Quick Sunday check-in from the flight deck before we’re headed into Finals Day in the coming days. I, too, made it to the land of Pastel de Belém after a Tour de Basque and way too many toll fees in favor of shaving a few minutes off the GPS.
Unfortunately, the circus has taken over the prime real estate in Peniche. Not that I could afford beachfront living anyway, but as a result, I’ve settled somewhere in the dazzling hinterlands – a 50-minute drive from the shiny bright lights of the WSL, feeling more like a poor man’s Hemingway and less like a Tennis Tour journo.
As it turns out, dazzling hinterland romance isn’t the most favorable scenery when you wrestle with early morning solo wakeups, as I completely snoozed through Heat 10 and Heat 11 of Round 32 while the boys returned for the 4th straight day of competition.
Partially woken up by Amazon Prime notifications (Yes, I know I have items in my shopping cart, thank you), partially woken up by the sixth sense of having a big day ahead, I rushed out of the goose feathered pillows into the rental car via the shower, kitchen, the golden throne and back to the kitchen (keys were there).
All hail technology, I recovered my losses by temporarily turning the WSL Livestream into a podcast on my commute en route to Supertubos. On my drive, it occurred to me. Who’s that new voice on the sand gifting us more awkward moments than the Kelly / Andy Irons rivalry?
My iPhone tells me she is an award-winning Brazilian journalist living in the US of A. Paid awards don’t count, Luiza.
Comparing the early Heats of Round 32 from yesterday to the remaining Heats from today felt like watching a different event. For example, Jordy’s matchup against current World Number 1 Barron Mamiya yesterday was a gritty one. It was textbook Europe winter – windy, cold and extremely challenging on the zippy sandbanks. Jordy managed to find two mediocre scores somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean to send Barron packing.
24 hours later, the ocean has settled down. Still sizey but beautifully groomed, supplying sandy pits and fun ramps on a silver platter for John and co. It’s safe to say, Supertubos came out to play, and the back end of Round 32 was some of the more fun competitive surfing I’ve watched (since Hawaii).
Fully aware that what comes next is probably the most overused term in surfing, but if Round 32 was any indication, John John, Italo and Toledo are the most in-form trio in Peniche. One of the three will likely enjoy the champagne spritzers on the podium when all is set and done.
In all seriousness, it was hard to single out names, as a lot of the guys have been putting in solid performances. Kanoa, Kolohe and Cola Bro number 1 have been running red hot through Round 32 and Round 16 after slow-ish starts to their Portugal campaign(s).
The best of the rest, though, has to be Jordy Smith. Sadly no longer with us – competitively speaking, his 9.17 barrel was world-class, only beaten by the shaka-to-bull claim that followed after.
An action-packed Round 16 for the men came to a halt by Renato Hickel’s decision to (temporarily) throw the women back in the basin for their Quarterfinal Heats.
It’s nice to see the only GOAT, Steph, still in the mix (yes, Slater is done) getting her mojo back after a difficult start to the season, taking out Johanne Defay in a pretty fun Heat.
Speaking of done, Tyler and India, the only two other remaining Aussies still rocking the custom jerseys, lost their Quarterfinal Heats against Carissa Moore and Tati West, respectively. Lakey P rounds up the Semis, sending Courtney Conlogue back to the Red Bull Athlete Lounge.
Day 4 did not disappoint. Tati Weston – Webb hasn’t even made it up to the glass for her post Heat interview yet, and Italo’s already throwing down ankle-breaking floaters in the first Heat of the men’s Quarterfinal. If this wasn’t outright entertaining, then I don’t know what is.
I’m calling it. The men’s Quarters have been the most entertaining collective Round of surfing we had seen since the Super Bowl at Trestles last year.
Whenever you have Italo, 2x John, Igarashi – who’ll be wearing yellow Down Under, by the way, Brother and Toledo trying to take each other out, you’ll be witnessing the best competitive surfing we currently have on tour. Period. If you need further proof, watch Italo taking out Jordy or Toledo toying with Connor Coffin. Lethal. Just lethal.
On the other side of the draw, John John lays down John John turns, beating Kanoa Igarashi in a pretty strategy-induced Heat. Kaipo, this woulda been the Heat where your Sun Tzu, The Art of War reference would have worked. This one!
In the last Heat of the day, Grif punted the first perfect 10 of the season straight to the beach for the biggest Heat score of the event so far (17.83). Even Brother had to applaud. Looks like the master taught the apprentice well.
