Yago Dora’s talent has never been in doubt but we have seen him in full flight all too rarely. Finals day in El Salvador was a different story.
Yago clicked into the zone, that illusive headspace all elite sportspeople seek; where they feel invincible and can perform beyond even their own expectations.
The reward for viewers was corked out rotations with skate trick grabs and blistering top turns. The whole symphony of moves performed with the elegance of a ballerina and the spring of an Olympic gymnast.
I’m going to come right out and say it. When Yago is in the right mood and everything is flowing he is arguably the most complete men’s CT surfer in the world right now. Yago’s turns and rail work, particularly on his backhand, come close to matching the style and precision of Ethan Ewing. And let’s face it, although style is not in the criteria it matters.
Yago also has a more dynamic high altitude repertoire than probably anyone else on tour; as many tricks as Italo and more finesse than Medina – probably a slightly higher completion rate than John John these days. Yago has the aerial dictionary down pat and crucially he carries that eye candy style into the skies.
Perhaps Yago lacks the mental fortitude of his training partner Jack Robinson, and the killer instinct of his Brazilian brethren, but the truth is, if the former world champs on tour (Italo, Gabe, John) are at the top of their game, Yago is one of the few who can keep up.
Ok, John John won the event in El Salvador, nailed a ten and keeps singing Cold Play’s biggest hit. (‘It’s all Yellow’). He still possesses a punk riff, raw power quality that has universal appeal. John John throws the kitchen sink out the window with his turns and then catches it before it hits the ground – and then climbs back in the window with it under his arm. This was regularly on display in El Salvador where the walls have a varied-pace and curve. When they slowed down and cupped-out, John could really emphasise his point. The judges eat it up, even when John exits his moves a little roughly, because no one commits to a section quite like JJF. His approach to aerials is similar – hit the launch pad, go as high as you can, worry about the landing once you’ve kissed the sun.
Although John’s completion rate and ability to manufacture airs has arguably suffered since his multiple knee op’s, if the sections are big enough and the airs therefore less forced, then he fares better. In El Salvador he found the landing gear and will draw much confidence from the victory. He hadn’t won an event since the Pipe Masters in 2021 and he’d already lost three finals this year before paddling out against Yago at Punta Roca. Those kinds of stats can make you wonder if that ability to clinch a victory has deserted you. John was always going to make the top five but if he’d arrived there without a win this year, even if he was wearing yellow, the dark angels of doubt might have haunted him.
Caroline Marks’ victory in El Salvador reaffirms her status as arguably the best backside surfer on the women’s tour. Punta Roca does not move at a constant pace or maintain a constant curve. Surfing it well requires the patience and the timing to make the most of those moments when the wave-face bends at a better gradient and the lip invites a snap. Caroline had all this going on to take down Gabriella Bryan, who surprised many with a finals berth that now has her nudging against the top five.
The mathematical spread in the women’s field is tightly clustered, but it’s hard not to feel we are witnessing the ascension of Caitlin Simmers. Caity goes into Brazil in the number one slot and it is rapidly becoming her title to lose. At Trestles she has a higher scoring ceiling than her contemporaries. However, perhaps Caitlin’s weakness is being arguably less well-equipped than some of her peers at surfing in that 75-90% performance bracket, which so often wins heats. Caity’s likes to ‘go big or go home’. This makes her vulnerable to more consistent practitioners, but invincible if she’s on.
It genuinely feels like any of the top ten women could win the remaining events in Brazil and Fiji. Particularly when you have names like Tyler Wright and Tatiana Weston-Webb sitting outside the top five, simmering with discontent and ambition. The last event in Fiji seems particularly wide open for the women, who have already proven their barrel-riding prowess at Pipe and Teahupo’o. Like Pipe, Fiji can be a little rogue and shifty – less well-defined than Chopes. It presents a different kind of challenge.
Meanwhile, with two events remaining before the finals, the last two slots in the men’s division still look pretty volatile. Jordy Smith and Ethan Ewing at numbers five and four respectively look a little vulnerable as focus turns to Brazil and Fiji. Medina, Ferreira and Dora are only a few hundred points away from Jordy (finishing one place ahead of him should facilitate a rankings leap frog) , who must feel like a fox with the hounds closing in. On paper, Brazil is not Jordy’s favourite event and it seems highly likely he will hand his spot to one of the Brazilians nipping at his heels. Jordy could well reclaim it in Fiji. Meanwhile, Ethan Ewing can match them on rail but if Italo, Medina and Yago are tossing airs, spurred on by screaming South American fans, Ethan is exposed. Although he finished runner-up to Yago in Brazil last year, a smart bookmaker would be hard-pressed to give him better odds than the trio of Brazilians who sit just outside the five.
John John, Griffin, and Jack Robbo are mathematically more secure in their top three slots. John is way out in front but will be desperately hoping that the Brazilian triple threat of Dora, Medina and Ferreira don’t sneak into the top-five. It doesn’t matter how far in front John or anyone else is, once the top five lands at Trestles advantage goes to the Brazilians if they make it. Even on home turf at Trestles Griffin Colapinto would need all his much talked about powers of positive thinking against a Brazilian flying squadron who can launch at will. John can boost just as high but needs bigger ramps than Gabe and the gang. As mentioned earlier, Ethan Ewing can match them on rail but, under the current criteria, he is exposed by the high-flyers.
There are certainly more plot-twists to come on both sides of the tour before we hit the finals. As fans all we can really do his hope the waves show up to provide a platform that encourages riveting performances instead of celebrated mediocrity; and maybe a cameo by wildcard Kelly Slater playing the role of dream-slayer as he blocks someone’s path to the top five with a vintage performance in Fiji. It’s a way off, but surely Vahine Fierro deserves a wildcard to Fiji after her Teahupo’o win. Who knows, by then she may also be an Olympic gold medalist.
