three turn runner, or sit down the line and wait for something with marginally better shape. Starting at the end and working backwards, it was no surprise to see the two Men’s Finalists from last year reprise their Final.
Last year’s Final was tight. Brazilian fans thought an injustice had been served on Toledo and Colapinto went to Brazil with the threat of gnarly Saquarema crowds over his head.
This year’s Final was more one-sided, although the score-line very much flattered Toledo. Judges were enthusiastic in highballing the current World Champ, erring on the side of caution, no doubt to avoid the possibility of another fiasco heading into Brazil.
Filipe (WSL/Hughes)
Death threats, by the way, are nothing new. Sunshine Coast Head Judge Steve Fookes detailed death threats as one of the reasons for relinquishing his thirteen-year reign as Head Judge of the then-ASP in the 80’s.
With thirteen minutes remaining in a genteel forty-minute Final, Toledo put the foot flat to the floor for two consecutive rides, a 9.00 and an 8.33. Those two rides crushed Colapinto like a bug and the Final was done. Assuming we go to Trestles with both gentlemen in the Final, Toledo will take incredible confidence from that result. There will be no angry words or trash talk, Colapinto has already styled himself as a Californian Dalai Lama – a peacemaker. Toledo’s thunderous death stares at the judging panel during El Salvador have largely had the desired effect and he will be largely pacified heading into the country of his birth.
Griff (WSL/Hughes)
Rewinding the tape, Griff had an easy win over LOB with two consecutive rides. The crucial exchange occurred with seven minutes to go. An 8.17 to Griff for a 5.93 to LOB. The generous spread favoured Griff but judges were in no mood for controversy after Lemoore. They wanted clear winners and that’s what they made happen.
Toledo was more active in his Semi against Ian Gentil. He piloted his chartreuse-railed Sharpeye into eight waves to Gentil’s ten. Two were judged excellent while Gentil could only crack the 8-point mark once. Airs were once again in favour, especially on the outside section.
Ian (WSL/Hughes)
If the Women seemed to get the best of it on the opening two days they got completely skunked on Final’s Day. Dribble and low scores – not a single excellent ride logged for the two Semis and a Final.
Tyler Wright scrapped her way past Gilmore, who could only manage three turns and a fall on the end for her best ride. Steph does claw her way into the Top 5 though, with Brazil, J-Bay and Tahiti to play. One is a clear strength, one is neutral, and one a clear weakness before she gets to Trestles, assuming she can hold on.
Steph (WSL/Hughes)
Carissa and Caz Marks surfed an even scrappier Semi, if that is possible. Carissa had eleven attempts with her best two a 6.44 and a 4.77.
The best women’s ride of the day occurred with eight minutes to play. Marks picked up a gurgly right that offered a handful of curvey pockets which she duly spiked for a 7.50.
Six rides apiece in the Final between Caz Marks and Tyler Wright. The final score of 11.60 (Marks) to 8.67 (Wright) shows the wave quality on offer. Caz opened up a handy lead with a 6.33 and was never headed. Three minutes to go, Tyler needed a 6.50, caught a wave and got obliterated on the end section. That caused an injury to the back of the ribs and underarm region, which seems to be superficial damage.
Caz (WSL/Hughes)
Same as last year, apart from the race for the final five, the year is dribbling away as the back half of the post-cut roster hit cruise control in ordinary surf. Surely, after the epic skunking the Woz has endured in 2023 there has to be some epic days ahead at J-Bay and Teahupoo.
I was initially in favour of the cut and the tour being rejigged and the surf industry pulling out. In a case of be careful of what you wish for, this current alternative has turned out to be very much inferior.
Yes, the current standard of webcast is insanely good, but the tour itself, especially the second half needs a serious re-jig.
Maybe we will have to wait for Middle East oil money for that to happen?
// STEVE SHEARER