Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Finals Day
Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Finals Day
Happy endings, we all love them.
The much maligned Supertubos delivered one last night. The joy emanating from the suit (the Mayor?) that escorted Finalist Jack Robinson to the beach before his Finals clash with Brazilian favourite João Chianca was palpable through the screens. Fans on the beach, sunshine, a glorious afternoon with the stormy Atlantic coast finally delivering a dose of mute calm and glassy shacks.
It was almost a straight 50/50 day. The first half was gurgled out closeouts featuring low-scoring affairs and a certain dreariness about it, only leavened by two insane buzzer beater heats. First, by Caity Simmers in her Quarter Final against Sophie McCulloch. Caity was cooked, and admitted it in the presser. Sets came relentlessly in the last three minutes. Ugly, ugly closeouts which left the lineup a complete dog's breakfast. Final seconds and a shapeless lump stood up in the rip with both girls paddling side by side. McCulloch with inside position and priority looked to easily have it covered. The weird, wobbly thing produced a little whitewater chip in for Simmers and within a fraction of a second she was dropping into a wave that now looked double overhead on the diminuitive Simmers. Hard off the bottom and a fiercely whipped backside snap in the pocket and that had to be the score. Judges concurred after a suitably tense interlude.
Caity (WSL/Poullenot)
The second grandstand finish was performed by Callum Robson in his Round of 16 heat against veteran wildcard Joan Duru. Cal-tex had a whole bunch of nothing and a lone 4 - just a straight out garden variety shocker with the clock ticking down. Again, Duru had priority and pole positioning before inexplicably letting Robson into a wave, which he duly tagged and smashed for the winning score. Robson said he understood Duru's decision making: the wave looked crap from the water, he assured us, but it sure looked like a winning wave from a camera perspective.
Callum (WSL/Poullenot)
Remember when Kelly seemed to have that magical ability to transform surf? It would look like shit then he would paddle out and destroy it with huge scores. Jack Robbo did the same thing on Finals Day. There had been less than a handful of made barrels, then Jack paddled out and started getting shacked every wave. He paddled north to a right sucking in on itself as the tide bottomed out and made it look like a fun day at Rabbit Hill.
Once the best surfer in the world (can we all admit that now?) released the shackles the day acquired a wholly different flavour. What had been a slog to watch became a pleasure.
Jack (WSL/Poullenot)
Callum Robson spiked an absolute beast for a 9.57 against Sammy Pupo (who also had a dramatic buzzer beater win in Round of 16). Where did Cal-tex get these skills from, I wondered. I know his home breaks well - heavy beachies that hold size are rare. Once a blue moon stuff when all the planets align. He wasn't a feted junior who enjoyed sponnoed trips around the globe. Instead he was on the tools with his Dad the year before he qualified as a complete unknown. Now here he is as a Top 10 surfer finishing ahead of John John Florence and Gabe Medina in heavy beachbreaks with a rock solid mindset and skills to match. It's all a bit baffling.
As is João Chianca, or as he is known to YouTube audiences, Zhao-Shi Anchor. Zhao-Shi has hit the tour both fully formed, and, like Italo Ferriera in 2015, almost a complete unknown to western audiences. We knew his brother Lucas - AKA Chumbo - far better than João. The insanely high energy act is straight out of the Ferreira playbook but the confidence seems even more preternatural. Quizzed about his upcoming Quarter with Connor O'Leary he said Connor had been getting through heats well and “so have I”.
João (WSL/Poullenot)
That may have sounded arrogant if coming from other mouths, considering what a crap shoot the conditions had been, but from Chianca it just seemed a simple statement of fact. He rolled through Connor with a ten wave count. Smashed Robson in the Semi-Final with an eleven wave count and blitzed Jack Robinson in the Final with another ten wave count. In all, He rode 38 waves on Finals Day, with fourteen rides above 5 points, ten of which came in the last two heats. An incredibly dominant display. We haven't see the Anchor at J-Bay or Teahupoo but we already know he's going to charge and possibly dominate. Thus, with Jack and João sitting in a breakaway with clear air to the followers, we should get our heads around a João world title.
World Champions João Chianca and Molly Picklum. It's not implausible. In fact, it's highly possible. Two rookies who didn't make the cut last year. What signals would that send to ELO in terms of his upcoming tweaking of the tour format? Future World Champs sent back to the bush leagues, to a second tier standing on very wobbly legs.
What to do? Ditch the CS? Ditch the cut?
Pickles got stranded in closeout city in the morning gurgle despite professing the victory at sea conditions suited her. “I'm a raw and rogue person,” she told us, a self assessment more than backed up after she took a heavy beating going upside down on a heavy left and wearing the explosion on the head. Even though she lost to Tatiana Weston-Webb that heavy commitment made me think, can't wait to see Pickles in Tahiti.
Pickles (WSL/Poullenot)
There's no more boring storyline in sport than the one about generational change. New Guard, New School blah blah. Every so often though, it does whack you in the face. Simmers shares that rawness with Molly Picklum - there's just an unfiltered quality to both the surfing and on-land personalities which is making women's surfing, if I can use another dreadfully cliched phrase, so fun to watch.
Judges did drop their bundles a little over Caity's surfing as the emotion of the buzzer beater lingered. Her 8.67 in the Semi with Macy Callaghan was severely overcooked. Even allowing for the distorted spread she still won.
In the Final with veteran Courtney Conlogue, Simmers didn't quite get that super tube she'd been chasing. The best wave and threaded barrel went to the Sea Tiger. With twelve minutes remaining Simmers released the grip of a soft combination with a 7 and followed it up four minutes later with a scrappy two-turn combo for a 6. They were winning rides - a fraction of what she is capable of - but good enough.
Courtney (WSL/Poullenot)
Momentum is a very real thing and Pickles in yellow and Simmers on her shoulder in third place are at the leading edge of it.
The Australian leg, with its lumbering Southern Ocean venues will suit veterans hoping to rescue themselves from oblivion before the tour once again undergoes some kind of morphological spasm. It's final shape is unknown, and that extends to the very top as they make it up on the run in a scramble to wring profit from a sport that has always run deep in the red.
// STEVE SHEARER
Comments
Had a visceral aversion to the term 'fun to watch' as I imagine Turple's accent spout that phrase several times per heat.
I wouldn't be so sure the vet's experience will be enough at Bells and Margies. My prediction is that the new brigade will continue to make a mockery of the old and there'll be many big names wondering whether they could be bothered to go surf Manly come May.
Thanks for the updates Steve. Saved me from watching more than a 30 sec highlight of that torturous venue.
Great reading these write ups that are critical where they need to be rather than all glossy and lovely wsl style , keep it up FR
Might be a typo but I think slumbering (rather than lumbering )might be the right term for the southern ocean (well Indian in this case) this year with yesterday being the first day over 6 foot all year on the west coast , season is changing though
I like the write ups..but FR was way more negative than critical for this comp...and he has in prior writeups done the same when the playing field was not perfect.
Strikes the right tone for the audience IMO, half of which I speculate are hate-watching the WSL circus despite the appreciation of good surfing.
If you live in a glass house you shouldn't throw rocks.
I watched the men's qtr's & semis live - hate to admit it but it was magical - the positioning & skills displayed in such raw lumps of ocean - dare I say it, the best in the world were very entertaining. The Portuguese crowd was an exciting bonus element too.
I had to block the saccharine commentary; their search for "narrative" still grates but everything else was working perfectly, red balance sheet, or otherwise.
The suit was the President apparently. Joao after the final gave him a hug but appeared to not be able to look him in the eyes, or Joao had no idea who he was.
Jack barrelled right, Jack barrelled left and in the end Joao weaved some kind of magic all over the joint like a wave hungry, pesky, Brazilian grommet.
Overall I enjoyed the comp start to finish, mesmerised mostly by the swell.
Spot on write ups Steve.
President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Side note, does anyone look better in a suit than a distinguished Portuguese gentleman?
Met an older Argentine gentleman a few years ago in Wellington. Tall, 65yo'ish, in a great suit, and carrying himself with grace and style. Stood out like like the proverbial.
Chianca, Simmers, hmm won't be the last time we see these two shredders on the podium.
Love your work Steve but it's all fucked mate, they can't go from the north shore to Peniche it's a massive downer and the whole surfing world feels it.
After a month in surf heaven, the only place on the planet where surfing is not some kooky niche sport, where surfers are admired, the waves are the best and the sun's shining they drag the tour off the boil and dunk it in the cold, grey Atlantic. Peniche is mostly very entertaining but suffers badly in the comparison.
So next we've got great events to follow but leading to what? A wimpy final that's what. Uninspiring. Please fix it. It's bad for surfing and you're going to loose your audience.
Supertubos to Sunset, now that makes sense.
#championscrownedatpipe
Hitting nails on the head.
Will the mid year cuts future depend on Apple TV continued evolvement?
That series certainly isn't Netflix 'Drive to Survive' which every sport is desperate to emulate as far attracting new fans go...
The gulf between the women is stark. The dainty will be extinct.
Lock up your Goats. The groms are on the march.
Great write up as always.
As a side note I enjoyed Jesse Mendes in the commentary booth.
Great comp from day 1. When the playing field is provided by mother nature it won't always be perfect. To me, the whole comp is all that counts...looking at a single day is petty worthless. Waves may be less than ideal but all surfers are judged on the day as is provided. I like watching these guys scratch and having to deal with changeable conditions.
Nearly every comp we have had in the last few years has provided great viewing and drama over the waiting period.
Jesse Mendes is the best commentator at the moment. I hope Elo sacks Turpel and replace with Jesse. He seemed knowledgeable, contained and real.
Totally agree. He was very good.
Paul Evans was a good choice too, and it would be great to get Rosie back onto the regular broadcast team.
Rosie is lovely and all but pales compared to Laura and even Dimity
Turpels voice and always positive delivery is annoying as hell but nobody knows the historical parts of the sport like him...it's actually pretty wild how much he remembers. I liked Mendes a lot too . They really just need one guy, just ONE GUY to call it like it is and talk sh+ when it's not good. Every other sport has that guy WSL avoids it like the plague
Jesse Mendes was very good in the booth, the few times I didn't mute the broadcast. He's an intelligent man, and not prone to hyperbole.
Thanks for the superhuman effort, FR.
Mikey Wright might disagree with your gushing assessment of Jesse guys
If you dont want to ride mushburgers.... go to the Tropics with JESSE MENDES
.....before the WSL circus moves in to the jungle
wow that's silly! I wish I got chubed like that
Agree - Jeese's comentary was really insightful and learned a lot just by listening to him.
Just a shame his voice sounds like a car sat-nav (monotone) or he'd have a great career in the commentary booth.
Gotta feel for Sophie, pure luck went Simmers way. 99/100 the surfer on the inside will catch the wave.
A third place or better would have put McCulloch in a great position to perhaps miraculously make the cut.
Your reports are the best reads on the interwebs for me FR, and you deserve a medal for the night shifts.
Great write up Steve, thnx!
I thoroughly enjoyed the comp from start to finish. A real test of endurance where youthful exuberance lead the way.
BTW what ever Joao’s on I want some! The kid is pumped!
so its like wsl are on permanent "jobkeeper" payments for goverment funded events such as portugal,bells,margret river...and i have no idea what oither events. i was not totally aware of that. was interesting the comparison compared to tennis australia. bells beach pro creates 7-8 million revenue for surfcoast shire per year(surfcoast times) i dont know what there gov grant is. compare that for australian open tennis which has had1billion funding 2014-2023 (the age) creates 400 million in economic benift 2021-2022. albert park f1 stats would be interesting. its like elo is finding the $2 coins down the side of the couch in aus.
Margaret River shire , provide the wsl/ surfing WA the Point here gratis , allowing them to lock the place up weeks before and after the event , free power to run generators and massive spotlights all-night the whole time for "security" , the have all kind of elaborated suares and free feeding from the trough events for shire honchos and VIP types that appear from nowhere all of a sudden.Wild really , imagine what the cost would be if you wanted to rent the place for a one off venue / event , or any major community area or beach in an Australian town over school, Easter and Anzac Day holidays ? Meanwhile Lock the peasants out and suck the contest sausage in the name of tourism.
WA. Selling the
Wine and bush dream , encouraging tourists to come to a town that is booked out already and carparks full of freeloading vanpeople .
Some sound marketing there .....
And at Bells they charge for Admission!!! In a surfing reserve!
Free power to run ... generators !!!!
Thanks Steve for another great report.
well one things for sure, the new 'Momentum' generation is here and like the old one did back in the day they are bringing their own version of confidence and ability to the stage and its a breath of fresh air......
+1
And FR thanks for another great write up.
Great Comp wrap Steve...
Salute Wax Head El Presidente
From QF Molly claimed Yellow jersey in own right!
As Hodads grapple with squinting their apples!
Tatts / Dark Skin / Sunscreen all rot the apple PPG sensors.
Needs a Tight Fit > Carpal Tunnel Arm -Fingers Nerve Pain (Can't Paddle or Push Up!)
Glare > Wettie / Wrist Skin Folds both lock or trigger Siri.
Siri : "I want my backdoor barrelled...Now!"
Pro : "Quit stalkin' me!"
Crew can see it's now the main occupation for a Pro Surfer...no time for surfing!
Winner Jaoa was waving like a windmill...go figure! Or possibly a new relay claim...?
Barrel Pigs clawing their way outta Sick Pits...
Pros muscling outta tombs...rare treat indeed.
Punk basher salutes the gritty manhandling!
Surfjustsurf!
2023 First rounds in all 3 comps scored low.
Oz longer Line-up leg first round heat combos score around 2 points higher.
Trailing Old Hacks must improve 25% before the Bells' toll.
Head on the chopping block as soon as they enter Dan's thumbs down gladiator cauldron
Expect a few WSL Pros crashing Urbnsurf sessions...Huh!
Cold & heavy fresh water sessions will strengthen Pros legs for longer Bells lines!
Worked a treat for 2022 Bell's WSL Champ : "Perfect!"
WSL Mega Medallions were once again thoughtfully reimagined by The Silver Surfer
https://portalwp.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/23101931/Es...
PURE slash'n'burn forestry mounts were recycled from KASEBERGA Handplane Collection.
WSL has offered up their White Shoe Line to ship the Pro's trophies across their several Zo-Seas!
The only problem that stands in the way of Jack or Joao becoming world champ is a piece of limp shit called Trestles - all this incredible surfing (and it was today!) unfortunately means dick on Grand Finals day!
Love your work Steve, keep them honest appraisals and keen insights coming. Re the tour, yes, of course you are right about Government funding in various countries required to keep the show going around the globe. But I wouldn't be too harsh on Supertubos, It is Portugal's Pipe after all, as finals day proved, thrilling to watch. Looking at the tour as a whole, for my two bob's worth, well, Pipe and Sunset tick the boxes big time, though Hawaii should rightfully end the tour, no argument. Keep Supertubos and the Brazil beachie in, not just for the fans, but I think because any would-be world champ needs to be fully tested in all conditions to be deemed truly worthy. And there is nothing like two thumping beach beach breaks on tour to test a surfer's ability to decipher what the sea is providing on any given day. But yeah, get rid of the Tub and replace it with Trestles as a mid-year event. It is a perfect location for allowing competitors to express all their hot-dog surfing, tricks etc, and satisfy the USA home crowd. Bells and Margs should stay for sure, despite the whingers. Bells has tradition, it is a good test with all sorts of waves, and with Winki as back-up. Margs by itself is a serious challenge, the pros love going there. If it could include Box and North Point, then wow! J-Bay is a no brainer, and Tahiti too. Central America is interesting with all that potential, even if it is another right hand point. So we just need a big powerful long perfect left, like G-land and/or Cloud Break, to balance it all out, then I'd be more than happy with the tour as a fan and spectator, minus time-consuming dud non-elimination rounds. And for goodness sake ELO, (or whoever takes over the show) if you can please add Haleiwa back on to the Hawaiian leg again so the year finishes with the Triple Crown on Oahu, even if it is in January. So many possibilities...with so few availabilities with willing governments I suppose. Oh well, dream on the dream tour.
Chianca has an air game and a truck load of mojo - hopefully that will be enough for a grand final held in the world's softest wave. Jack as well has a good chance at a title. Maybe they need to ruffle some of Filipe's feathers. A bit of a gentle whisper in his ear implying a lack of ticker, some close quarters hassling, an accidental splash in the face. Who knows what could happen?
100%. What would Kong, Dooma, Andy, even Kelly in his prime have done. Get under his skin, it feels like he really thinks it's his to keep, and worse, he now knows he can duck the waves of consequence and still muddle through like last year.
Joao seems a bit more mature and cool headed than Jack at this stage. Jack will catch up in the next couple of years. Jack might be too nice and needs to get a bit of anger/mongrel in him.
Disagree there, if Jack was any more cool headed he’d be asleep during his heats. Heard his interviews? Not much fazes him.
Believing in the wrong Easter Bunny?
Loved Jesse. Honest and real without manic over emphasis on the obvious. May have even been stoned. Who cares. Made a frustrating contest to watch so much better. There's something not right with this planets WSL. If it ever had one.. its soul feels scattered and clutchy to me. Desperate and lost. I'll keep checking in though. Better than washing the dishes at least.
@wetgecko "May have even been stoned."
It's possible, but it's more likely the fact that being from Brazil, Portuguese is his mother tongue [First language] and English is his second. He does brilliantly considering English is not his native language as it's not easy to hold a "speaking" job speaking in a second language.
watched most of this event and thoroughly enjoyed it…gotta say steve, i’m usually onboard with your take on things, but not so with the shit canning of this event - …someone made the comment’ diamonds in the rough’ and it was (to me) edge of the seat stuff - give me this tenfold over the ranch
….also, had a lol moment when youtube got pupo as ‘poop hole’
lastly, i felt oleary was a bit stiff - he was right in in it- closest anyone got to chianca imo
can’t wait for bells,
'Fear of Aunty' was another classic.
Next best thing to HG and Roy commentating.
I saw Grif's name come up as "color pencils".
The contest highlighted how the standard of tube riding in difficult shorebreak type waves seems to have noticeably been raised.
The lines taken often involve super technical approaches and exits. The muscle out exit through collapsing end sections also surprise.
JJ and Jack have led the way but the fast and nimble are following.
Not sure Supertubos is much maligned, it has good days and bad like most places on tour. Portugal certainly got its fair share of shade from Steve. There's the low level, playing to the gallery jingoism which runs through his writing and is quite endearing in an Aussie Alf Garnett way but the regular digs do his writing a disservice.
Comp ticked all the boxes for me, underdogs, struggle, big barrels, skills tested to the max with the cream rising to the top. I can handle a few clouds and a wetsuit.
Thoughts on the surfers, Simmers easy style reminds me of a young JJF, low hands, relaxed and a refreshing approach. JJF looks increasingly over it, Nathan is also travelling the world on the real dream tour. I can see Jon jumping ship soon. Joao has the god destiny thing in his mind and that certainty will be hard to stop. Striders story about meeting a young Joao in the lineup years ago was interesting, the then 14 year old Brazilian said he would be on tour and here he is. Surprising everyone but himself.
Slater himself said the bad days far outweighed the good- which is my basic point.
The numbers don't add up. You need the reverse equation in season- the good days outweighing the bad.
If you are happy enough with mostly closeouts and the odd good day (fair enough) I reckon Supertubos would make a great Challenger Series venue.
It's not up to it as a CT venue - just way, way too much barely surfable dross in between good days.
Unless they could find some kind of back-up venue to ride out those bad days.
Same probs they had with Mundaka, insane wave but not good enough, often enough as a venue.
I appreciate you think differently( as others do) but the "digs" are how I really assess the situation. They ain't for some kind of crowd pleasing effect.
Keep up the good work FR
Surfing is a matter of timing eg. Finals day rip bowl barrels & snaps...
WSL focus on selling mass market products in mush, needing Govt support to keep the circus afloat, may need deep review, to encourage the pro surfers, customer loyalty and business sustainability & WSL credibility.
Slater also said he found the conditions scary and didn't know how he could get in after his heat.
No doubt he laid it on a bit to appear human but being unnerved isn't a problem in my opinion, that's how the competitors should be feeling and it doesn't happen often enough on tour.
Despite being shoulder season, the weeks before the comp Supertubos was firing and finals day was very good. In between wasn't great but still sizey with tricky barrels and a 10.
Some years are poor, but every stop miss fires. Hawaii wasn't great and no one would be surprised if two out of the three Aussie stops were under par.
Agree re Mundaka.
I'd probably feel differently if I had to sit up all night to watch it but then I wouldn't sit up all night to watch any surfing comp.
Appreciate the digs are your style, all good if even handed. Look forward to hearing your thoughts when the tour hits Australia.
Agree re: JJF.
Nathan travels, surfs immeasurably better waves and probably earns more doing it. When you see your brother doing that, and you've already won a world title, what reason is there to stay on tour?
If they teamed up and travelled the world surfing all types of pumping waves I’d love to watch that.
Especially if Nathan were no longer in charge of the music. Faaark!
Exactly. Nathan earns a wedge by travelling the world with his mrs and a few mates, surfing, sailing and generally having a good time. As you say Jon has nothing to prove and doesn't seem one for the grind. Reckon he'll be gone after this year.
You really think he makes more than JJ? Seriously? That would b very surprising to me
Who's gonna stop Simmers winning the next 10 world titles.
For such a diminutive figure she oozes power and there's seemingly no chink in her armour conditions wise after witnessing her approach at heaving supertubos.
It's scary to think she's only a grom still.
Great write up.
Geez Caity can surf! Great stuff...
When a sport has no drug testing this rapid rise in some participants level of performance will be expected .
Ahhh what?
Exactly what I stated . In any international sport , if an athletes performance improved at a rapid pace ( far beyond their earlier results) there would be questions asked . Its all about the money .
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/asset/32337/WSLAnti-DopingPolicy.pdf
Every creditable sporting organization has as policy . Has the Olympic drug policy ( apparently the most comprehensive ) stopped athletes using performance enhancing drugs ? . Its naive to think surfing is 100 % clean .
Ha ha ha...classic.
Both Caity and J-wow are progressing because of this thing called 'age'.
Age helps athletes develop muscle mass and it also helps in their decision-making. In fact, a side-effect of age is experience, which will also assist an athlete in many ways.
Righto kimbo so which surfers are you implying are using performance enhancing drugs?
Judge's ?
Shout out to Jesse M. Cool concise & accurate .
Your take on surfing and performance enhancing drugs makes me think you're either not a surfer or don't understand what performance enhancing drugs do, or both.
jumbo ???.... I would suggest the surfers who have raised there performance way beyond the trajectory that they have shown in the past . The same mechanism that is used in the majority of sports . So you really believe that surfing is 100 % clean ?
their
There are countless examples of surfers progressing really quickly once they reach a certain age.
Look at Ethan Ewing and Ryan Callinan. An abysmal first year on tour, relegated to the CS and then back to the CT in a year or two looking like completely different surfers. Ethan looked like a little kid on his first year. Now he looks like a world class athlete. I don't think it's drugs doing that.
Joao looked amazing last year in a few comps and only failed to make the cut due to bad luck, coming up against John John in great waves. It makes total sense that now that he's back, he's on a similar trajectory but actually making results.
Sure, there probably are some drugs in the sport. But I don't think it's making the difference you think it is....
I reckon there would be much more cocaine getting inhaled post contest than P.E drugs being taken.
I can definitely imagine R Cal, with his boyish, innocent grin, politely declining the offer.
Same with EE but perhaps a bit more a flat no.
I'm not sure performing enhancing drugs would do too much for surfing...how do you think it would help?
Recreational drugs on the other hand will be used by some, no doubt. Those that know will keep quiet about those that do... would be pretty much a wsl surf community thing.
Simply put, many of the drugs athletes take illegally are designed to increase their athletic performance. For example, steroids and related hormones (such as testosterone) are used to increase muscle mass and strength by promoting testosterone production. Recovery from injury is rapid .
Hiya Kimbo.
It's a worthwhile topic and all, but i'm curious as to why it's found it's way onto the final day of Portugals comments, especially as it detracts from what was a finely written piece by Mr Shearer.
Is there something from this comp that has set you off? As a reader of these comments i'm confused as to why on this unrelated topic, you've tee'd off in this comments section.
If not, there's a whole part of SN dedicated to off topic forums, Wax On, Wax Off.
Would be great to see this conversation there, as it has merit, but how on earth did it end up here?
I reckon you owe us all an explanation because it's detracted from what was a great finals day of surfing and it's commentary.
Cheers.
Steroids help with recovery so you could
Effectively train much harder, recover much quicker and build more lean muscle mass. As the movie says “Better,stronger, faster”. I don’t know if any of them are juicing but I believe it would
Help
https://www.foxsports.com.au/more-sports/breaking-extremely-concerning-o... who would of thought ? Certainly didn't have $130,000 in his pocket for all the risk.
Didn’t his B test or second test come back all clear and the case was closed?
Ongoing
B sample was negative
https://7news.com.au/sport/athletics/peter-bol-learns-fate-after-bombshe...
Not true. Peter Bol's case is over. This p e drug thing your banging on about is laughable. Surfing, like golf, is a technical sport, not a speed or endurance sport. Performance enhancing drugs would have minimal impact, at best.
Did someone right that response for you ? sounds like it was scribed at the bar of a bad pub .
wright.
Write.
(Sorry for being a spelling pedant).
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/15/peter-bol-what-does-an-aty... Inconclusive , WADA haven't announced whether they will appeal
Do you have a personal back story on this topic? Just curious why you're posting so much, left of field.
If discussion of performance enhancing drugs in surfing is regarded as left of field well lets move on . Regardless of that view the motivation has never been stronger to get to the top in a hurry , with increased prize money and guaranteed exposure( which also equates to more $ ) the chance of a mid range performer using them is of course going to be an option .
I'm not convinced that performance enhancing drugs are anywhere near as much of a benefit for surfers, compared to a typical Olympic sport.
Have a think about all of the close heats over the years. You saying that the result would have been reversed, had the bloke in second place been on the 'roids?
Not saying it would of but saying it could of . If both surfers had performed in strenuous heats the day before there's now doubt the one on PE would recover better , that's why there illegal .
Strenuous heats? Only time I can think of such a situation would be at the Finals at Trestles where (in the case of Steph last year), the fifth-ranked surfer may have to surf five heats in one day if they make the final.
Not such a stretch. I'm no expert, but If you consider a sport such as cycling which uses aerobic (long duration and endurance) and anaerobic (high to medium intensity and / or short bursts) energy systems which may mirror surfing in some ways. I'm sure there are other sports that are similar which have a history of doping. I'm not suggesting it's true.... but definitely possible.
Swimming has a massive issue with doping and is a more aligned sport than cycling.
Professional swimming is nothing like professional surfing!
Anything is possible, agreed.
I just can't make the link in surfing anywhere near as much as other sports. Can't recall too many heats where the surfer loses due to fatigue (from paddling? Jet ski assist takes care of that.. or excessively long rides? J-Bay maybe?).
Most of the time they lose due to strategy, wave choice, pilot error, or simply mother nature going flat for the second half of their heat. None of which can be assisted by drugs.
Ok , here is your answer : Engage some knowledge on how to grow some Nasal Polyps . Once successful head off to your local GP , they will prescribe you a treatment of corticosteroids . after 3 days of the treatment you will have no polyps but will feel like you should ring Mike Tyson and say the fights on . Plus no more aches and pains and your surfing like you remember you could .
How does that assist with my poor wave choice? Asking for a friend.
Espresso anyone?
"Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Sports Performance Based on Differences Between Sexes: A Systematic Review"
"Most studies that have shown the positive effects of caffeine supplementation on sports performance have been carried out on men. However, the differences between sexes are evident in terms of body size, body composition, and hormonal functioning, which might cause different outcomes on performance for the same dosage of caffeine intake in men vs. women. "
" In summary, caffeine supplementation produced a similar ergogenic benefit for aerobic performance and the fatigue index in men and women athletes. Nevertheless, the effects of caffeine to produce more power, total weight lifted and to improve sprint performance with respect to a placebo was higher in men than women athletes despite the same dose of caffeine being administered."
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835847/
"Age helps athletes develop muscle mass and it also helps in their decision-making. In fact, a side-effect of age is experience, which will also assist an athlete in many ways."
or a skim milk latte
https://www.nih.no/en/about/news/news/2017/december/skimmed-milk-destroy...
Gotta disagree on this one. Performance enhancing drugs make you fitter and stronger. I'm not a pro, but when I haven't been keeping fit and strong I find it harder to paddle, get in position and do all those one percenter things that significantly improve surfing levels.
That being said, I believe that now that surfing is an olympic sport the WSL has had to adopt fairly strict anti-doping policies.
Sure PE drugs help you be fitter and stronger, but most pros are already very fit and very strong.
The primary thing seeing surfers stand out is SKILL (and sometimes luck).
Runners are already very fit and strong, and they are the poster boys for drug use.
Skill is far more important in surfing, but enhanced strength and fitness are very helpful.
That's not to say that anybody on the pro tour uses drugs, especially now that they have to test, just that it would provide at least some advantage if they did
Your over rating the skill factor in surfing vs skill sets in other sports . Figure skaters certainly require skills , gymnastics requires skills , water polo players requires skills , boxing requires skills ..etc etc .
Apparently Raoni Monteiro and Neco Padaratz got bans after testing positive to performance enhancing drugs
Should we all be talking about Italo's obvious caffeine addiction? The guy smashes red bulls by the dozen and bounces off the walls, catching 15 waves a heat (not landing many these days). Not really a great example for kids watching IMO - a heart attack waiting to happen.
haha, could Slater be surfings Lance Armstrong? :)
That would be a turn... He is definitely known as being very aware of his diet and routines. But maybe just maybe thats why he is winning pipe at 50
It's would 'have' and could 'have'. Sheesh.
Should Joao have beaten O'leary?
very close imo- i thought what O’leary did showed more risk compared to Joao but that could be aussie bias…toss of a coin heat
Agreed. Thought Conners turns were way more impactful and higher risk as you said plus his barrel was underscored I think. I think the judges may sometimes listen too much to the hype around certain surfers and may score them up not that I have anything against Joao just think the judging can be a little skewed at times.....Samuel Pupo got overdone too I think
Judges did seem to underscore Connor's barrel's, generally.
No
Jasper, watching live I thought Joao's barrel was way overscored. It was a meaty wave but he was barely in the barrel, got a 7.17 for it I think. It made the difference.
Connor could feel aggrieved.
Chianca's barrel (where he seemed pretty visible throughout the short tube ) and Pupo's air (good but very messy landing) seemed way overscored.
Absolutely right ......Conner and Ian will be scratching their heads after those scores I think
Connor’s barrel was deeper and more technical than Chianca’s plus his turns were more aggressive.
I felt Connor was underscored on his tube by at least 1 point whereas Chianca overscored the same.
I am a big fan of Connor’s surfing, especially in bigger waves but I also rate Chianca over a lot of others on tour.
That heat could’ve gone either way but when there’s 2 Brazilian and a Portuguese judge and no Australian judging that heat, you gotta question if there was any bias involved ??
Inside Jetski Comp Drama
Goldie > Nazare > North Shore/Pipe > Portugal Slam fest again!
Jet Skis running over Surfers & Boards in Comps
Shoot Out Rescuer abandons inside Jet Ski to rescue a Comp surfer
Women's Tour Leader gets trapped inside for ages on a Ski then gets bumped off on set face!
#1 was lucky not to get slashed or smashed by up ended razor sharp board blades
Crew must check out Drama packed Heat #1 Molly vs Oz Isabella.
Hazardous Seas > Broken Board > Jet Ski Tumble > Snapped Leggie (All in first 10 minutes)
WSL Safety Nightmare
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/513132/meo-rip-curl-portugal-pro-w...
tbb reckons that diving off Jet Skis slammin' full impact on landing at speed > weakens the boards.
That's some heavy unaccounted high impact on WSL Pro's boards!
That + Heaviest Duck Diving with opposing foot planting rail pulling central pressure...SNAP!
We now see less Jet Skis in line-ups & less pick ups on the inside...
All 2023 Comps > Old Pros caught inside struggling to get back out...
Pro Gromz doin' Runarounds...as they do...
tbb looked for 2023 Ski Rule Changes but can't find any reason...
Also note in Rough Surf they bring the comp buoys in or can't deploy them.
This may explain some uncertainty about pick up / drop off spots!
Again...this seems to be Hazardous Seas security overriding WSL standard 2023 Rules!
Surfers are self Union insured but Rescue crews have stricter regulated insurance policy!
Crew are used to seeing WSL Comp Jet Skis lazily camping & blocking Lineup Views & Swells...
To the point they actually interfere with wave face / shape...not now!
2023 Jet Skis are well down the beach...almost frightened of coming in close!
Something has changed...Why are Jet Skis holdin' back?
Are WSL inside pick ups under Suspension or Review or emergency?
Is this yet another 2023 Surfer's Union wrangle.
OZ leg usually has little need for inside pick ups!
Makes one wonder if WSL Pool Push is to rid strict Jet Ski Legal Risk / Cost!
PURE WSL Sustainable Surfboard Rank...(Broken Board Points Deduction)
Sponsored by KASEBURGA Toxic Booms & ELO's Dish Washer safe Marine Debris Cards.
10,000 points are deducted each time the Ocean regurgitates WSL toxic biscuit crumbs.
Purely Adjusted Scores results in all 2023 Shapers missing the Cut.
Surely Swellnet have some kind of award for TBB and his tireless work. I'll chip in for a prize!
TBB couldn't agree more. I can't believe these crew can snap a board on a duckdive (jjf) yet jump on the back of a ski and bounce around on a hard plastic/rubber sled for minutes at a time with their body weight and nothing to cushion the impact on the sled, and not expect it to severely compromise the structural integrity of their featherweight waferthin boards.
TBB for a Walkley I say!!
Further onto this train of competitive thought process...
If WSL Comp Jet Skis must comply to Local Hazardous Seas Laws > re: overhead lineup projectile.
As a result of previous hazardous lineup lip tossed Jet Skis!
* Then if Jet Ski must camp further away or required distance!
* Then if Jet Ski takes longer to see a Surfing competitor Waving
* Then if Jet ski can't risk set waves & repeats a series of retreats
* Then if Jet Ski can't drop off competitor near already 'occupied' take off zone
Then why bother to call for Jet Ski assist if it's a waste of Competitor's own valuable time.
Meaning! Only Wave or call if faced by a longer paddle in Hazardous Surf or Emergency.
Which in turn, self reverts into emergency response only law in Hazardous Seas!
Think we're seeing a healthy respect for Hazardous Sea Law as a prerequisite undertaking by all!
tbb has checked a few different comp/s Heats with Hazardous "Rough" Seas + No buoys!
That in itself explains that Jet Skis are under Hazardous Seas Restrictions > Emergency / Distress Calls!
This accounts for Competitors unusually sluggin' it out in the Impact Zone during Hazardous Surf!
Normally we/crew wouldn't notice...
But new Comp Tour relays back 2 back Hazardous Seas with super heavy dangerous inside sections!
You'd seriously wanna be sure to risk a Jet Ski in that high risk setting...Emergency / Assist Only!