The Pipe Pro: Day 3
The Pipe Pro: Day 3
The Women's competition is now on the board after the six heats of Round 1 were run in lacklustre 3-5 foot surf at Backdoor. We did learn a bit about who was ready to go (basically Molly Picklum) while retiring five-time World Champ Carissa Moore looked overwhelmed and distracted, failing to exit a couple of nuggets she normally would have made.
Last in her heat and off to the Elimination Round, Carissa may have just one CT heat left for 2024 (WSL/Bielmann)
One thing that was apparent, as it has been in the Men’s competition, is just how much of a disconnect the Final's Day at Trestles and then the long off-season before Pipe is to the tour structure. With the Final's Day held in mid-September, then four-and-a-half months off before Pipe there's a complete severing of form and confidence between one year and the next. Previously, the year would end at Pipe in late December and when competition resumed in late-February or early-March there would be a continuity with World Champions bringing an aura of superiority to the opening event.
Not now. The Men’s World Champ doesn't want to know about Pipe and the Women's World Champ still looks like a rookie out there. Caz Marks did OK out there today - she never looked like getting barrelled but scraped together a few turns for an unconvincing win against India Robinson and Moana Jones-Wong with a heat total of 5.84. She said she's feeling really good, happy to be back in Hawaii etc etc. No existential crisis, no Tyler-esque deeper questions about “why she is out there.”
OK, great. There's nothing more cringe than pro surfers who can't figure out why there are doing it (because you are good at it and it's your livelihood and it's an amazing privilege to get paid to travel the world and surf, simples).
To be fair, John Florence suffers the same existential wondering, and if you didn't need the tour to survive maybe it would make no sense to show up to be one of the WSL dancing seals.
To be equally fair to Tyler, the daily reality that workaday Johnnies and Johnettes experience is completely foreign to her. Paid a million a year to surf since she was a teenager, all she knows is this strange insular world of professional surfing.
If I was part of her team - here comes the amateur psychologist! - I would recommend a year off to work a real job. What would she qualify for? I would suggest lawn mowing. It's robust, physical work with plenty of time to think.
Tyler actually looked good in her heat - ready to knife a late drop and pull in. Spicy turns. At small Backdoor she will be a solid favourite. But at proper Pipe..? It remains an open question as in multiple starts and even a Pipe Title, we are yet to see her successfully navigate a proper Pipeline (left) barrel.
Catching just three waves, all rights, Tyler easily accounted for Luana and Bettylou (WSL/Bielmann)
Caity Simmers laid bare the disconnect between seasons. Asked about her off-season following Final's Day she said in the aftermath she was “mentally dead” and had to spend a couple of weeks sitting in her room doing nothing. She didn't think she would ever be ready again.
She climbed off the couch, decided it was time to “come back and get serious” and showed up today, freshly graduated from high school, ready to rumble.
That included the most stylish ride of the day where she came in deep from the dark side of the moon, slouched through a stand-up Backdoor tube and did the matador exit before the explosion. Worth a look. Caity made it enjoyable to watch.
Shoulders relaxed, hands brushing the wave face, Caity took an island-style approach to Backdoor (WSL/Bielmann)
It was Pickles in the next heat who set the standard. There's no clearer front-runner and World Title-ready surfer in either male or female draw than Molly Picklum. She looked incredible with super-late drops to deep tubes, big steezy turns and just a general vibe of complete joy and competence about her work.
“I feel comfortable roaming the reef,” she said, which was the same method John used to hoover up the best waves of the day yesterday. Asked her goals, Pickles went straight for the top: World Title and Olympic Gold.
She also said she wanted to, “showcase my surfing”, and I’d say it’s the best on tour. Pickles could easily be the best female surfer on the planet right now.
Confident in the water, unguarded on camera, Pickles glittered on the first day of competition (WSL/Heff)
The California rookies Alyssa Spencer and Sawyer Lindblad got through. Spencer with turns, Lindblad with the only successful backside tuberide going right for the day. The older guard: Defay, Lakey Peterson, Tatiana, Sally, all looked a bit off. All looked undercooked and not ready for the first day back.
In perfectly groomed 3-4 foot surf, JMD called a halt to competition for the day with zero surfers eliminated.
So, we wait for the next swell to arrive.
As the Guinness beer commercial stated: We wait. It's what we do.
// STEVE SHEARER
Comments
Pickles should absolutely lap them. How fun is that top photo of Mol throwing peace signs - she's just out there getting shacked having the time of her life.
Moana will only be a threat if it gets to be Pipe.
So why'd they call if off? Why not let them continue in the conditions they were clearly waiting to run the Women in? Would've been tidy to get them up to the quarters.
I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone wouldn't be ready.
If Carissa had escaped elimination round, I reckon they would have run it today. Otherwise it could have been her last heat on the CT, assuming there’s a chance she may not return. There prob wasn’t much fanfare about today compared to an exit on a weekend “finals day”…. If she doesn’t make it through.
Interesting angle.
Is Riss already pregnant?
Freeride another masterpiece. I was wrong about not bothering to write up todays comp.
Swellnet & Freeride are nailing it with these write ups.
I struggled with what Tyler was saying in her post heat interview
Can someone explain further from what Steve said above
Totally agree, what was that gibberish? Lighten up surfing those waves with no one is fun! Pickles is on the money. Go Girl
Have loved watching Tyler surf over time but always struggles to listen to her. So far removed from reality.
The difference in post heat interviews between everyone else and Tyler is huge.
happy vs the self applied weight of the world.
she's insufferable
"That included the most stylish ride of the day where she came in deep from the dark side of the moon, slouched through a stand-up Backdoor tube and did the matador exit before the explosion."
You painted a magnificent picture for the mind there FR. Cheers.
Didn't get to watch any of it so thanks for the recap.
Tyler needs to get other people out of her head and learn to be brave enough to own that she competes to WIN! Fire all your coaches Tyler and be yourself.
Agree on the Tyler front - she is definitely fighting a few demons.
.
Caity's wave looked very cool in slo-mo. Lovely style.
Nice photo of Tyler, on the red board, whose arms & crouch look like Jerry Lopez in reverse.
Forecast must be bad if that qualifies for a go day at Pipe.
'OK, great. There's nothing more cringe than pro surfers who can't figure out why there are doing it (because you are good at it and it's your livelihood and it's an amazing privilege to get paid to travel the world and surf, simples).' Yeah that sums it up nothing else to say. If they don't want to do it, show them the door. Is it just me or does Pickles suffer lack of hype because she is from another planet (Australia) as compared to Marks. She can really go on those Toobs.
Waves look good ha Vince .... yeah nah
It would be great to see the ladies at The Pipeline.
Pickles and Tyler at opposite ends of the ripcurl rainbow
Great comment
ha ha! Tyler could surf in the new Trans comps - Transcends Reality
So maybe Mother Nature will dictate and give the Women a shot a some decent Pipe/Backdoor? Not one of those "Equality = charging death slab blah blah blah."
Just think it'll be cool for them to given a shot in more challenging stuff than today/per usual.
This is pretty much the most reasonable and intelligent comment i've read on SN. I entirely agree! 4-6 ft peaks with a light wind - imagine what Caity and Molly could do out there!
Most pro surfers these days appear to be silver spoon types, who surf very good, and that is about it. The whole lot of them should be sent out with Jims mowing for a year to teach a thing or two about the real world.
I reckon there would be a lot of them whinging.
Well said
In Oz at least most beach towns or suburbs are getting a bit pricey for anyone who doesnt have a bit of $$ so its probably true.
Jim's mowing would be a big shake up for the women's pro tour, considering sheilas can't reverse trailers.
hey dinosaur, climb back into your cave
I'm sure that chip on the rainbow shoulder would blame their reversing inability on being a minority and victim of society.
Maybe some concreting for a year?
Of course Tyler feels it is all meaningless. It’s the side effect of reducing the world to a series post modernist power hierarchies, replete with oppressors and victims. Too materialistic and mechanistic.
Sounds like she needs to let all the rhetoric go and focus on something deeply spiritual.
Or she could go and live in Ukraine for 6 months and then come back and realise life’s not actually that bad…
That’s might go the other way and she’ll end up like Brando
To me it's almost beyond belief that Tyler is so thick that she can't see/hear what so bleeding obvious to people from the normal world. Surely she has friends from outside the pro surfing world - or the activist world - that can give her some perspective?
Edit: or maybe she's just so deeply, chronically depressed that she can't see beyond the tip of her own nose.
Another excellent summary.
Tyler behind a lawn mower for a year ,haha, I like it.
Between Tyler and the mower, I'm pretty sure I know which one would breakdown first.
Ha ha! Nearly spat my drink out.
Ps- cool write up as usual.
FWIW i really enjoy mowing the lawn.
Beat me to it. Deeply satisfying work - to my left i can see what i have done and to my right and can see what needs to be done. Love me a nice freshly cut lawn.
Haha I've always said that when I semi-retire I'd love to be a groundskeeper for a sports field or golf course. Just cruising around mowing and gardening, basically getting paid to do what I'd want to be doing anyway.
Burls, we don’t see the world in the same way on many things, but I am with you there. Such a rewarding pastime.
Gonna hit up the backyard soon.
Tyler has been through a rough trot with her health boys. I'm happy to cut her some slack but I do think I don't need to hear about her period just like she wouldn't want to hear about my day to day personal health issues. Met Caroline briefly when she was this way with big Luke Egan. She is tiny, but seemed like a very nice and humble lady - and I have not heard anything otherwise from anyone that has met her. Gee she can surf - when you are in the water with them they are much better than you realise from TV.
Loving the Pickles and Simmers show. Breath of fresh air.
The forecast would suggest we are in for some entertainment. Hope it all comes off.
Ps no mention of Brissa anywhere. Thought she surfed really well.
X2. Thought she was the other clear stand out with Pickles and Simmers
This very much a changing of the guard contest.
Generation next in the final.....
Geez FR that's a brave and bold call that Pickles is the best female surfer on the planet right now.
After a bit of consideration, i think daylight is second. She sure is the best female surfer on the planet right now, and getting better event by event.
Go Pickles!
Sadly, i've been watching Johnny Boy's insta posts more than i have of the comp last couple of days.
All the crew here dissing Tyler obviously don't work or interact with millennials much. Shes not an outlier, she's the norm. FWIW I've surfed with her a few times and she's super chill.
Hired and fired a few in my time. Most of the other ones quit.
Work with a few, and it's like dealing with kindergarten kids. Need constant handholding and coddling. Almost unbearable.
But they're don't all see themselves as victims to the degree that Tyler does.
Probably explains the high attrition rate on fishing vessels.
We don't really do handholding and coddling. ;)
Tyler needs a session with Dr Phil.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/surfing/wsl-2024-world-surf-league-drama-af...
I don't mind that response from JMD, she acknowledged the criticism straight up. Unfortunately it was followed up by some vague bs about waiting for perfect pipe. By that logic, they forewent 9/10 (or 11/10 being past perfect and too big) pipe for like, 6/10? My scale is logarithmic too so that makes it 1000x worse.
Doesn't add up. Just be honest. If it was too dangerous, then just say that danger isn't part of the judging criteria and therefore it wasn't worth the risk.
Agh, didn't know Fil was seen drinking a beer after...
I tried to watch them cant do it mowed the lawn and polished my car instead
Mowing the lawn is a weekly-or twice-cathartic yet mellow experience.
I like doing the yard and washing the car too.
I like sweeping as well.
Sweeping, hmm, that can be very, err, Zen.
Reminds me of Buddhist monks.
https://www.timescolonist.com/blogs/spiritually-speaking/zen-and-the-art...
Hmmm... like mowing or washing the car or sweeping, it's good thinking time and looks good when you're done.
But TS, Zen by nomenclature, not by nature.
Don't have any lawn these days, more of a bushy native back yard.
I do love a clean car tho.
I love reading about people mowing their lawn and washing their car. Way better than pro surfing!!
wow. waves weren’t perfect but still way beyond last years tour, and the standard of women’s surfing keeps elevating. I am excited for the future of the women’s tour. Caity, Molly and Alanya were superb in those difficult conditions. Esp Molly, in the zone xo.
Hey Steve, just a comment on what seems to be your relentless slagging off of Tyler. While at times you do make attempts at some kind of balanced analysis, looking through your overall commentary on WSL events, she does seem to cop more of a hiding than any other surfer (male or female). Its starting to look personal. I am not a fan of all the talk about 'trusting the process' etc etc, but she is hardly alone when it comes to talking that kind of thing. might be time for a new angle
True Geoff, and noted.
Disagree, not true at all. As Tyler keeps saying goofy stuff, you should of course discuss it in your write-ups.
Keep up the good work mate, its got to the point where I prefer your writing to actually watching the comps.
https://beachgrit.com/2024/02/top-tier-pro-surfer-reveals-first-ever-suc...
This is kind of hard to believe…….but also not
Surely not? Too funny if true
I guess they get so good at three to the beach and that’s what gets them there.
You’d think any of these fairly high profile surfers have all done trips to barreling wave though.
TL;DR : Alyssa Spencer says coming out of a backhand tube in her heat was the first time she’s ever done that
That was a really important point made on the disconnect from last year's finals at Trestles until now.
You used to have to earn your world title at one of the world's heaviest breaks and what followed was not just a cup to raise for the photographers, but respect and confidence for the following season.
Surfers now can completely avoid putting the time in at Pipe and what follows is a really bad look for surfing. Surfers don't need to be good at heavier/bigger waves.
The Sydney morning Herald even done a piece on it calling out Toledo.
No hate on him, he's just playing the system that was created. Eric Logan wanted to recreate the world title battle between Italo and Medina at pipe. However, he's turned it into a laughing stock in the surfing world and it only favors a particular type of surfer.
Blind Freddy can see it and it's made the tour almost unwatchable.
Lest we forget the Triple Crown used to lead into the cauldron at Pipe-
https://www.surfer.com/culture/vans-pipe-masters-triple-crown
“Ever since Fred Hemming set up a card table on the beach for the judges and ran the first event in 1971, the Pipe Masters has always stood as the most prestigious, hardest-to-win surf contest in the world. Just to get a spot in the trials meant a surfer had to dedicate themselves to regularly challenging the deadliest wave on the planet. And when one goes down the list of past Pipe Masters champions it’s littered with the greatest surfers of all time—names like Kelly, Andy Irons, Derek Ho, Tom Carroll and more, it goes on and on.
In terms of history, heritage, tradition and pageantry, the Pipe Masters is essentially the equivalent to what The Masters is in golf. Can you imagine if organizers changed the tournament to a pitch ’n putt and invited a bunch of randoms from the local muni? Golf fans would be up in arms. Why aren't surf fans more pissed?”
Saw Pickles out at the local a couple of times a week before the Pipe. Ripped a huge air in front of me. Hope she brings that at Trestles. Go you Cenny Coast legend, bring it home
So when's the fcuken comp on? Don't have all day, need to run and sleep and bark and stuff!
(She's my forecast assistant this morning)
Beautiful dog IB. Love the hair do! :-)
Fuck the Wozzle.
This is what surfing looks like.
All I can say is thank fuck the WSL hasn’t got anything to do with the Eddie .
Xcellent vid on the Eddie, Mason on missing out and Riss winning the triple crown here-
https://triplecrown.vans.com/posts/101405/winners-of-the-2023-vans-tripl...