Shea Lopez's Brazil Preview
(Monday, April 19, 2010)
Shea Lopez's Brazil Preview
What To Expect As The Tour Heads To Florianopolis
By Shea Lopez
Two events down and three to go...well, at least for the unlucky back 13 surfers that is. After the mid-season cut, the Top 32 will be fortunate enough to compete in a format that allows almost zero chance of being eliminated, before being given ample opportunity to perform to one's potential. After watching the surfing on display this year and the scores being received, I noticed a few tendencies through my internet viewing. These are only my opinions however, and you know what they say about opinions.
The standard tail-slide has made a comeback, disguised and scored as a tail-blow or tail-out in most instances. The new judging criteria has even been rewarding them equal or higher than full-size man-turns that exhibit much greater risk and skill. Also of note would be the safety-airs that have been generously scored so far this year. If an air is performed only inches above the wave, or with the use of both hands on the rails to aid in balance, it should be scored no higher than a floater or foam climb. One more thing - a major flaw in judging has been on the recovery of botched maneuvers. In order to receive the highest score possible per maneuver, a surfer should show proper execution and completion of the maneuver. This is done by never laying back in the whitewater for any amount of time at all, unless of course it is a layback snap. The layback air is NOT a maneuver.
Moving on to who's been ripping. I'm gonna start with three goofies. Tanner G. has blown the back out of every lip to pop up in front of him. In both events he's lost heats that could have gone either way. Against Bede in particular, a case could be made that he was bent over backward in order to receive the full force of Bede's over-scored lip-slide, credit-card air-reverse...ouch.
Another rookie getting it done is Jadson Andre. He continued to impress at Bells with a big win over Taylor Knox. Consistently going beyond vert with power on his backside. Jadson hasn't even had to resort to lip tricks or airs to receive high scores on the World Tour.
"El Jefe" of the bunch, Bobby Martinez, has shown another facet to his surfing in competition this year. Up against Jadson at Bells he completed a near perfect alley-oop to seal the heat win. Already at the top of the goofies on tour, being able to punt when need be, has put him in the race for the title so far this year.
Now for three in form regular-footers. Michel Bourez is Kelly Slater...without the nine world titles and 20 years of experience. When things begin to slow down for Bourez—including his arms — heat wins will be a breeze in any conditions. J-Bay and Tahiti could both offer up a big result for the electric surfer.
Some guys take longer than others to figure it out, Chris Davidson being an excellent example. This year his surfing and heat strategy have looked sharper than ever. A nail-biting loss at Bells put the brakes on what could have been his event. He's won multiple comps in Brazil and if all goes well, look for Davo to continue his rise up the ratings.
Mr. Consistent Mick Fanning looked better than ever at Bells, and Bede made it all the way to the final day as well, but it has been Jordy Smith who so far this year has taken Mick and Bede's ultra-consistency, added bigger moves, and even bigger airs to that same formula. If Jordy continues with this approach heat after heat through the remaining events on tour, he will be challenging for the title come Pipeline.
I hope everyone survived the torture and time difference of Bells. Brazil should be much more pleasing on the eyes — waves or not. And as an added bonus, the time difference won't have you sleepwalking through life the following day. Now watch that swell forecast closely, pick your FS team accordingly, and when doing so, it would be wise to think how desperate some guys should be getting for a result. One more 33rd for the cellar dwellers and it could be sayonara before they know what hit 'em.
(Monday, April 19, 2010)
Shea Lopez's Brazil Preview
What To Expect As The Tour Heads To Florianopolis
By Shea Lopez
Two events down and three to go...well, at least for the unlucky back 13 surfers that is. After the mid-season cut, the Top 32 will be fortunate enough to compete in a format that allows almost zero chance of being eliminated, before being given ample opportunity to perform to one's potential. After watching the surfing on display this year and the scores being received, I noticed a few tendencies through my internet viewing. These are only my opinions however, and you know what they say about opinions.
The standard tail-slide has made a comeback, disguised and scored as a tail-blow or tail-out in most instances. The new judging criteria has even been rewarding them equal or higher than full-size man-turns that exhibit much greater risk and skill. Also of note would be the safety-airs that have been generously scored so far this year. If an air is performed only inches above the wave, or with the use of both hands on the rails to aid in balance, it should be scored no higher than a floater or foam climb. One more thing - a major flaw in judging has been on the recovery of botched maneuvers. In order to receive the highest score possible per maneuver, a surfer should show proper execution and completion of the maneuver. This is done by never laying back in the whitewater for any amount of time at all, unless of course it is a layback snap. The layback air is NOT a maneuver.
Moving on to who's been ripping. I'm gonna start with three goofies. Tanner G. has blown the back out of every lip to pop up in front of him. In both events he's lost heats that could have gone either way. Against Bede in particular, a case could be made that he was bent over backward in order to receive the full force of Bede's over-scored lip-slide, credit-card air-reverse...ouch.
Another rookie getting it done is Jadson Andre. He continued to impress at Bells with a big win over Taylor Knox. Consistently going beyond vert with power on his backside. Jadson hasn't even had to resort to lip tricks or airs to receive high scores on the World Tour.
"El Jefe" of the bunch, Bobby Martinez, has shown another facet to his surfing in competition this year. Up against Jadson at Bells he completed a near perfect alley-oop to seal the heat win. Already at the top of the goofies on tour, being able to punt when need be, has put him in the race for the title so far this year.
Now for three in form regular-footers. Michel Bourez is Kelly Slater...without the nine world titles and 20 years of experience. When things begin to slow down for Bourez—including his arms — heat wins will be a breeze in any conditions. J-Bay and Tahiti could both offer up a big result for the electric surfer.
Some guys take longer than others to figure it out, Chris Davidson being an excellent example. This year his surfing and heat strategy have looked sharper than ever. A nail-biting loss at Bells put the brakes on what could have been his event. He's won multiple comps in Brazil and if all goes well, look for Davo to continue his rise up the ratings.
Mr. Consistent Mick Fanning looked better than ever at Bells, and Bede made it all the way to the final day as well, but it has been Jordy Smith who so far this year has taken Mick and Bede's ultra-consistency, added bigger moves, and even bigger airs to that same formula. If Jordy continues with this approach heat after heat through the remaining events on tour, he will be challenging for the title come Pipeline.
I hope everyone survived the torture and time difference of Bells. Brazil should be much more pleasing on the eyes — waves or not. And as an added bonus, the time difference won't have you sleepwalking through life the following day. Now watch that swell forecast closely, pick your FS team accordingly, and when doing so, it would be wise to think how desperate some guys should be getting for a result. One more 33rd for the cellar dwellers and it could be sayonara before they know what hit 'em.
