Is the WSL still interesting?

I only like watching when the waves a huge and having nothing else to do, which is RARE.

 

I get where Cuda is coming from with the exploitation angle. I don't necessarily buy that 100%. I think technology in general has had more to do with where we are in our favorite spiritual past time. Pro surfing has been hanging on as a legit "sport" for some time.

I was able to watch the Pipe masters live this past month (which I have done numerous times). There were some really good barrel rides (especially Gabriel's...it was totally legit in terms of the wow factor and seeing it live). There was also the vibe and hype during the day for the title and the triple crown and then the event itself. It was actually an exciting day and really fun.

As the year goes (and the schedule), most events are kind of lame. I look at it more as a past time while at work versus "fanship". You don't need facebook to view...

 

Anything I can see on my phone, I can put on my tv via Chromecast.

You're probably thinking "what in Sam Hill is a Chromecast, dadgummit?!?"

Chromecast is a newfangled device for whippersnappers to make moving pictures on their pocket size telephone (non-rotary), and make it appear on the Television!

 

ummm...this?

 

I don't watch competitive surfing at all, but I gotta admit that those Kelly/Gabe highlights from this year's Pipe Masters were absolutely amazing.

 

Lot of effort to watch a bunch of morons, each doing exactly the same thing (airs). BTW, head high....who is Sam Hill?? <grin>

 

Shouldn't you know who he is?

Anywho, I googled it: Sam Hill is an American English slang phrase, a euphemism or minced oath for "the devil" or "hell" personified. The "Sam" coming from salmon and "Hill" from hell.

 

You mean my pal, Beelzebub??!!??

 

Agreed on that.

I was trying to watch a contest, maybe one on the big wave world tour, and I swear I could not watch it without putting in my email and signing up for facebook or google plus or something. Who knows.

 

What I mean is that you're old!

 

Am not!!

 

I hate the idea of competitive surfing. But im not going to lie, i used to enjoy watching an event. Especially the night before a sesh. Better than the garbage on tv sometimes. And although watching an event in good waves is awesome, i do enjoy watching them surf crappier waves. Interesting to see how the world's best approach more average joe type of conditions.

One, maybe two big reasons i stopped watching.
1) the judging went to absolute shit. I get a close call and all that. But iv noticed more and more scores that literally make no sense. At all. This one i guess is arguable but when medina pulled off a big air, at pipe (barrel contest), and knocked fanning out of the title. I just didn't get it. The air was great, but they SAY criteria changes depending on event. Meaning at a wave like pipe, they want to see barrels. Yet they score an air that wasted the entire wave. That was the beginning of the end for me. Jbay, last year i think. Dudes claiming waves while the wave is still going. Wasted the second half of the wave for a claim. That should be considered when scoring.

The final nail was the Facebook thing. Don't have one and don't want one. If i still found the events interesting i might of download the app or created a FB just to watch. But at this point I'll just pass.

 

Same here....watched quite a few of the 2018 events without ever needing FB.

 

I stopped watching when Occy got fat.

 

I'll watch the good events/heats if I know they are on... I don't have facebook and I have no issue

 

I was a big TB fan, so I lost interest when he retired.

I enjoyed following when Slater, Fanning, Parko, and TB were all in their prime competing against each other. It was kind of like Slater vs. the Aussies.

I can't connect as much with the new faces.

 

The biggest thing is the way social media and youTube have changed the landscape. 10-15 years ago it was an amazing thing to be able to sit at your computer and watch a surf contest live from half way around the world. Back then myself and a couple of my co-workers wouldn't get much work done when a webcast was on. We might even go in the boss's office and watch it on better monitors. Don't think the WSL is relevant anymore in the way it was back then. If there is an incredible ride at Pipeline I'll see it from five different angles on youTube or Insta. I get my surfing media fix via youTube and Insta. Not much interest in tuning in to listen to mind numbingly stupid commentary to fill dead air time between ridden waves in a 40 minute man on man heat while someone sits on priority. Sure as hell not watching a wave pool webcast or ever paying for a pay per view pool event.

 

Two Questions:
1. Surf ranch aside, Slater is fading into the competitive surfing sunset. Is there another American surfer out there ready to challenge the world's best at an elite level year in and out? This leads to my next question.
2. Why does Hawaii get it's own surf team? Why can't they be part of the rest of the US?

 

1) There is me!!
2) hawaiians do not like you or me, or any white guy that doesn't talk pidgin inglich--you need to do that to be cool. Also, you have to consume loads of meth.....

 

GRIFFIN COLAPINTO this kid