2 amazing surfers and 3 laydays to build the hype! This may not save the WSL, but it definitely will get good view numbers. Maybe the executive board fired the goober that took trestles off the venue too...not holding my breath on that one.
I agree... I think the Brazilians lack power. At least right now. You gotta have power AND flow, AND a strong air game, IMO. Slater... Jordy... guys like that are the full package.
I agree with this, but reality is probably the opposite. Surfing "competition" is treated the same as other competitive sports, much like baseball, football or UFC. It's a race for viewership and the dollars it brings. That viewership is usually a distinct demographic, probably 18-35 yoa, a group that loves flash (often sacrificing substance), views "diversity" as a positive, and most of all, drama. Young people are dollar signs to these people. They prefer guys like David Price to Justin Verlander, a much more solid and humble pitcher. They prefer guys like OBJ or Antonio Brown to Larry Fitzgerald or Jason Witten, 2 future 1st ballot HOFers that rarely drop balls or flap their gums. They prefer guys like Bones Jones to Stipe Miocic. And nobody likes McNugget. And the people running these leagues are fully aware of these facts as well. As much as we old guys may dislike it, Sabremetrics, the infield shift and bat flips are probably here to stay. But I still believe if you're gonna showboat, you should probably look for "in your ear" your next at-bat. With that being said, the air game will be a constant driver in competitive surfing, especially if the crew performing them are deemed "colorful". "Power surfing" really should be treated as at least 50% of judging criteria. But until someone "colorful" shows Sunny Garcia-like power and a Medina-like air game, pro surfing will continue to focus on "flash" as opposed to "substance". That's why they call it "branding"
I don’t know man, Medina/De Souza/Muniz bring some power surfing. To your point though, Totally agree about Jordy being full package. He seems to harness power and flow better than most.
One thing that impresses me about Medina (especially backhand) is how he power gouges a lip then transitions with so much speed and momentum that he harnesses every little bit of wave energy for next maneuver. Slater, I think does this better than most on his frontside...
You could be right... I really don't watch them enough to say. Of all of them, I'd say I'm most familiar with Medina's surfing, and I'd argue his strengths are barrel riding and airs. I wouldn't consider him a "power surfer," but anybody surfing at that level has to have at least a couple power moves in their repertoire.
Medina fucking rips, ever since he bulked up 2 or 3 years ago he can absolutely lay it on rail with the best. Obviously Bourez or Jordy have the size to really add the exclamation point, but to say Medina lacks power is unfair to how much he's worked on it. Italo arguably has the best backhand power surfing on tour as well, not saying he doesn't have the best crab stance at times, but so did Occy to an extent.
I think we're all overlooking JJF for the potential to be a legit full package... power, flow and airs. I know he's a pretty lean guy right now, but he's over 6' and surfs with more power than most others his size. Pound for pound the most powerful surfer on tour... I'd say. I could see him training hard for the next several years and becoming known for his ability to tear waves in half.
I hate medina but i will admit he surfs amazing. But as far as the full package.... power, barrels, and air's.....i really don't think any one compares. It's JJF all day. Medina's close, but because JJF has that power surfing he takes the cake. And this doesn't play into criteria. But let's face it. Surfing is a dance. It's got to be visually appealing. JJF does that. Medina gets that stink big stance at times and telegraphs HARD. Granted, everyone telegraphs to some extent. Especially when it comes to airs. But medina is on the next level of telegraphing. If it wasn't for the excessive telegraphing and claims i might actually like the guy as a surfer
I just watched a couple of replay heats with JJF in the Margaret river comp. He definitely was showing some power through those turns in the windy conditions. Showing some power and finesse!
