The Woz Suspends World Champ Joel Tudor
On Wednesday, The Woz released a statement that Joel Tudor, their 2021 Longboarding World Champ, has been suspended. The statement reads:
Joel Tudor has been suspended following conduct detrimental to the integrity of the WSL per the WSL Rule Book, which includes the violation of the following provisions: sportsmanlike conduct (14.02), damage to surfing's image (14.04), and verbal assault (14.08). The duration of the suspension is currently under review.
Tudor and the WSL have had a running battle over the state of professional longboarding. It was only so many years ago that the Woz ran with the tagline: 'It takes a tour to make a title', neatly side-stepping the fact they were crowning longboard champs with just one contest on the 'tour'.
Then in 2019, the Woz hired Devon Howard and promised a revamped tour, one with with multiple stops. Last year, Tudor was crowned World Longboarding Champ - at 45, the oldest world champ - on the back of three events.
However, pre-empting talk of a contraction in the tour from three events back to one, Tudor put diplomacy on ice. In three Instagram missives, all now removed, Tudor hit out at Erik Logan and Jessi Miley Dyer about why the WSL is "planning on canceling the longboard tour to a one event stop".
A fair question, even if based on rumour, yet Tudor went further accusing the Woz of underpaying longboarders and playing on diversity and wokeness. The last two charges a little hard to follow amongst all the gun smoke.
Much scuttlebutt followed. Tudor's outburst was openly dissected on websites and podcasts.
And now the suspension of their World Champ. The length of the penalty still unknown.
Suspensions aren't unknown in pro surfing. There's been many over the years: Neco Padaratz in 2006 for using steroids; Jeremy Flores in 2014 for abusing the judges; and Filipe Toledo in 2017 also for abusing the judges. Perhaps the best known of all is Bobby Martinez who was suspended for six events after his live outburst - the infamous 'tennis tour' interview - in 2011. Though that suspension meant little as the interview was also Martinez' retirement announcement.
Tudor's suspension is arguably more awkward for the Woz as, firstly, Tudor is one of their World Champs, a person they could usually rely on to say nice things about the organisation, secondly, he's criticised their business model, making them choose between a potential difficult explanation or a silent vacuum that can only be filled by more rumour, and thirdly, Tudor isn't showing any contrition. Every other time a surfer has faced the judiciary they've apologised and asked for mercy.
The same can't be said of Tudor, who's doubling, even tripling down, and is well on his way to becoming a martyr for the cause. A lightning rod for all Woz haters in the same way Noa Deane was after his "Fuck the WSL" mic drop in 2014.
At 45-years old, Tudor knows the Woz ain't his future. He also knows enough about history to appreciate how this benefits him. Like Miki Dora who both profited from and rejected Hollywood, turning that stance into a badge of honour, the same can be said of Tudor dicking with the straights at the Woz.
Though suspended, it's a win/win.
Comments
This is hilarious.
Suspended from what?
There doesn't appear to be a Tour to be suspended from.
What, are they going to send police around to confiscate his phone to stop the social media barrage?
"What, are they going to send police around to confiscate his phone to stop the social media barrage?"
Ah, probs not the crew in blue ...
But.
Tudor's mailbox might get filled pretty quickly with legal letters and documents with 'defamation' boldly emblazoned in the subject line.
The most obvious defence to a defamation claim is truth. If what he says can be proven true then the WSL will be even worse off.
While including one or two arguably contentious truths, most of what he wrote was patently false.
Tudor made the classic mistake of someone emboldened by anger. He didn't focus on the one grievance but instead threw in a grab bag of accusations that made it very easy for the Woz to discredit him.
I guess most people won't care, they just like he's sticking it up the Woz, but when it comes to the legalities he's made it pretty easy for them.
What's that old adage ...
Don't hit send in anger?
Lesson here for many a hot head. Especially in this modern technology connected world. At least back in the 80's, heck even the '90's, you could lose it, fume, rant n rave, but pretty much it was only ya mates that heard ... I'm sure we've all said stuff in the heat of the moment, that'd be ugly if broadcast.
In this modern, connected, technology era, once ya hit send, it's published and the damage is done.
Will be interesting to see how far the wozzle take it.
I was expecting to read suspended for excessive drug taking. The guys seems like a bit of a all round wanker to be honest. Didn’t he play a large part in outlawing any longboard moves that weren’t ‘tradional’ this is making it largely the walk the plank sailor tour.
He got the rules changed so he could become 'world champion'*.
Storm. Teacup.
Considering longboard competition is where the whole act started, you'd think the wozzle would be ensuring the historical element is promoted, celebrated, like in all other sports ...
Motorsport still compete using yonder year gear, right?
Tennis. Courts, balls, rackets, etc from by gone days, yeah?
Golf. Definitely equipment, balls, etc. from the fore fathers still used in competition, aren't they?
Hmmm, yeah, rightio ... really is there any relevance for longboarding competition?
Not sure that analogy flies Wingnut. There is little in common between a modern performance longboard and the old school logs. If you want to use the motorsport analogy, longboarding now is like the V8 supercars compared to the F1 of the men's CT. If numbers in the water are any indication, there's definitely a market for a proper longboard tour but the boof-head kooks at the WSL can't see how they could get an air-360-throwing Brazzo champ so have little appetite.
From what I can see of the eshay longboarding a-maverick-like-everyone-else-doing-it hipsters up at Noosa, they don't go in for the brands etc the Woz associates with.
The Woz is just a commercial enterprise, like the PTA, PGA, etc. etc. It's not there for the fans. Sure, the honchos that run it enjoy doing/watching the sport/activity in question, but it's a business like any other first and foremost for them.
Nothing like the USPGA mate.
They run a totally professional org that nearly all golf fans enjoy not to mention the players.
I didn't say it was of the quality of the PGA did I? Just that it's a commercial enterprise - i.e. a comment only that it's about making dollars, not whether it makes any sense...
It's just like Walking in the Olympics. Archaic and nonsensical.
You took the words right out of my mouth Jon Stamos. Heaps of fun to longboard on the right day, just as it probably is to do competitive walking, just don’t ask me to watch it,
Up at the NFOS a few years back (which is on right now!), I was blown away with the standard of traditional longboarding by some of the teeneagers; some of the girls were the most impressive. It's got a really unique scene too, leagues away from the high performance shortboard circuit.
Maybe it was just nice to see something fresh. But, I dug it.
That being said you'll never catch me on a longboard.
Have you got a mid-length in the quiver Ben? If so you're on your way mate :)
Still riding a 6'0.
Sure, it's four inches thick and as wide as a yoga SUP, but....
I will never give in.
Ben...... Go Shorter
Add this to your Quiver
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/442767467482492/?ref=search&re...
And Rule Caba like this
Up here at the Noosa Surfing Festival, never surfed or been here before......I am actually blown away by the level of longboarding/logging , how much fun everyone has and how the majority of these young surfers know their history of surfing all the way back to the 50's....the different age groups and different categories of longboards makes this event really amazing to see plus 70's to U/15's , traditional and high performance categories plus a Twin Fin event where you have to ride a pre-85" twinnie....the whole event is run incredibly well the vibe from everyone is excellent.....
Speaking to another fossil at the event , we worked out as you get older and the body succumbs to years of injuries and abuse we lose our stamina first , then all the past physical niggles add up to limiting how we surf......but by riding longboards in shit small conditions at least you keep fit for the good days....and can still ride a high performance Hybrid in good waves......to be honest since coming here, I have changed my mind 180 degrees.....people are having so much fun , the level of surfing is incredible , the understanding of surf culture through longboard/logs is down right incredible.....keeps ya fit and I mean what else would you try and surf on points when it's small most of the time......
So Ben...there will come a time when you will look at longer/wider thicker boards....or.....stop surfing?
Your experience at NFOS mirrors mine from a few years back.
Re: boards - yep already going wider and thicker (you seen Steve Powell's shapes? I'm riding one of his Fat Pandas). Am considering a lil' longer too, though it's less of a priority considering the waves I usually surf.
Also need to be mindful that any size increase has to be well below the threshold where I can be accused of riding a mid-length.
I actually ask the question...what is a mid length .....and why are people so against them, what are you afraid of being accused of???
Not a rhetorical question .......I think I ride mid lengths but have only ever been hassled once for riding a longer board...the guy was sent in immediately !
All good, I'm jesting. I'll be on a mid-length in no time. Might even pop by next time I'm in TQ and buy one from you!
Welcome Brutus, figured all this out in 1994 not long after starting surfing.
Sounds like a good scene at the local club, the swapping of ideas etc
But for me, it's the deep knowledge of surfing's history in this scene that is the icing on the cake...
VJ ,really refreshing to have conversations with young people who have an understanding of the history of surfing and how inclusive the whole logger scene is.......from young to old!
Ben, next clean sunny small day mid winter ... we should surf one of the secret wonders around here, and you'll see why you should have a mal in ya quiver ;)
Knee high peelers, on a sunny, blue sky, clear water day with no crowds. Waves you'll struggle to get up on with any bulky shortboard (need rail line length) ... no crowds. Pure fun.
We get days and days like this in winter.
Don't let ego reject the craft that can bring ya stoke!
Got the handplane sorted for that! And hours of surf lessons with the kids too.
I get ya point though.
Might have to stash one in the dunes so I'm not spotted with one in the tray.
Wingnut,
What a great description,
The exact reason I own one.
Tudor, a living breathing example of why you shouldn’t smoke weed to excess. He looks as if he’s 96.
So true but to be fair I though he was like 61
Joel has done a good thing here, the wsl can get farked.
but then again i dont know why shortboard womens get equal prizemoney. They aren't as skillful and dont charge as hard as the mens.
Just my opinion.
As bill burr says, in the unlikely situation where you're stuck on the titanic, the women and children get to go first, the men drown. There are no feminists in a house fire, men are expected to rescue everyone.
That's why men get a dollar an hour more for the same work.
So you're saying you expect to get paid a dollar an hour more by letting women and children escape peril first?
What an honourable man.
i just agree with Bill Burr, not my quote.
Its just basic business if you have the mens brining in 80% of the revenue then they can't keep throwing money at the women's league because its just not viable, like the women's Afl the way it sits currently it will bankrupt the Afl within 5 years, if the women want equal pay and everything let them go out and make there own way and be independent of the men
Another barbaric comment from the age of cavemen, when dragging your knuckles along the ground and grunting was considered intellect . You talk about women like they're a separate species to you.
They, them. I feel sorry for you. They and them are doing pretty amazing on their own anyway, and i'm pretty certain they and them care little for your shallow, antiquated opinion.
It amazes me that males question that a female should be allowed to be paid the same amount as a man, based on them being seemingly a different species. Do women get extra pay after they enter the workforce after having children? I mean it alters their bodies and psychology forever. Do they get paid extra for having to put up with the toxic sexualisation of them in almost every aspect of their lives and their working conditions. They fucking should.
They them alien species, so pitiful, dare not ask for a single dollar that would equate you to a male of the higher species.
He did first say it’s business. But on this issue you are over the top again adding your own narrative.
He's free to say his piece, as i am mine. Narrative was angled by the 'if they want equal pay'. Simple. But i admire the way you keep chasing me around Swellnet everytime i speak up for women who generally aren't here to speak up for themselves. (still obviously butt hurt from me calling you out from a few weeks ago on the subject).
Ha butt hurt. As if. He was talking from a business/profit perspective. Obviously. No I’m ridiculing your brave knight approach against people that actually have the same ideals as you. You realise you’re attitude is actually patronising to women.
tsk tssk tsk. No need to add anything more it seems. Goodnight Seeds,, going surfing..with a woman, in the morning. I'll show her the above posts for feedback. (do i buy the coffee or she? I mean i'm the male surfer that's part of a more dominant strain in the surfing world, the ones that have proven they're worth more money. Does that mean she buys me one?) And i appreciate the time it took you to find a picture. I'll believe your not hurt. Not at all. Nighty night!
Butt hurt?
Mate homophobia is pretty passé.
A little sexist don't you think Andy M? Assuming it's not a woman jamming something up ones you know what?
Would expect nothing less of you to focus on the minutae of the actual point i was trying to make regarding sexism and male chauvenism.
And I was trying to make a point that it’s so easy to get on your sanctimonious high horse if you wish.
Loses its currency pretty quick.
You're kidding arent ya? You think i'm on a high horse by defending 50 percent of people i know (women) on a platform that is poorly represented by females and highly over represented by the 'boys club' males, that feel it's a safe place to place women in a category lower than themselves?
You're a dickhead mate. Always thought that the case, but you're just proving it again.
You focus on one word that was in reference to the shit head that has been trolling me around SN, similar to yourself, but fail to touch on the two good points related to the topic, that being, women who don't recieve extra income based on the fact they have babies, and that being that they deal with sexist and sexual harassment in all aspects of their dealings with males. You keep focusing on the little minute details of my posts. I'll happily keep treating you and your defenders with contempt.
Hark, is that a bugle I hear?
High horse hey....
AndyMTHURSDAY, 10 MAR 2022 at 5:15PM
You’re pissed off that it’s been pointed out that inland real estate is cheaper than coastal?
Or that people other than multi-generation locals are discussing the floods?
You’re being a baby.
You probably shouldn't go name calling and categorising people if you really want to make your point. You know?
And glad to see you couldn't add anything to the two points i was making.
That’s the post that you went out of your way to agree with me on you dill.
Still agree. But no need to throw rocks from a glass house.
Says the guy that out of nowhere calls me a dickhead?
Going around in circles here. Still avoiding the topic. I'm out.
Mate I’m at work I’ll brew up a response later on.
After Ive finished work.
And after I’ve gone for a surf :)
Actually considering I’ve taken all this in a pretty light-hearted way and you called me a dickhead, by rights I should tell you to take a big step back and fuck your own face.
But because I’m a hell of a guy I’ll sketch out a response later.
Don’t flatter yourself BD. Trolling you. Hahaha what a dick. And another thing I’m the least misogynistic bloke you could ever meet. But keep charging on in without out seeking clarification of anyone’s opinion.
Swellnet’s valiant Sir Getsitwrongalot.
You're not trolling me? but here you are. Righto. Got it. Keep up your shit work. Worm.
Its not called trolling when someone has a differing opinion.... Or a different interpretation of a subject to you.
But go ahead.... Keep playing the victim....
BD said
“You probably shouldn't go name calling and categorising people if you really want to make your point. You know?”
Geez mate psychological projection or what.
Fuck off dickhead
My issue was with your sanctimony, not your points necessarily.
But let's go there for shits and gigs anyway.
"Do women get extra pay after they enter the workforce after having children? I mean it alters their bodies and psychology forever. Do they get paid extra for having to put up with the toxic sexualisation of them in almost every aspect of their lives and their working conditions."
100% support women being able to take lengthy maternity leave and to be able to slot back into their previous roles.
The world would be a better place if women can continue to rise up the ranks to executive levels and not be stymied by their time off.
Though I don't see why women should get extra pay after coming back.
The "toxic sexualisation" of women is another matter.
I think you're painting with extremely broad brush strokes there.
Not to mention that women, especially modern young women in the social media age, do a fine job of sexualising themselves in a toxic way.
They can call it empowering or whatever they want but they need to take a little responsibility.
And the thought of somehow getting paid extra for this is beyond ridiculous.
Why thankyou Andy M for taking the time to reply.
When you say i'm painting with extremely large brush strokes, would that be a similar brush to the one painting the picture of 'if women want equal pay they should...(insert opinion here). That's what gets my bee in a bonnet. As you have pointed out, there are many variables and intricacies involved in all of the above circumstances.
If i was to suggest the extra pay (equal pay) being allocated to womens surfing now, is an investment into what can easily be acknowledged as a fast growing market, then it makes perfect business sense to me, considering the already observable return for investment that is currently happening before our eyes with women's professional surfing.
When you throw in business ethics, which is a fundamental part of successful business practice, along with the points above that you've reasonably debated, (although i disagree with your views), then you have the foundations for what is in my opinion, an honest and equal, fair pursuit of goals with the same reward for each human, regardless of their gender.
Furthermore, why does it bother men that women want to get paid equally. Which man looks at himself in the mirror each morning and says, 'i know what i'm going to do today, i'm going to make sure women aren't paid the same as us men, unless they can unequivocally prove that they deserve it, because based on their gender, they need to prove they're equal to men, in every way." It's hard to not point out the absurdity of those comments and not ridicule that line of thinking as being nothing short of neanderthal and below any form of critical thinking and analysis of what's happening in 2022.
Now tell me where I’ve ever said anything of the sort.
Seriously mate, this is bordering on stalking. Please fuck off.
Stalking now is it? I asked you a question. You’ve pegged me as some misogynistic arsehole which I am not.
Originally a couple of weeks ago I commented on your vid with questions. For some reason you were enraged and made it about gender (which I had not) ranting about violence against women and what kind of man shoots a woman. I didn’t even know she was shot. You carried on as if I pulled the trigger. Huge assumptions on your part and a insult to me personally. Not rational mate.
Then yesterday same nonsense when old mate came at it from a business perspective. That’s what I was pointing out. Once again huge assumptions on your part without any attempt to seek clarification. In fact I’m quite okay with the WSL equal pay and agree with you that it’s a growing market and it makes sense from a business perspective. Did you ask before going off half cocked again? Just more ranting from you.
I’m afraid you’re the DH BD.
Seeds, you have followed me around on SN and post replies to what i comment, based on my last comments, completely out of context to what my post was as a sum of the whole. You just admitted as much when you said 'i didn't know she'd been shot' even though you were bullish and couldn't wait to jump up and down on my post in your reply and opinion towards my post...which clearly stated SHE'D BEEN SHOT AT POINT BLANK RANGE.
So yeah, go away. Stop following me around SN and taking snippets of what i say out of context, distorting my point and using it for some kind of weird point scoring. Dunno why you've chosen me as your 'friend' but i'm off it. And a little violence alert for the swellnet moderators.....keep following me around here on SN and posting snide remarks on my comments without actually taking in the whole context, and i'll fucken hope to meet you face to face to sort it out properly. I have no control over who continually follows me around online but i can have complete control over that shit offline if given the opportunity and would happily put an end to this stalking business that way. It's a one way street with the commenting here. You pursue me, never the other way around. So stop being a weird stalky c#nt ok. Maybe it's a thing with you crew north of Brisbane. I dunno.
If you want to debate something with me, use the whole context of my posts, read them first, let it sink in.. or just... piss off and stop following me around on here.
Mate you should take your own advice. Everything you demand of others is in fact what you do down to a tee.
Now threats also. Hot headed fool.
What a self righteous sanctimonious (good word Andy M. Describes him perfectly)flog you are.
Unfortunately, from this point, there's little i can do about you.
That's the internet for ya.
At this point I'm just going to assume the two of you are actually the same person having some kind of Me, myself, and Irene split personality meta argument, manifest on the forums.
It certainly makes the argument less inane.
No mate. I’m me and BD is a hypocrite who can’t say sorry I got it wrong about you.
If you've read this far as you say you have and have only got that comment to make yet nothing on the actual topic....what makes you any less inane? What a drab, vanilla boring comment without actually taking a stand on the topic and having some conviction.
And yes, i'm Seeds and we're not. Yes i aren't.
Most of the women dont even believe in Jesus Christ the savior the spirit the GOD. Why should women like that be paid equally, they will burn in hell like the rest of you atheists on this site.
1) Deuteronomy 23:1 ESV
No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord
Hahaha that’s gold. I can’t work out if you are actually religious or not but you get me laughing.
7) Leviticus 20
“18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.”
Damn the misogyny of the Bible.
Is that bugles I hear?
Hell hath no fury like BD on the warpath.
None of this is funny. I'm very very upset.
But seriously, I reckon we've both had our little outbursts. If you reckon i'm a hothead, then that's that. I'll cop that, it's probably true to some degree.
There's really nothing more i can add. You might be an ok bloke. I doubt it if you live north of Brisbane, just like boogie boy, but, hey, i'm all for miracles.
No outbursts here. Once again only concerned with yourself. Yeah I’m stirring you. What about if just maybe if I was upset with what you assumed about me. That doesn’t matter in your world.
Hell hath no fury? Geez mate.
Own it or don't.
I'm sure you've heard of casual racism.
You exhibit casual sexism. It's so casual that you almost get away with it.
Fucked if i'm gonna walk past it.
You'll deny it and divert attention away from the topic and the point, you'll post little pictures of me alledgedly a knight on a horse with bugles.
That's fine.
It changes nothing. You exhibit casual sexism, it's a scourge on Australian society. Rest easy though. You're not alone. I could count on one finger the amount of times i've seen crew on here spring to the defence of women when this type of casual sexism is displayed.
You're in the right place.
I'm clearly not.
And that is that.
Hhmmm seek help mate.
Ahahahahaha.....cant believe i read all this!!! You Fucken boomers on the internets is hilarious!!!!!
Go back to buying too many investment properties and pricing young people out of the housing market.
Hey booger boy...?
@booger boy...... contributes nothing...speaks loudly. Whats your actual thoughts on the topic? Got any. Or just another big talking troll??
Haha now I’m a boomer. Too funny.
Typical deflection from a gutless troll.
@bd....My thoughts on the topic??
I think wsl is sucking the life out of surfing, and joel tudor has some valid points. A rebel tour feels closer than ever!!!!
Fight the power!!!
4) Ezekiel 23:19-20 NET
Yet she increased her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution in the land of Egypt. She lusted after their genitals as large as those of donkeys, and their seminal emission was as strong as that of stallions.
Alright ladies, settle down now.
You might like to read this and then consider if women still get off easy…https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/what-mothers-know-about-war-ad-an-es...
Ps on the weekend a woman took out the old mal (mixed) division at the Noosa festival
When Neco got done for (prescribed) steroids, I thought that was the biggest crock of shite ever and effectively ended his career. Andy Irons wins three titles juiced to the eyeballs and he's everyones hero.
I guess there's always gonna be ramifications for badmouthing your employer but sometimes you just gotta take a stand man. Gotta credit the man for that.
Hey it’s Andy - we don’t talk about the drugs. Even all these years later.
why not? why do we idolise sportspeople because of their ability, when in fact many of them are shit humans. never got to know AI personally, but when he came to the GC many years ago, he was acting like an entitled cock at dbah dropping in on all over the place.
"but when he came to the GC many years ago, he was acting like an entitled cock at dbah dropping in on all over the place."
Are you talking about Occy?
It's good you're on the feed Surfalot 67. Saves me a lot of thinking and typing. Be sure that if you submit any opinions that aren't perfectly correct , I will comment but so far you are on it . Surfing for me has always been a way to stop thinking about shit. But someones got to and you got my vote . Do you know anything about relationships and buying new cars. Can you shine a light on how Alex Knost is anyway relevent in surfing. Sorry to burden you with my most important problems , particularly Alex. Cheers mate.
Haha Alex is the most annoying and over rated surfer in the world. And also such a poser tryhard hippy guru.
i once reported him on facebook just because he shits me.
No ramifications for the Goat smashing his board for bringing the sport into disrepute
Fuck I was feeling so lonely. Thanks GS.
someone put some modern long boarding up.
I'm sure the drag crew have some soft long board gold.
.
Here ya go Rob. Cutting edge longboarding.
Too easy, not beautiful but making it work. You can see his influences in the approach chosen.
Back in the 90's there was another type of longboarding, a carving type in big waves - Bonga Perkins, TC and Glenn WInton in comp at Haleiwa I think... also using the Hipo shortboard concaves etc in the longer boards. It got steamrolled by 50/50 rails and the Californian hipster stuff - but it can still be done.
Can smell a break away longboard tour coming on with Vans and some beer company backing. About time.
When it’s small & peeling, why not ride a longboard? Don’t let your ego get in the way of a good time. Life’s too short…
Plenty of good times, some waves suit this style of riding for sure. Has skeleton bay had shape at smaller sizes where it becomes too fast and isn't hollow. Plenty of empty almost set ups that can be functional. I like the tradition, the different styles, Accessibility and fun it creates when other types just don't cover the wave type on offer at the time. Every dog has it's day. How narrow are modern mals in context to modern guns. And when does a shape cease to become a longboard? Is it relevant to nose shape, width or length. Plenty of surfs I was out surfed by those on much better suited equipment to the conditions. Mix it up
Yeah I agree, mixing it up is the go. So many ways to have fun in all sorts of conditions. I always find it strange that some people limit their ocean experiences by refusing to ride more suitable, functional equipment to suit the varying conditions just because they’re worried about what others might think. Maybe there’re afraid they’ll actually enjoy it. Haha!
I now really enjoy riding my so called Funboard @7'2 with about 45ltrs Vol. Horses for cources, ie: I only ride it in certain types of waves but as the name says it is FUN! So as far as Joel goes I can understand his frustrations but the WSL is a business & looking @ bums on seats(viewings online) They look @ the viability of Longboarding as a commercial tool which is a bit blunt compared to the WCT tour, & hence their decision to pay lip service to the so called longboard tour! Suspending a world champion is all relative to where they stand in the scheme of things & I'm sure that if it was Gabs speaking out about an issue on THE Tour their stance would be some what more contrite!!!
Heard an idea floated somewhere (maybe Joel) that they should take the longboard tour with the WCT and run the longboard events on the laydays for the shortboarders. At first i thought nah, but then, when you think about it most of the lay days are just that because they're either too small but beaut conditions still, or wild and wooly. Obviously the only down side would be a Teahupoo swell window that only has lay days in the 8foot plus howling onshore type conditions...but pretty sure the audience would be lining up to see that!! haha. But take a couple of obvious events out of it and it could probably work and would give crew something to watch on the days of no action. Maybe a win win?
That sounds like a great idea BD. I'd watch it
Longboard tour suited to completely different lineups is only prob I see with that.
Moving shortboard world tour to a Malibu stop would be pretty funny.
Jbay on the not quite big enough days, Bells when the hightide hits the bowl and they have to put it on hold, trestles almost any day, Sunset on the small days on the point, there's a pointbreak stop at Elsalvador, Brazzoland easy to work around the tides, Margs left on most small days, The only spots on tour that might be a bit iffy are Chopes and Pipe, and maybe G Land, but the tour probably should leave G Land alone anyway, as nice as it is to watch. But I can see all the stops bar those suiting long boards on their off days, most of those days would be considered perfect for the log. Maybe. ha. Better than the one event they've already got and it would keep costs down. Don't really care either way but i'd assume it's way too logical for the WSL to ever consider it.
J Bay next door take the logs to Cape St Francis - only prob there is I think development has stabilised the foredune and now it's not perfect peelers but sectiony
Standard for the society we have created. Have a different opinion to the machine and you will be sanctioned until you get in line. We did this.
About time someone took a stand by sticking to their guns and making their voice heard not giving a rats about what others say or do about it. Not enough ol school left in the age of political correctness! ... Joel knows he can back it up too either in the water or on the beach
I've loved Joel as the outspoken troll, and respect the huge influence he's had on what surfing is today (ie, there's a longboarding side to it nearly as big as the shortboarding side. It wasn't that way at all when I started out with logs, it was empty...)
BUT
The traditional world titles of the 1960's were 1 event only - everyone came from all corners of the world, it was as much a comp as an exchange of ideas. Nothing wrong with this format at all.
Be careful what you wish for...promoting log comps at (regular) WSL events would see an explosion of logs at popular breaks. Nobody in their right mind wants that.
Correct. It's definitely not a wish of mine, and i take it back. All of it. 1 comp a year at Noosa should do the trick!
Who cares. The only time I've ever longboarded was when I stayed with JOB and we were packing 12ft Pipe bombs together. That's the only acceptable time to ride one.
Yeh, me too. With JOB.....
12-maybe 13ft Pipe.
Rode a longboard one other time.....
100ft Nazare. Did a rodeo clown over a jetski!!! True story!!!
Only time its acceptable to ride one....
Just start ya own tour.
Its a shame we can't suspend the WSL.
The GOAT is not the GOAT.
He's the best at winning comps
What other means are there for determining the GOAT? Or do you just mean in a philosophical sense, there's no way of knowing the true GOAT...
The true GOAT... now that is deep... how do you even measure a GOAT?
From the front or from the back?
It was once said... that Australian GOATs are bigger than American GOATs...
And Hawaiian GOATs are the biggest of all
My biggest GOAT issue with Slater is the fact that Andy Irons at his peak consistently beat Slater at his peak.
If you didn't have the highest peak, can you be the GOAT?
I'd say Kelly peaked in '96. No-one, not even he, has come close to that kind of dominance.
Who were his closest rivals that year? Surprisingly can't find rankings that far back
Second place Shane Beschen, third Sunny, fourth Luke Egan, the field of 44 a mix of old school Aussie mongrels, Hawaiian powerhouses, and a dash of Momentum alumni just starting to make their mark: Knox, Machado, Hayes, Dorian, O'Connell, et al.
Slater won 7 of 14 events in a range of conditions from knee-high Manly to reeling J'Bay to perfect Pipe.
Utter domination.
Who is the KID during that late 90s-early 00s period? Taj?
Can't think what KID might stand for, but I'm sure you get what I'm getting at...
Baby GOAT?
I'd say the baby GOAT was Kelly himself.
Anyway, during the late-90s to early-00s, KS was retired and his place was taken by Sunny, Occy, CJ, and AI in 2002.
KS only competed 3/4 of the 2002 tour and still came 9th.
Gotta say that 96 list isn't super strong. There's nobody of the calibre of Andy, Mick, John John or Medina, who could win a world title no matter who else was in the field.
The Kelly v Andy era was probably the peak of pro surfing, it was so epic to watch.
Definitely not silly enough to really say Kelly isn't the GOAT though
I know on paper his first Title runs were the strongest - esp 96- but his surfing and level of competition was way, way higher between 2003-2012.
I personally thought his best surfing was 2013, he won 3 comps in devastating fashion: Trestles, Cloudbreak and Snapper (at 6ft Kirra).
Despite being clearly the best surfer in the World he came runner up that year to Mick Fanning.
Yeah, nah.
For mine, those early titles, particularly 94, 95, and 96 were marked by a spontaneity that at times seemed to take him by surprise. Like every time he drew off the bottom no-one knew what he was going to do when he hit the lip.
It wasn't always the prettiest surfing, helped in no small part by unnecessarily long boards, but punters were seeing things that had never been done before, the drama extended as Slater had to persuade the establishment that it was valid surfing.
By the time he returned the act was more polished, the moves becoming rote, and his surfing had lost the drama of cultural insurgency.
That was about the same time that rip, tear and lacerate gave way to acrobatics, theatrics and showmanship. Culminating in the claim with its many variations and the jump off dismount form of wave completion.
"Slater had to persuade the establishment that it was valid surfing"
It seems he sold them on it.
IMHO the priority rule dues more to stifle performances than promote any kind of "fairness".
Far out...so many incorrect accusations packed into one comment!
You honestly believe no-one claimed before Slater came along? Or did "jump off" dismounts...whatever they are.
And for crying out loud, have you ever seen how a heat unfolds without priority? Watch two surfers competing at Snapper paddle each other to Duranbah trying to hold the inside...
Said it time and again but I reckon the last five minutes of a heat should be no priority.
Just to spice it up a bit.
I thought I basically agreed with your comment...
With all respect Stu I am in no way any kind of surf historian.
Slater took claims to a new level... think outstretched arms rotating backward geeing the crowd up?
Or the old slap the forehead, I blew my own mind, didn't think I would make that myself
... cringe...
Jump off dismount... I've got the score I need so pindrop off the board under the wave and get back out a little faster... at least a foam climb or a bottom turn in to the wash looks a little better. What happened to taking it to the beach
Yep it's all pretty subjective anyway.
Regarding positioning at Snapper - there is a hierarchy as you would know - strongest paddler normally gets the position - or the guy on the log.
When it comes to priority I think of Parko and Kelly in that final at Kirra.
You would know what year it was.
So boring watching someone sit on priority and running out the clock.
But rules, hey?
The rules suited Slater.
That's what they call progression I guess.
Seems like there's less competition and more camaraderie as the waves get bigger.
With the amount of amazing free surfers out there, does winning surfing comps based on subjective scores even make you a goat?
The fact that the pros pretty much always smash the wildcards seems to suggest that it does. Its true that the match-ups always happen in contest format, but how often do you watch a wildcard on a wave and seriously think that they are better than all the pros in the same contest (even in their own local waves)
The tour is littered with great surfers who couldn't do well in competitive surfing, just because they couldn't get into the three turns to the beach mentality. Of the top of my head, Dane Reynolds and Mikey Wright, but the list is endless.
Yes , and we all know that sheep go to Heaven and GOATS go to hell , So Kelly , Andy , Joel ( T. not P. ) gabby , JJF etc etc can all go to hell !
As long as that doesn't offend Blue Diamond in any way ?
The GOAT also won pipe in 2013 and to be honest I didnt feel Fanning won
his semi at pipe that he needed to win the world title but they gave it to him.
I was on the beach watching the whole thing was epic pipe bigger and better
than this year and no down time due to the girls.
It was a win win win for WSL Mick won world title Slater won Pipe Masters
and John John won the triple crown but John John wasnt happy.
About Andy Irons as far as im concerned he was a drug addict grub same
with his drop kick brother no time for them. Just because they could surf
in my book dosent give them the right to just be arrogant pigs.