Was reading an article on another sport and the use of PED's and it got me thinking about PED's on the world tour and whether they are used. My opinion, i dont think so. I dont really see the benefit. Surfers arent strength athletes. They need to be quick and explosive, but not like a running back or olympic weightlifter. They need endurance, but dont require the recovery of a cyclist. In most other sports, I think PED's are somewhat the norm (at the highest levels). Surfing, I dont think so. its much more of a technical skill than anything. yes i think that endurance, strength, speed are all very much a part of surfing, but to get to that elite level requires more technical skill than anything and i just dont see how PED's can really play a role. Thoughts???
As you get along in your years, coffee & an occasional aleve is all you should need to maximize DP seshs.
Bullsh*t. They would definitely help. They said the same thing about baseball, "It's an acquired technical skill, hand-eye coordination, not raw athleticism like running backs." Yet more than half of the MLB was juicing. Is Slater juicing to remain competitive at his age? I don't know- his polished image makes him difficult to doubt. But remember that at one time, Lance Armstrong had an untarnishable image; the super talented goodie boy. And look how that turned out. Then there's guys who use or abuse other drugs- if they are competitive enough to make it to the top, and to deal with the contest circuit BS, and they use many other substances, why would we doubt that they would use PED's? Give someone a personal trainer and nutritionist, PLUS some power-roids, HGH, amphetamines, and whatever other juice that Lance took, and they'll definitely surf better.
absolutely they would help...EPO or some derivative to help increase paddling endurance (surf longer w/ less fatigue & quicker recovery=improve more rapidly), steroids to increase explosiveness in all aspects...paddling (gotta win those paddle battles to establish priority), in turns (more power=more spray=higher score), in the air (faster rotations, higher punts), HGH to increase or maintain muscle mass...some (but a very few) have suggested that slater's used HGH in the past, but like slashdog said, it's hard to get past his squeaky-clean image (lance, unlike slater, always had a large group of doubters). mick fanning has had steroid use accusations flung about both anonymously & not so anonymously. at the elite level of any sport, small differences are what separate the champ from the runner-up. that's why they nit-pick over the miniscule details of board weight (oz's matter) & dimensions (down to 1/16" or finer), & fitness & nutrition. if no one on the 'CT has tried PEDs, i'd be hugely surprised. there's just too much at stake for them NOT to have done so.
From the ASP: Did the death of Andy Irons have anything to do with the policy’s introduction? Instituting an anti-doping policy was always something that the board of directors wanted to do. But I think it’s safe to say that someone like Andy passing away expedites that. We’re going back to a time where the ASP didn’t have a huge amount of resources, but the board of directors felt it was necessary to activate a policy at that time. Everyone including the surfers were unanimously supportive of it. Can you guarantee that every surfer will be tested this year? Athletes, coaches, trainers, judges, media and staff can and will be tested, but selections are entirely random. Part of the injection of funding means that more people will be tested. It’s not a cheap exercise, but it’s part of the ASP’s commitment to make the policy more robust and package it into a comprehensive athlete service program. In terms of disciplinary action, is there a difference between recreational drugs and performance enhancing drugs? We have a two-fold approach. Anyone who tests positive for PEDs will immediately be suspended for however long the disciplinary committee rules. And it would be publicly announced immediately. For recreational drugs, it’s sort of a three strike rule. The ASP is focused on education and rehabilitation if a surfer tests positive for those substances. Our policy is consistent with a lot of other sports out there. So if somebody gets one strike, would we hear about it? You would hear about it on the third strike. The third strike warrants suspension and a ruling, just like the PEDs. We feel it’s important to protect the surfers and their privacy and focus on getting them the help they need. The policy is important for the surfers in that regard. And it adds legitimacy to surfing. We feel as though it’s an effective way to safeguard both the surfers and the sport. End Quote.... So, yes, are a few guys "doping", probably.... But it seems like a VERY LAX recreational drug policy, which probably indicates an level of honesty between surfers and the ASP with regards to pot smoking etc. Sure, it would help absolutely... But I don't think surfers really require the same kind of PEDs as other competitive athletes. I would assume they probably take diet pills, or things of that nature that aren't really muscle building PEDs, but are meant more for general body maintenance.... I am no ASP pro, but I won't even drink coffee before I surf, or even golf for that matter. Having increased adrenaline or a level of roids would make my body uncomfortable. I thinking being on edge in the water is a bad thing. I think regardless of the scenario, a solid state of mind and calm set of muscles and nerves in imperative to good surfing and making good decisions in the water... Its all about zen and calm, not being all jacked up on PEDs trying to crush a baseball.
I want my athletes to run faster, turn harder and cutback all the way to carolina I say let em do drugs, more entertainment to me and if they die young, its ok, they hate life after sports anyway (Daniel Tosh paraphrase)
surfing and drugs go together like peanut butter and jelly. it's not about who's the strongest or has the highest hemoglobin levels, it's about reaction time and reflexes. these guys have the reflexes of houseflies to be able to squeeze in 5 hacks and an air at Huntington, or take the doggy door out surfing 10 foot Backdoor. so my take on it is, the Juice, HGH, or EPO isn't really a good fit for pro surfing. amphetamines would probably do the trick...well I guess they give you super human strength, but then you gotta crash at some point after a few days of tweaking. i don't see how PEDs would help much at all because contests go on for days on-end. let's face it, the first crew that charged Mavericks wouldn't have done what they did if it wasn't for meth. a lot of those guys admitted it.
If PEDs would not help neither would fitness. Most of the top pro's are huge in to fitness these days and they claim it's helped them tremendously. If training helps then PEDs would only help more.
I am a big fan of Kelly, ever since he was a skinny kid from Cocoa Beach flying through the shorebreak at Sebastian Inlet, turning heads as a young grom. I think it would be naive to say he has not at least done some sort of hormone therapy. His skill level and inner fire keep him at an elite level, but c'mon. Unless you are made of something other than flesh, blood, and bones, to withstand the rigors of heavy surf and extreme travel year in and year out, getting pounded by all those waves paddling out and not making it out of thick sick barrels like the finals in Tahiti, Kelly must be doing something extra to stay healthy and super explosive for so long. If I am wrong I apologize for being so cynical, but who was it...Alex Rodriquez? He was thought of as squeaky clean at one time. Now he is the poster child for PED use.
If Kelly is taking something he would be the biggest hypocrite on Earth. He is always preaching about what you should put in your body. He talks about his diet constantly and how it has helped him get/stay fit. Everything he says is all about a clean lifestyle... Could he be a liar, sure. But, I don't think so
steroids wont make u surf better.maybe youll paddle harder,but u wont get deeper in the barrel or throw a turn that will wake andy irons out the grave. now as far as other sports like football,let them do the joose.im not a baseball fan,but I do remember the mark McGuire days.its called juking the system. nowadays in pro surfing,if Kelly slater tested positive for pot they would take his 11 world titles.how pot makes u surf better,im still trying to figure that one out lol.I remember last year or maybe 2 years ago some pro tested positive for pot that just won a contest and they disqualified him and didn't give him the win. why anyone would do joose still has me baffled.drugs are supposed to make u feel good,not look like Arnold swarzenegger.lol at my old job,the bosses son sold hgh lol.my boy had it im like where da fuk u get that from?
Interesting read. When I first came across Modafinil, it was through a friend in the tech startup realm; he told me that it was "what the French Air Force gives pilots on 24 hour missions." Interesting how the article talks about effects on alcohol: "The first downside Borden noticed was ... (that) He couldn’t drink. 'I went out for a drink, and then I had another drink. And because I was so energized and focused, I got drunk faster. It kind of freaked me out ... Almost like mini-blackouts. I very quickly cut out alcohol.'” At around 11am on St. Patricks day, this friend of mine took Modafinil, and started drinking. At 3:30 am the next day, he stopped drinking, after many of his friends had faded away. I would imagine it could be very helpful to surfing. But I've never tried it and just don't know.
You're thinking of PEDs as sh!t that will get you jacked like a Jersey guido... There plenty of things you can take that will help you and not get big... Does Lance Armstrong look like Arnold? Of course they would help. If you can increase your strength, stamina and recovery it will make you better at whatever you do physically. Look at Mick, Joel, Nat, Kolohe, Taj. They travel with trainers and are on regimes.
