Fiji Pro: Finals Day Wrap
"Best performance ever", "history in the making", "touched by the hand of God." Owen Wright's performance at Fiji is going to generate lots of over-the-top descriptors, and it warrants every one of them. It was that good. But let's not get carried away too early in the piece, 'cause just like a Cloudbreak special, we've got a lot of ground to cover.
Finals Day dawned to perfect 8 foot conditions, the overnight offshore grooming the faces clean. Five Australians, two Brazilian rookies, and a Frenchman remained in the draw.
The first QF saw Julian Wilson continue his under-the-radar roll toward the final, scoring a 9.43 for a long barrel on a huge set wave. That wave proved the difference for Wilson with his opponent, Brazilian rookie Italo Ferreira, fighting hard at the back end of the heat for a pair of 8s. If the heavy water of Cloudbreak exposed the deficiencies in Filipe Toledo's arsenal, then it highlighted the strengths in Ferreira's. The chunky goofy footer was the surprise packet of the event with his open face power carves the highlight of his first campaign at Fiji. With a fifth place finish he jumps into eighth on the rankings and is the frontrunner for rookie of the year.
Wiggolly Dantas was lost at sea against Taj Burrow in the second Quarter, the young Brazilian spending long periods out of position in the lengthy Cloudbreak line up. Burrow started the match up with an 8.77 and much as he's done throughout the event the veteran natural footer controlled the heat from start to finish. Like Ferreira, Dantas will be happy with a fifth placing which lifts him to 17th position on the rankings and in a good position to re-qualify.
Way back in the first article I pegged Owen Wright as the favourite for the event, and I watched excitedly as his stocks rose day by day. Could he ride his luck to the end, or had I given him the Kiss of Death? For the first fifteen minutes of his QF match up against Joel Parkinson it sure seemed that way. Owen didn't catch a single wave. However, his patience paid off with a 7.67 quickly backed up by a 8.93. Up to that point Parko and Owen had three perfect tens between them, but perfection eluded each of them and it became a classic grind-them-out heat that Owen got the better of. The Quarter Final finish for Joel is his best result since Trestles last year.
The fourth QF ended prematurely when Kai Otton hit the reef on the inside pulling into a huge closeout pit. Just as he did against Bede, Jeremy Flores got the walk through, though he'd already applied the thumb screws to Kai before he swatted the reef. Kai got mediacal attention back on the boat but he'd have to think his sacrifice was worthwhile, fifth place is his best result of the season and lifts him out of the cellar.
Julian Wilson got the better of Taj Burrow in a semi final that never really started. Though he never got the opportunities, Taj's third place sees him move into sixth on the rankings and within strike range for a tilt at the title. Adriano and Toledo's Fijian stumble has blown the title race wide open.
Semi two was a much tighter affair with the lead changing several times. Owen Wright again found the best wave locking in a 9.43 early in the Semi. Jeremy Flores clawed his way into the lead with two 8s but the following exchange saw Owen find a solid back up and also regain the lead. Jeremy’s dream run at Fiji had come to an end with a Semi Final finish, his best result since Bells in 2012. New JS sleds and a positive attitude has seen Flores turn his results around. He's now sitting tenth on the rankings, in total contrast to his 33rd end of season ranking in 2014.
And so an Owen Wright vs Julian Wilson final. As Julian said before paddling out, "It'll be just like pro junior days", except 2 foot Narrabeen had become 8 foot Cloudbreak. I'm sure you're all aware of what happened in the final, however it wasn't without some controversy. Ten minutes in, with Owen holding priority, the head judge made a tight call. A very big set mowed through the line up and Owen held Julian off the best wave. Did he paddle for it or not? Julian certainly thought he did and appealled to the tower. The judges saw it differently and priority stayed with Owen.
From that point on the final was Owen’s. The next wave - which would've been Julian's had priority switched - Owen scored 9.60. Then came the touched by God history making: a ten with five minutes to go, improbably followed by another ten taken without priority that clocked a full nine seconds of barrel time.
Do yourself a favour and watch those videos.
When he comes down from the clouds Owen will find he's moved into third on the rankings and is a serious contender for the title. With the confidence he's carrying and the next two events being held at 'real' waves he'll be considered the danger man despite not wearing yellow.
For his part Julian gave a gracious losing interview. The runner up finish is his second for the year, and he sits fifth in the rankings. Fanning has slipped one position down to fourth but goes into J'Bay as the defending champion. Kelly Slater and John John Florence sit outside the top 10 in 11th and 12th respectively with both only registering one keeper from five events. 2015 is slowly slipping away from both of them.
There has been plenty of discussion online about Dane Reynolds wildcard inclusion at Fiji. The Californian lifted his game in comparison to his last few showings and his backhand lip blasts were in a league of their own. While his contest act isn't polished and some might question his motivation in small waves, Dane brings an energy to the table that is unmatched. Hey WSL! Give him the wildcard to every event!
As for the WSL, they'll have their own issues to attend to. The primary one being how to land a sponsor for Fiji. The level of surfing yesterday and today was the best we have seen all year, topped off by history being made by Owen Wright twice. Surely next year they will have a sponsor secured..?
Other burning questions: Will Kelly turn up at J'Bay? Can Adriano pick himself up from a form slump? Can Toledo do an air 360 at six foot Supertubes? Will CJ win a heat in his swansong year? And will the defending World Champ Gabriel Medina even re-qualify?
Jeffreys Bay will answer many questions... //STEVE HARRISON
Comments
That was insane! I've not bothered watched many Pro contests online before, but now I'm hooked. Owen Wright was incredible. Can't believe the WSL didn't have a sponsor for that event!? Imagine if all contests were held in such epic waves.....
I'm now having withdrawals. What am I going to do at work tomorrow?
There are claims and then there are legit claims IMO. I reckon the Brazilians on tour could take note..........
Awesome stuff Owen Wright!! Great effort by JW too!!
True Rabbits but no one claims more than Julian in my opinion ;-) even when it's not pumping like the last couple of days
Fair enough Anto. Anyone claiming in shite surf and in particular directed towards the judges, should be penalised a few points I reckon :-)
Claiming at the judges? That's Parko's penchance, I can remember at least three of them he's done - J'Bay, Kirra, and Keramas. No doubt there's more.
I don't like it, do you? I reckon the Brazilians are the main culprits from what I've seen. No doubt you watch more of the contests than I do given its your job (lucky prick) so I'll take your word on that one :-)
I reckon the spontaneous, how-the-fuck-did-I-just-do-that? claim is unreal. You want exuberance and unchecked emotion, well, there it is. Filipe Toledo's claim after his 10 in the Snapper final was a great example. Owen did a few of those today too, every one of them was unreal.
The affected claim, directed at the judges is a blight and should be roundly condemned as the arrogant pose that it is. Adriano was once a major culprit but seems to have backed off in recent time.
Well said and I completely agree......
Totally agree Stu, you just know how to put it in the right words, cheers.
owen wright surfed like a demon at margies, when at solid box.....dark horse for the title?
Great write up and post mortem of the event. I'm pretty bummed I missed finals day after pretty much watching the whole event.
Congrats to Owen. A well deserved win.
Looks like the Brazilian storm has petered out into a rain depression in the face of waves of consequence. Bring on Chopes! Yee hah!
Owen (in my mind) is the one to beat for title now. It's his to lose so long as the next few events produce good waves. Owen only has a 13 to drop right now and ADS and Toledo have 2 x 13s and a 25 & 13. He'll be up there at JBAY if it gets good. He can match it with the best for high-perfromance surfing at Testles and we've seen how competent he is at Chopes.
It looks like Brazilian storm disappeared like tears in the rain :)
Probably the best 5 mins of surfing in a contest ever ! maybe even anytime!
Props to Adam Melling as well ,unmentioned, but you can see him giving Owen a salute on the 10 in round 5 from the shoulder!!
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/124122/wright-charges-for-10-again
No doubt Owen is capable of a Title, but the physical reality is his chances are forecast dependent.
Small surf, especially right pointbreak and he's a degree slower than smaller, more agile opponents.
With some luck and good surf at JBay/Chopes/Trestles he's got a good chance.
As Pottz would say he's no slouch at Pipe either.
No slouch if Portugal beach breaks turn on also. Agree but he needs Huey to deliver in the remaining contests.
Yeah awesome last day. A real good watch from start to finish! I see a few brazzos are having a whinge on WSL site about the JW heat with Italo but it looked pretty clear to me. Italo showed some good form though in the solid stuff. As an aside has there ever been a case of a world champ not re qualifying for the following year? Huge pressure building on Medina now
Taj is sitting in I think 6th? I just reckon this year might be the one for the old fella. Gunna chuck a hunjy on him I think
Would love to see Taj get a title. Jeez, he almost deserves it.
As an aside, poo-man mentioned above, has there ever been a situation where a world title has been won and the following year the title holder has failed to qualify? I can't think of anybody off the top of my head.
Who is Steve Harrison?
Steve H ..no idea , off topic but what ever happened to Zane Harrison ?
Steve Harrison: staunch QBC member, solid natural footer, bit of a ginger, has run National and Global Surf Tag for a decade, and maybe, just maybe, Welly's uncle.
Zane's living in Agnes Water helping his old man building.
Found a old article on Stab, was hitting the drink hard, he heard Fanning won a World title and he planned a comeback..
My uncle
or Dane's manager ?
Steve gave him a good plug
Gotta say it but the WSL have pulled it off again and seem to have improved the whole show ,commentary didnt seem so bad or maybe the waves were so good i wasnt listening as much but the whole show seems to have gotten more professional.Employing Keiren Perrow as commissioner has turned into a master stroke,guy knows whats going on.Well done and looking forward to Jefferies bay.
I agree again Simba. BTW did you ever get the ODDS for the Parko/Wright QUINELLA on the William Hill BET NOW, Money Back?
Agree with Simba - great event. Coping well with commentary from Williams & Blakey but struggling with Potts & Turpel. Is Turpel actually there or does Potts hit buttons that spit out a series of catchphrases like "and he goes down...".
Ha that's hilarious, I was thinking the same myself, Turdpel is unbearable at times and provides no insight, just catchphrases and surf cliches. I like Pottz though. Blakey is easily the least irritating and seems to provide some genuine insight.
Not a fan of claims or anti-Brazilian sentiment. The 'storm' was dreamed up by promoters.Was a time when there was a lot of dunny-crouching from the Brazilians.That is long gone for the most part and also they gave us the samba.
Turpel really makes me cringe. He is just your typical American surfee and as pointed out above just comes out with ridiculous names for manouvers/turns that I've never ever heard anyone say. (Layback hammer, speed check turn..) and fuckloads more
He's gotta go
Haha so true, I haven't come across anyone that actually likes Turpel, it is painfull to listen to and sort of brings Pottz down with him.
He must be well connected otherwise I don't know how he has kept his job for so long....
Yeah Gaz the storm is more a breeze and two of them did well and looked good. Still got to love the Aussies really stepping up and charging. None of them backed off and all went for it. Kai, Adam, Owen, Parko, Mick, Julian - unreal. Lets see more of this where it is that heavy there is no way I would be out there rather than the bathwater rodeo in that toilet bowl Rio where I could go out but wouldn't on account is was so shite.
CHARGING CHAMPIONS
"Here we are on an absolutely awesomely insane day at the beach, Potts. Frothing fans are psyched out by the buttery conditions. I'm scoring Slater a 4.83 after he glud into that last warbly face and jammed a hammerhead vert golly, then backed it up with a high line torque."
"That might be overscoring it a tad, Twerps. Don't forget he was mulling over that mid face mauling major when he was mowed down by a multiple fin chop which mangled his mullet."
"I get your point, Potts. Reminds me of the day I caught a boily belter out by the buoy but half way through a backhand blast I bogged and my three fins buggered my bottom."
"Aw shucks, Twerps, that must have hurt! Was that like the day I ripped a rapid rad roundhouse but rammed my rocker up my rectum?"
"That sure was a monster manoeuvre, a real man turn Potts - you're the prince of progression. Speaking of cutbacks - beach fans barely had time to refill their ice pipes when I carved a critically clinical carving cuttie that was so hot it charred my cherries."
"You're such a certified giant slayer phenom, Twerps. Does coiling for a grinding gouging gash on a glassy green grunter but goring my goolies instead count for anything?"
"Pull my pud Potts! It was the most wicked wipeout l've seen since the day shifty Slater snaked me and scarpered on a dredging dumper and I ate my dumplings for dinner. What do you think?"
"Jeez Joe, dunno. I was just a lurking landlubber the day I got whacked by a wonky walloper which sandpapered my scrotum and I copped a carp up my clapper."
"That's priceless Potts! Reminds me of the day I did an athletic air on an Arctic avalanche but got nailed by a noxious narwhal that nibbled my nuggets."
"Gnawed by a narwhal Joe? Wow! That’s gnarly! You're such an excitement machine. Reminds me of the day I felt like a chip in a swarm of seagulls when I was dinged by a deranged dolphin that drilled my date."
"Suck my sav Potts! Reminds me of the day I shat my shirtfront when I was flogged by a frenzied flock of flapping flounders and I fried my figs."
"That's terrific Twerps. Stuff me sideways you're such a special spruiker. That's way worse than the day a barking boofhead tied me to the grommet pole and dumped dollops of doggy drool up my back door."
Classic read! :)
Aw shucks! Thanks Alex
Funny shit Nosepick, nice work. I think Joe Turpels next gig could be chief interrogator at Guantanamo bay...No, Stop, please I beg you, I'll tell you anything you want Joe just please stop talking. And by the way what is going on with Medina?, he's going backwards faster than Tony Abbott, maybe not that fast.
Amazing read Nose pick. Can you believe Turpal and Potter commentate when there's awesome Australian commentators that are not used. It's so typical WSL. Nail in coffin stuff.
So stoked on Owens's performance, i was thinking, 'Damn he peaked too early'......... then that final.......
Totally agree with you on the claims to the judges Stu, they stink! Kolohe is probably one of the worst offenders these days, let the surfing do the talking boys!
J'Flo, from landing Top 10 after Fiji to this:
"Worst last 24h ever. Hit My head on the reef in the middle of no where in Indo, lost My memories for more than an hour...deep cuts all over My head & face... 24h later the Helicopter finally came get me to take me to an international hospital where i just got 2h of surgery on My face...the good news is there is no fracture...I would post a picture of My actual face but it would choc everyone so i won't lol"
24hr for the medivac chopper. Check the fine print on your travel insurance boys.
I was in Gland when bloke fractured his pelvis and the chopper wouldn't come and get him because they were taking tourists for joy-rides in Bali.
Middle of the night and Dr Phil realized the bloke was bleeding internally, slipping away and wouldn't make it to morning, drove him through the bush track to Banyuwangi hospital where they could stabilise him until chopper got there in the morning.
yep just when you start getting cockie bang,got ya.Hope hes ok, one of the big improvers this year and love his guttsie attitude to big tubes,un affraid.
Hey fellas,
I posted this in the forum but the comments section seems to get more action.I know it's a ways out but got any long range thoughts for cloudbreak and nearby reefs from 3rd July-10th July? I've been looking at Swellnet's WAMS (which have been spot on for every indo trip ive done recently)and it always looks different shades of green for the time i'm there but I'm not sure how that correlates to cloudbreak. Any info appreciated.
I basically want to know if it's going to be over 6 feet I need to buy a bigger board...
Cheers