The interaction between CT surfers and punters in the lineup, during contest windows, is one of the more unique aspects of professional surfing. You don’t get to drive the track with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, there’s no walking onto centre court with Sabalenka and Sinner for a hit-up and Messi is never going to pass you the ball. However, you can paddle out alongside the world’s best pro surfers and trade waves with them when they come to town – particularly if they show up early for an event or the lay days toss up conditions that are great for practice but not optimal for competing.
There’s no doubt there are moments when the World Tour pros wish everyone would clear the water so they can hone their acts and get familiar with a break. Unrestricted lineup access to pros also means the whole fan-boy/girl thing can be taken too far. I’ve seen a gaggle of adoring groms tail a pissed-off Kelly Slater around a lineup until he was forced to paddle up the beach to another bank… Kelly is a different thing though, he has that effect on people.
Most of the time the pros accept they are a nomadic tribe making short-term visits to places that have their own, well-established local identities and lineup idiosyncrasies. While the traveling pros are typically made welcome, people still want to ride their waves and participate in their surfing rituals while they are around. The surf towns on tour are temporarily reshaped by the surfers and their respective entourages; any frustrations about the diminished wave supply are offset by the excitement of seeing the world’s best ripping in your backyard. Both parties have to work hard to keep the balance and there has been examples of bad behaviour from both camps at various locations in years past, but generally it all works out.
Meanwhile, sometimes the presence of the pros in the water creates a framework for serendipitous moments of goodwill.
Take the example below from a recent session in the lead-up to the Rip Curl Pro Raglan. The following note was sent to us from Kiwi correspondent, Luke Shaw.
In the water today at Manu Bay when I crossed paths with Matias Sandoval — an Argentinian beginner surfer, who’d made the trip to Raglan to surf alongside the pros.
Right place, right time, he finds himself on a set wave. No idea what he’s doing, just picks a line and holds on. He scores. Comes back out over the break but there’s nobody around to share the stoke — so he paddles straight up to the nearest surfer. “I just rode the biggest wave of my life; I can’t believe it. Did you see it?” The surfer smiles: “I did. You killed it.”
Matias soaks up the moment; the other surfer paddles deeper. Matias had no idea he’d just shared his biggest wave with five-time WSL champion and Olympic gold medallist, Carissa Moore. A moment of pure sporting joy, no context needed.
Well played Carissa.
Matias, now we all know about your wave …
