Gabriel and Glenn and the theatre of sport
Four years ago Tom Curren snaked Sunny Garcia at triple-overhead Haliewa. Even under normal circumstances it was a ballsy move, but that it happened in competition, during a Legends heat prior to the final of the Reef Hawaiin Pro Haleiwa gave it notoriety. Afterwards Garcia was furious, but the crowd and online mugs lapped it up.
The next day Scott Bass, US surf commenter and host of Down The Line radio, wrote an opinion piece on the nature of surf rivalry. In it he blew a thought bubble into the air: Perhaps the ASP should ditch the priority system to foster rivalry?
“Some might suggest,” said Bass, “that the ASP's most compelling product is great surfing at great locations, with incredible lifestyle including music and backstage "vibe" of best mates palling around. Wrong. If that's what you want, watch a surf video.”
“ASP's product is great competitive surfing via live webcasts. Great live competition is fed by great, natural rivalries. The ASP needs to nurture them.”
Whether you agree with ditching the priority system – and for the record I don't – it's hard to argue with rivalry and its effect on audience engagement. How we cheered when Occy said he was gonna “stop those American wankers”, or when Mick Campbell jobbed Andy Irons, or when Andy Irons and Kelly Slater fought a cold war of mutual animosity that took both of them to unimaginable heights and would be celebrated forever afterwards.
Sometimes the drama of rivalry overshadows the waves. Sometimes the drama needs to overshadow the waves. Especially when the chance of a headline exclaiming pumping surf was zero, as was the case yesterday.
And it's not like the WSL doesn't realise this concept. It's why Lewis Samuels was drafted as gun for hire at the beginning of last season. Someone in the Santa Monica citadel knows how the fans – or at least a significant percentage of them – engage with the sport.
So Gabriel fired up yesterday in a post-heat interview and the WSL removed all vision of it across non-WSL sites. That's understandable, they own the sport and all the surrounding content. Yet the WSL didn't then upload the interview to their own site and funnel all the traffic to it, perhaps with the F-Bomb deleted for the sake of the kiddies. The interview no longer exists. There's a blank spot in an otherwise completely captured day. A frigid void where a passionate exchange once existed.
And to top it off the WSL doubled down on the incident. They uploaded a photo to social media that showed Micro and Gabs sharing a joke. “Palling around,” as Scott Bass would call it. The text implied they were really great mates and could we all just move along?
Recently there's been a long line of people telling the WSL what to do and right now is when I humbly join the queue...
If the WSL wants to engage viewers then it needs to understand the theatre of sport. It's what the punters want, a bit of passion and bloodlust-lite. Drama! Suspension of disbelief! Because what the hell is pro surfing if the participants don't care about winning or losing? If they don't care when a call goes against them?
Just a surf video, that's what.
Comments
Perhaps the priority rule could be dropped during a portion of the heat, say in the last five minutes.
This makes a heap of sense.
What the hay...., some are claiming it would be better if there was more WRASTLING, and less surfing?
Yea, maybe events can drop the skate bowl, and set up a cage fighting ring instead?
Nope... Think not.. this is surfing.
Incorrect Roller, this is competition surfing. You know, winner, loser, whole lotta money on the line.
Dead right Stu... Happens in every professional sport. It is part of the game. Dooma did it to TC 25 years ago.
Medina made a mistake, pure and simple. He was behind and needed a score with only a few minutes to go. He only need a 6 point ride. He tried to use the priority rule to his advantage by forcing Micro to paddle for the wave... He simply got it wrong, pulled out too late and it bit him back.
Perhaps the perfect analogy is the America's Cup when the Kiwis bought a massive single hull boat to the race under the rules, only to have Dennis Conner race a catamaran for the first time... the kiwis tried to use the rules to their advantage, only to have it backfire dramatically.
I personally liked it that Medina spoke his mind. Does'nt matter if he is right or wrong in my eyes, he is a competitor and was frustrated.. Can you imagine what Freddy would have said after his heat?
The webcast commentary is very scripted in my eyes anyway, with how great everything is...
Any news on what action the WSL took against Gabby for his outburst?
No news, so you'd have to think there's no action.
And what do you think of that Stu? Fair or not?
Personally I think the F-bomb was fine - I did think he might have got a fine for calling out KP tho.
Agree. The call on KP outweighed the call on Micro. Both thoroughly entertaining but...
do they wait until after the comp to hand it down, there must be a meeting/hearing?? At least Freddy left the arena and didn't get on the microphone to vent... then followed up with some funny posts on instagram about it. If you're going to diss the whole contest and KP, let alone Micro, you'd think he would at a minimum cop a fine.
mmm, OK ... WHEN will they, the zosea management that is, actually "get it ?
Professional sports, surfing included, is all about entertainment. From spectacular athletic performance through to the emotion, and especially the raw emotion. Let the surfers be surfers .... sheesh, our sport started as a fringe part of society, it's at its core, its DNA if you will ... so why try and stiffle it?
The error made was not showing the emotion, the passion, the frustration. The error was firstly not have a delay and hitting the "beep" button. This then compounded by removing the interview ... c'mon, how fucking hard is it to just insert a "beep" over the "bad words" but leave the passion, the context, the raw emotion.
Why oh why are they trying so hard to make it seem so vanilla?
big money = a fake sponsor-friendly image that helps you sell shit..
seen in happen across the board in just about every sport.. even 'subcultures' like skating
them the rules, slater did it to parko on one of the most insane barrels ever. shows what a farce the whole thing is. this wsl needs an overhaul.
more waves to be ridden, run heats simultaneously, get the thing action packed.
i live 800 metres from snapper and havent been down once.
great surfers, poor concept wont make it bigtime worldwide unless waves pump
as for dropping in, well it's a snapper thing.
i notice his interview was pulled of SN very quick, thats because they knew we would have a field day with some very smart replies., but no sarcasm or witty replies of course being the norm for the SN Frum Funatics
I noticed the interview disappeared from SN quickly too. Can you enlighten us as to why Stu?
As touched on in the article above: The WSL flexed their legal might, leaning on YouTube who in turn lent on us. Same as every other site who posted it.
So I'm guessing yours was a link to you tube. I wonder if the Stabmag guys think they are above the law...
http://stabmag.com/gabriel-medina-calls-out-kieren-perrow-threatens-glen...
Obviously not the original.....but.....mmmmnnnn- ownership of content is pretty murky when it's broadcast live and any yobbo can repost.
I also agree with some of the other posts on here . WSL needs to lighten up a little....or risk being regarded as a sterile, sanitised version of what competition surfing should be. Bring in Westerly Windina. She might have the answers. P.S. What the hell is a projection snap?
Forum Funatics.
More guys in heats and no priority rules , make them fight for waves like the rest of us. Then the best surfer (all rounder- paddler, hassler, natural poistioning) should get the best waves, like at your local spot. Makes sense, get away from the sterile bro show, bunch of elite mates hamming it up around the world like a bunch a rich kids having fun-Boring as bat shit.Rob machardo is the perfect example of the generation of "mates on the tour", would have had a title if he had a bit more mongrel in him, high fives his way into 2nd place against Slats.Take a look at boxing, heaps rivalry makes for a more interesting show.Make them hungry again,possibly a big part of the reason for the rise of Brazzos lately,heaps more hunger and drive ,gives them an edge against the spoonfed overhyped model/surfers getting pumped out of the ranks of Aus and US junior ranks these days, they already get paid so much before they produce any results to the stage where they don,t seem to need too.
I've mentioned it numerous times and reiterate what Rob McCrae at the top says. I reckon there should be priority for the first part of the heat and then for the last 5 or 10 minutes priority is removed to stop surfers sitting down the line and screwing over the person who's not holding priority.
I think it would make for more exciting viewing and compel surfers to use their ability and skill to form a strategy to either maintain the lead or come from behind for the win.
As for the new sanitised version of the ASP, I'm not lovin' it.
Selected quotes taken from a conversation between Phil Jarratt and Peter Drouyn prior to the '77 Stubbies (as transcribed by Matt Warshaw):
Jarratt: "A successful spectator sport needs to do more than look good on TV, and the crowd on the beach needs to know more than who won.”
Drouyn: "“Let one [competitor] look at the other and say ‘fuck you,’ or ‘I love you,’ or “let’s fight it out to the end.’”
Jarratt: "They need suspense and excitement and some good old-fashioned bullshit showmanship.”
Drouyn: "Tennis sponsors like tennis. In surfing, the sponsors mostly think surfing contests are ridiculous.”
Jarratt: "To see a well-ridden wave is beautiful and exciting. But it’s not enough. You don’t need to go to a contest to see that.”
Jarratt: "“Surf contests should be, above all else, entertaining.”
If my memory serves me well, I seem to recall that in Drouyn's original plan for man on man, there was the idea of constructive inference, where you'd get points for dropping in in an entertaining way. Details are very fuzzy for me, but he definitely saw on wave conflict as a part of the theatre.
Freddy is giving away a board on his instagram for the best photo taken of people on 'his rock', before he heads home.
Hope its not "the" board.
I saw the interference live..was pretty cut and dried Medina error for my money. I didn't see the Medina words on it and would now like to. Is there anywhere you can see that now? If u cant that level of censorship is portent to a very disturbing trend being set by WSL.
BTW on comments above, how is hassling someone into taking off later or deeper than they want to, such that maximising the waves potential is diminished, a skill you want encouraged by surfing's peak professional body?
Rad rules..Stabmag facebook still have it.
Commentators talking up all the drama now. The tantrums; emotions Freddy; can't turn away; hunger to win; how great it all is.
Is the WSL schizophrenic?
Anyone remember this?
What happened to "any publicity is good publicity"? Don't Zoosea want more people to come and watch the surfing? It was definitely possible it could have made the news and non-surfing people would have come and see the interview, potentially alerting them to the product on offer. I actually think pulling the footage was a mistake, Zoosea should have milked it for as much as they can.
Plus, PR spin and censorship stinks to high heaven and isn't appreciated by the public.
The modern day is warts and all, completely genuine - hell, even Vanity fair refuse to deal with talent's PR people for their bio's, and they don't give right of approval either.
Good headline. True to the comments above.
Pete Mel. Classic as always.
There's always been great passion, emotion, tension, rivalry etc in pro surfing, which is what it's all about. But isn't the point the fact that Medina, the current WC, dropped the F Bomb live on a TV interview? Now whilst it didn't offend me or most interested surfers (I assume), is that what the WSL really need to promote, get exposure, get loyal fans?? I'm not so sure. If any other elite pro sportsperson swore during a live interview they would be equally taken to task by that code I would imagine. You don't need to swear on live TV to be passionate & if he had a beef with the commish KP & Glen Hall, have the balls to face up to them in person before airing your whinges to others first IMO.
totally agree rabbits, im all for passion but when a surfer unloads because he lost a heat and feels bad about it, then hes gone too far and should get a punishment of sorts... yeah swearing doesn't offend me either but that doesn't justify it.
medina is young and like all young blokes from time-to-time he needs to be pulled into line. whats wrong with that. sure it might impacts his 2015 title hopes if he get a suspension...so what? he'll be back next year. the fact that hes the current number 1 surfer doesn't mean he can do no wrong.
hes got a bit of growing up to do id say...so did I when I was 21
Good article.... The only thing that got me interested in this event was the medina interview and it's been rubbed out. Oh and when Fred P rock hopped. That was entertaining.
After watching medina and kolohe paddle battle for the 1st 15mins of the QF at chopes last year.. It's was fucked to watch .. I think we need some type of priority system
Priority system does demonstrate a healthy respect that should be encouraged, but I agree with the problem in latter stages of a heat it's not working..
The WSL definitely need to reconsider their censorship though..medina deserves a slap for his shot at KP..groms need to be taught consequence of actions
Medina is only a kid and needs to realise there're repercussions for his behaviour like everyone else's. The WSL need to get behind KP straight off the bat and do something about it. As for the censorship, WTF, not impressed, and the commentators sure know how to polish a turd.
tantrums, what would the world be without them, but seriously, Medina should get his head around that there is a priority system and an interference rule and he clearly broke it. talking down KP's not on , what's KP got to do with what Glen Hall says in the water until he has to address the issue after the fact, and having a comp in smaller waves is the reality a lot of the time . Gabe was frustrated clearly , I hope he reflects and makes some amends cos at the moment he is coming across as the bad guy and taking the shine off of what all his mates achieved in the comp.
otherwise , the last five minute no priority thing could go either way but is interesting and lastly....CLASSIC Freddy P, ( now he had something to be frustrated about)
FS, I missed Freddio'S tantrum......!
Anyone on here bring it up (Link Video dub Video)
Cheers;)
3 tantrums in one here for ya. Turn up the sound ;)
Cheers LD;)
What a bunch of spoilt princesses.
Money eh.
I don't think they actually realise we have no pockets in our coffin....
Here ya go folks, the ACTUAL interview:
&app=desktopMust be the last copy alive on the interwebs :)
EDIT: note to all, yes, just added the link as a comment to the WSL Update article published by Swellnet, purely so as many people as possible have a chance to watch it.
And all comments disabled. Hmm.