No Jacks Pro(QS4000).
Yes Margaret River(CT Event #2).
Like Red Light / Green Light.
Ironic.
‘Surf City’ Huntington Beach, one of the busiest beaches on the West Coast, my home town which is surfed all year round, all day long, closes down the water due to a (supposed) shark sighting. The reported sighting was Thursday after the event, and it happened in the Contest Zone.
Meanwhile, over in Western Australia at Margies, a wave well known for its grey suit visitors, where the WSL had to put the event on HOLD, pack up the site, and move it to Uluwatu due to a Shark in 2018, that contest is ON.
These events in Australia are so tough to watch because of the timezone difference. Typically I have to go back and re-watch the Heat Analyzer to get the full details. To be quite frank, I’m not super bummed out that I have missed a lot of these first two events live. The waves have been terrible.
Anyways, they ran the Quarterfinals for both Men and Women, and I would rather be surfing in the Jacks Pro here on Southside than what they are forced to surf today at Margs. It is absolutely horrid. Lumpy, bumpy, mixed up, jumbled, just complete scrambled eggs on toast. As I am writing this there is some kind of “Celebration Heat” – whatever the fuck that means – out in the water. I saw Jacob Wilcox back out there and I turned it off. I think they’re just trying to wait out some conditions? Hopefully. They need to get this comp over with. It’s dragging at this point.
So, quick Quarters catch up.
MENS
HEAT 1
Sammy Pupo vs Joel Vaughan
Sammy has some serious mojo going early on this season. I’ve been hearing a lot of people, mostly Australian – which is interesting in itself, calling for Sammy to have a huge year. He had a Quarters showing at Bells, and he clipped Joel Vaughan in this one today, moving on to the Semis.
Sammy’s first wave was an up-and-out. He then proceeded to drop a 6.50, followed by a 7.50. Joel made this the heat close in the end, dropping his best number on his last ride, a 7.33, but the younger Pupo brother was fully in control of this one.
HEAT 2
Crosby Colapinto vs Gabriel Medina
Through the first two events, the Colapinto brothers have had the best showings for USA Surf on Tour. Crosby got through his brother in R3, and is now trying to match Griff’s Semi-Final finish at Bells. Unfortunately he came up against the toughest name in the draw.
Medina is back. SO back. Like he might win the Title very early and easily, back. What are the betting odds, anyone?
Crosby was surfing good. He had the upper hand early, got the nod on the first exchange. He had a pretty nice 3 turn combo for a 6.50. All to say, in the end he was chasing a 9.37.
If Medina doesn’t Win, something wild derails him.
HEAT 3
Yago Dora vs George Pittar
Closest heat of the round on the Mens side. Yago put up both his numbers on the left, which was interesting. Both guys took off on a wave with under 10 seconds remaining. They actually split the peak. When they were taking off, GP was chasing a 5.68.
Yago betters his backup, dropping a flat 6 for a carve down into a closeout Larry that he had to fight to ride out of. GP fucking Pins a snap right in the guts of a big section, followed by a strong wrap, albeit cut a little short, and finds a finish. Even after Yago bettered, whatever Pittar needed he was going to get. Clutch performance.
HEAT 4
Italo Ferreira vs Ethan Ewing
And, this was the upset of the round. Maybe not to Italo.
If Ethan has a kryptonite, it’s bad conditions. He loves to drop anchor and sit and wait. Wait and sit. Wait and wait and wait for a wave that’s going to provide him the score. If it doesn’t come, well then it doesn’t come.
Italo, on the other hand, would like to catch 15 waves per heat. I think he has said as much. He surfs his way into a rhythm.
Exactly as I’ve laid it out, is exactly how it played out. Italo had two falls before he dropped a 6.50. There was one massive throwaway air before he took the lead on a little clean(er) inside wave – 5.50. Ethan caught two waves and then sat and waited. Waited and sat, looking for a 7.17, which never came.
WOMEN
HEAT 1
Gabby Bryan vs Sawyer Lindblad
These two surfed against each other in the Semi’s at Bells, and I made mention of Sawyer giving the eventual event winner Gabby her toughest test. This time around, Lindblad looked like she was not going to be denied. As strong and powerful as Gabby is surfing right now, Sawyer was sending it as hard as she could into the biggest section she could find. She was fighting for every ride out, and in the end it was in the judges hands. They decided to give her the number she needed, and Lindblad is on to the Semi’s.
HEAT 2
Caroline Marks vs Lakey Peterson
Old guard vs the older guard. I don’t think that’s rude to say; they are athletes. I’m not commenting on age as a bad thing, that is just the dynamics of this heat.
Really low scoring affair. Neither surfer in the double digits. Lakey’s opening ride was the best of the heat, and Caroline played the Ethan Ewing game. C.Marks also left the heat in the judges hands. She needed a 5.45 and took off on a wave right before the buzzer. Sleepy two stage cutback, into a top turn on the inside section. It was never going to be enough, and Lakey Peterson advances.
HEAT 3
Molly Picklum vs Luana Silva
This could be viewed as the upset of the Round. Luana just straight up bested the World Champ. To me it looked like Molly was clearly riding a much bigger board than she was used to. Maybe Luana was riding more volume as well, but it didn’t look that way. Turns were sharp, she looked lively on her feet. She had one snap that she fell on, right on the inside section – if she pulls that turn I’m calling 9.5 at least. Insane effort.
HEAT 4
Caity Simmers vs Caroline Marks
Last but not least, the heavy hitting heat. World Champ vs World Champ. 14.50 to 14.07. Ripping going down in this one, and a really cool heat to watch. Carissa being more of the athlete and Caity being more of the ‘artist’, if you will.
Caity caught 2 waves, but that ended up being all she needed since she’s now got the high score of the event – 8.50. Carissa was right there, and to be honest, I dont have a fucking clue how the judges didnt go excellent on her 7.57. That was better than a lot of the waves from the Mens. Very close heat here, and from my (insanely tired) eye test, Carissa may have gotten the stick a little.
So we’re down to the Nitty Gritty. Hopefully the conditions are a little better tomorrow, or whenever they finish this marathon. Here’s what we’ve got left:
MENS
SEMI 1
Sammy Pupo vs Gabriel Medina
SEMI 2
George Pittar vs Italo Ferreira
WOMENS
SEMI 1
Sawyer Lindblad vs Lakey Peterson
SEMI 2
Luana Silva vs Caity Simmers
Also, a very full day down here at the Jacks Pro today (Saturday). Was a 7am start, and I caught the first few heats of the day (R64) before heading to a Little League game. Mens is now onto Round of 32 running later today, with Womens R32 in the water now. Full rundown going to be up on the site later tonight. Back soon.
Until then,
Cheers.
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield