Finals day at the Quiksilver Pro France was everything that we love about pro surfing. Julian Wilson and Gabriel Medina went absolute nutty in their highly-anticipated semi-final. One air after another, the two went blow for blow like a couple of fighters in their prime. With a world title on the line you could feel the tension as the epic showdown left you on the edge of your seat.
It begs the question, is the WSL’s Red Bull Airborne really going to take flight?
The best surfers in the world are on the CT. Sure, there are grumblings that the roster should stripped back, making for a leaner, meaner tour and events run and done in a couple of days.
Every surfer on finals day in France had a solid air game. Wilson, Medina, Smith, Callinan, Wright and Zietz. Only Conner Coffin and Adriano let down the group, despite de Souza joining the Tour when he was first tagged as an air guy. They are also just as capable of putting it on rail, offering the whole package, under pressure in 30-minute heats.
The Tour, hate it or love still delivers the best surfers in the world.
WSL’s foray into the sky Red Bull Airborne promised to “unleash upon the surfing world a contest that has been gestating in the mind of recently retired tour veteran and aerial pioneer, Josh Kerr.”
But I’d call it a flop.
It wasn’t punk rock or edgy like the air shows back in the noughties. Instead it was a side show to the main act held in lumpy French baguettes with throwaway airs and surfers self-combusting by having to perform in a 30-minute window. Aside from Yago, Jack and Griff, all with CT experience, everyone else looked trapped under the weight of their own expectations.
The overcast conditions only made worse having to listen to Pete ‘PC’ Mel & and former professional snowboarder Todd Richards trying manufacture some excitement and intrigue.
Freesurfers have been staunchly opposed to competition for decades. Cast your eyes at the roster of misfits the WSL/Red Bull assembled and many are former child prodigies that gave up on chasing points and oversized cheques many moons ago. Chippa, Mason Ho, Albee Layer, Matt Meola, I could go on…
The main drawcards also pulled out of the main event. With a world title on the line that’s fair game. Medina and Toledo would hardly want to jeopardise their titles hopes for 10 seconds of Instagram stardom and money neither of them need.
So, will the WSL/Red Bull romance really go the distance?
The WSL are heavily criticised for their pro surfing product but when you stand back and look at it still showcases the best surfers in the world on the main stage.
Airshows died as the pros incorporated that same above-the-lip business into their repertoire at CT events. Now we have Italo, Medina, Wilson, Toledo and co. All vying for world titles. All keeping us entertained.
The best air guys are super picky with what they put out to the world. Edits take months, each wave scrutinised with tedious attention. A crook back leg, an odd-looking paw and it’s straight to the scrap heap. That’s why when the final cut hits screen, it’s usually out of this world and a long time between drinks.
No doubt the next WSL/Red Bull Airborne event will have ironed out some of the kinks from France. But I can’t see them hanging around. And not everything in pro surfing should be under the same roof.
