All the Perfect 10s - video
Never mind the Bear, Shaun Tomson called this one - "There'll be four Perfect 10s today," said the affable '77 World Champ and the big fella was right on the rand.
Jordy Smith's perfect heat:
...and here's Jordy's first wave again:
Julian Wilson:
And last of all John John:
Comments
Hmmm i think they were getting a bit excited IMO only Jordys first 10 should have been a 10, others should have been in the 9 range
Zietz at North Point has set the benchmark for me this year.
Now that was a 10
A mate on the promo for it was a 20 if Zietz was a 10 !?
To me, I fail to see why it's a 10 if the wave is incomplete (JS second vid and JW 3rd vid). They are so busy claiming (and the no claim claim), they forget to finish the wave.
That's what i think, drives me crazy when they claim before the wave is finished or flick off before the wave is finished.
Where the waves has potential for more, they should be encouraged to go for broke on that last section, the way to do that is to give a slightly lower score if they don't at least try something on that last section and waste their time claiming.
If they want to claim do it once the wave has no more scoring potential and is finished.
With a couple of exceptions, I think the judging was pretty spot on. Tubes will always be scored highly, especially long deep ones with iffy sections and clean exits. Jordys first 10, no doubt- mad turns and smokin' barrell. Julian too, beautifully surfed and really difficult, deep tube (claims are up there with the best of the Brazzos though for both of them) but JJ wave was the bomb. Those turns, that HUGE fade, deep deep tube and razor sharp slash at the end- that one did it for me.
Julian's claiming makes him look like a bit of a goose doesn't.
Double J's finishing belt under the lip was fucken sublime.
I should clarify, I'm not doubting the quality of the waves and surfing, but this is pro/comp surfing and there is criteria to fulfill here for the score. As someone else has mentioned, everyone is frothing, and rightfully so, but when you set the score that high, there is no room to move.
It's interesting re-watching those waves in isolation rather than in the context of a live heat. Last night I watched each one live on the webcast and couldn't fault them in any way - save for Julian's shameless promotion.
This morning watching them seperate from the live event they appeared less exciting and, one or two at least, didn't appear to be worthy of the full ten points.
Might be some merit in Richie Porta's justification of scoring perfect waves: "You've got to feel them. Get chicken skin." Meaning it's emotional, not rational.
I agree Stu watching them live is really exciting; replay takes the magic out of them and reduces it to play station. JW's was a 10 I really can't see how anybody could surf that any better. Jordys were smokers as well. WTF 10 or a bees dick off still awesome surfing in awesome waves why split hairs just sit back and enjoy but I have to get some sleep. The correct people won the heat.
The impact is always reduced on the screen.
But the real view, from the beach, from the people actually witnessing these long barrels and top to bottom power manoeuvres on freight-training double overhead waves, I reckon there would be a lot less argument they were 10s.
'Cept I was watching both on a screen.
I understand some journos heavily promote the authenticity of being there (except of course when they aren't there and argue the other way) but I don't totally buy it. The cameras catch everything these days...hell the judges use the cameras to help their scoring, and as for crowd influence, well, they're supposed to be objective and not swayed by it.
I think what is missed is the impact of wave size on scoring.
You will see a ride on screen that seemed a little overscored. Somebody who was there will tell you that wave was exceptionally big and the ride had everybody hooting and it's really odd that the extra size does not really come thru on the screen.
its a pity the 2 local wildcards didnt have heats with waves happening, they would have scored 10 point waves as well knocking out a couple of the "so called best surfers in the world"
IDK...barrels yeah, and they could no doubt read the wave well, but could those two throw down finishing moves like JJF, Coffin, Toledo, Morais, Jordy et al?
There was some almighty power surfing going on last night.
Incredible surfing stu! You can see the difference's in the whole top 34 when gets amongst proper soild Jbay!
The size of the turns and how much more magnified they are compared to others.
Jorys first 3 turns were already a 7 the rest was crazy and that float would have been out of this world live!
I agree on the finishing the wave and the only one I can fault is the perfect 10 of jordys last time it was soild.
He could have done one more turn.... But who cares I still watch it at least once a week.
The over the top claiming is a sign of the times.
Humility isn't as valued as it once was.
I think they just get so excited. They are as surf stoked as any of us and when they get a ridiculous wave I think it just comes out. JW couldn't wipe the smile off his dial when it got out and it was all about how good was that wave (the 10 fingers was OTT though much worse than the Brazzos - at least some of them are funny). You could see Bourez when he got in he was over amped and had to settle down.
That Ments comp vid Indo D posted..Filthy long dry reef pits...didnt see a claim there
I think comp is way different and particularly with all that energy looking on from the deck it must get everybody super fired up. Plus that was a real power surf comp so they put a stack of energy into it. Conner said he could hardly breathe after his high score and Parko was toast on his last wave. I don't minding them claiming on these waves its the iffy beachies and Mr Medina who gets under my skin. That guy would claim a boat wake.
Its all a show these days!
I believe the surfers where told to "cut" the cool crap and be more approachable!
And put on a show as their are cameras at all angles and we want it to feel bigger on TV and online!
Plus In the air vibe might sway Tue judging a little here and there.
Call me skeptical but i think the claims are about one thing only adding drama that gets a reaction from crowd that helps influence the scores of judges.
If the surfer claim and crowd goes crazy judges being human can be swayed into pushing the score just a little higher than they might have otherwise given.
Interesting point
Good comments!
Hard to judge long sweeping point with postage stamp shots. Spot on!
Look for recent photo? Reverse sweep shot of J Bay (Takes your breath away)
Maybe get out the speedgun... go for a record.
I too am not ashamed to lick a bowl of J Bay captain's table slops.
Pro's are throw'n xmas hams overboard while Gold Coasters are strawing soup. Hooroo!
Everyone is getting 10s in JBay
Elite athletes in all sports "claim" when they win or do something amazing. It's a natural show of human emotion. You could go as far as calling JJF's "stiff body step off" at the end of his waves as a "claim" of sorts. It's all good I reckon. Express yourself. What's to be gained by being a shrinking violet in those heightened moments. Be humble but be stoked!!
Agree with a few, some are 10s some maybe not, splitting hairs really, anyway, still some of the best surfing going down, amazing contest
I don't mind the emotional pump yourself/crowd up claims after plus 8.0 rides. Especially as the comp progresses. Who wouldn't be fired up after a Jbay freight train.
It's the "I just got a 6.0 can I please have a 7.0" hands up begging/fist pumps in the early rounds that don't look so flash.
By the way, hard to think of a more dramatic day in competitive surfing in recent times.
All time.
All that claiming seems like a bit of a wank to me.
When Tyson was first coming up and knocking everyone out Cus D'amato used to ask him "Why are you celebrating and jumping around at the end of your fights as if its an accident that you won? You've been doing this stuff in the gym everyday".
Mario Balotelli the Italian soccer player said "When I score, I don’t celebrate.
It's my job, does a postman
celebrate when he delivers post?"
I know this is the sporting arena and passions run high but for fuck sake boys tone that shit down