Why most pro surfers come from the south.

Originally Posted by zach619 View Post

Got it. They all move to OC MD and DE =) My Dad lives in Bethany, he was telling me that John John Florence's family just bought a house next door.

considering john johns mom,who is from ocean grove nj,ran away from home at 15yrs old because she hated jersey that much,i don't think theyd move back anywhere in the ne.

 

theres actually 6 americans that won the world title,if u include Hawaii,which I don't think is part of the us,like Tahiti isn't part of china but whatever

tom curren
Derek ho
slater
sunny Garcia
andy irons
cj hoobgod

I couldn't keep up with the aussies,but theres quite a few

 

Actually was just thinking about that. Surfing in NJ year around, I rarely see groms in the line up when the water temps call for the thick rubber. I'll see a few out there in the fall and spring when a 3/2 is all you need, but hardly ever when a 5/4 w/ a hood is the required gear.

Was surfing in Florida last week, and saw a couple of groms just crushing it, in particular Tommy Coleman.

I know as a parent I am in no rush to spend the cash on a 5/4 that will be too small in a year. And for the parents that don't surf, I am sure the idea of giving your kid the ability to surf in the dead of winter seems a bit crazy.

Just a thought.

 

this could explain why peru has super wacko-smacko surf spots yet only sofia (big 'only') broke through...

 

And don't get me started on Big Wave Surfing, like billabong XXL. I don't even think Aussies compete. It's all guys from California and Hawaii. I guess Australia just has small point breaks =)

 

Don't forget Will Skudin from Long Island.

 

Come on... Laurie Towner, Mark Mathews, Richie Vaculik, Marti Paradisis, James and Tyler Hollmer Cross are all... There hasn't been a Billabong XXL that they haven't competed for.

 

Yeah, but I was just looking at the winners last night on the XXL website and none of their names are on it. Its the Greg Long, It's Garret from HI even Brad Gerlach was a winner!.... Not saying that there has never been an Aussie into big wave surfing, I am just saying I see all the tropheys going going elsewhere.

2003, Makua Rothman, HI
2004, Pete Cabrinha, USA/HI
2005, Dan Moore, BORN IN JERSEY, LIVE IN HI
2006, Brad Gerlach, California
2007, Ken Skindog Collins, California
2008, Shane Dorian, HI
2009, Greg Long, California
2010, Grant Twiggy Baker, South Africa
2011, Danilo Cuoto, Brazil
2012, Nathan Fletcher, California
G Mac last year.

There hasn't been an aussie, to my knowledge that has won the biggest wave of the year ever. CA and HI dominate that. These guys travel all over the earth for the huge stuff. Guess OZ has a different breed =)

 

Yeah, but there's other categories in aside from Ride of the Year... Guys like Mathews, Hipwood, Paradisis, Towner, Wilkinson and those Holmmer Cross psycho's are always in the mix (if only for Wipeout of the Year)....

And now that Dingo is going the big wave route I bet he'll be have Barrel of the Year in no time.

Those dudes that surf Shipsterns, Ours, and that retarded wave Pedra Branca are a different breed.

 

Ohh, I give those maniacs nothing but respect. I'm just ruffling some aussie feather. Not sure if there are any users from OZ on here, but I knew a bunch that moved to CA and they certainly have Aussie pride. I mean, in their minds, they are surfing. They probably think Kelly was actually adopted from Australia.... Just giving those guys a re hard time.

Like I said, I am sure that no one on this site minds that the USA doesn't put more effort into promoting surfing. Our lineups are crowded enough. But on a national scale, OZ treats surfing the way america treats football, basketball and baseball. Big money. Big marketing. Its looked at as a viable way to become very successful and a well respected industry.

I just think the numbers, or over all volume of Americans would be more substantial if we didn't put surfing behind 250 other sports. With that being said, it doesn't really matter, because the results don't lie and for the past 20 years, it doesn't matter that the Aussies have 50% of pro surfing roster spots and we only hold 20%. Our 20% has proved mightier, all in all, then the masses around the world. I don't care if it's Kelly Slater surfing against 9 Aussies. If Kelly wins, that's all that matter. Anyway, I know there are some big wave charges from OZ, and I know there are other Categories. But I just referenced WORLD TITLES in ASP surfing and the actual winners of "biggest, baddest wave of the year"... The wipe outs are cool, so are the barrels, but the most interesting and respected award amongst them has to be biggest wave.

 

Sid Abruzzi

 

oh wait, Ian Walsh

 

Why most pro surfers come from the south? Casue it's easier to surf when the water is not all sticky with Jersey Shore hair gel and Shredmachine jizz.

 

I hear you... And agree with everything you said except the last comment about the biggest wave being the most respected among them... I'd say the Code Red swell and massive Shipsterns earns more respect among them than "100 footers" at Nazare.... Ride of the Year is the #1 award followed by biggest wave of the year.

 

it has been my experience that this is true. life stops at ocracoke…..

 

i am confident that the south jersey surfers would say (about that) WHOA PAL, THATS THEM; NOT US.

 

True. I hear you there. But I kind of feel about Shipsterns the way I feel about Teahupoo. I think any of these Tow in only places are getting played out as far as innovations go. Its incredible to see, but I don't think the guys at Teahupoo or Shipsterns should be in the same category as some of the big wave riders. I understand that we need PWC to get into 100 foot waves and shipsterns and stuff... It just doesn't appeal to me anymore that much. I think the only real awards should go to the paddlers. That is the only true way to gauge the difficulty and testicular wear-with-all of a guy in the big wave game.

I think its way cooler watching guys paddle into 60-70 foot french reef passes like they did in 2014. That kind of session is mind boggling to me. Those HUGE mavs days, which we havent had in years. Give me Thors Hammer and Killers getting paddled into all day over any of those other spots.

Its a tough call though, I mean they are all SOOOO impressive and the waves are so incredible. But from a respect standpoint, the street cred has to go to the biggest paddled into wave each year.

a 100 foot wave is 100 foot wave, and kudos to G-Mac for cracking that swell and being the only dude at the right place at the right time. Thats exciting, albeit an uneventful ride/wave. He still did it. The illusive 100 footer. I would debate the size, but still.

 

aside from slater, there is not one relevant pro from the east coast.... (not including NJShredmachine of course.)

 

Hobgoods aren't relevant? You don't have to be the best ever to be relevant.

 

Yeah, the Hobgoods have been HUGE to the surfing world. I mean, they do it all, just like slater. They have won the world tour before, they kill it in HUGE surf, small surf and are generally awesome guys... I would for sure give them runners up to the second most important surfers out of the EC for sure. Stand up guys.