Fiji Pro 2015

[steve shearer]

Nick , you don't think there's a million pro surfer girls about to come out of Lennox Head in the next twenty years? Place is crawling with them. My daughter goes to school with some of them.

Obviously all of those are keen fans, or most of them.

But as far as the rest goes I'm not seeing any groundswell of interest. Obviously that is specific to my circles but they move pretty widely. My daughter, for one. She does squad coaching with some of these super chick groms with Jenny Boggis, former pro. So she is exposed to and influenced by the whole competitive trip, but has zero interest in watching pro surfing of any kind, bar Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning who she idolises.

Yeah. I guess I could find the desperation interesting if it was communicated to me in some kind of meaningful way. I just have no idea of a narrative arc with Sally the way i do with Steph, or Carissa or Tyler Wright.

[crabmeat thompson]

Sal's drive is interesting. it's mick-like but unlike mick, he had the death of a loved one pushing him... with sal, you just don't know where her intensity comes from, and after events, where does it go? she's also interesting in that she's never drank a drop of alcohol in her life. not a drop! i wonder how you reach adulthood in australia and never try alcohol?

there's plenty mystery about her. but for me it comes down to her surfing is a amiss ... her style is too poo-stancey & rigid for me to really enjoy. it's marginally improved from where it was a coupla years back.

tell you who's got a great story which needs telling. tatiana. she's super stylish on her backhand too. maybe even more stylish than most of the goofyfoot men not named gabs and pupo.

[swvic]

This is clearly revealing the subjectivity of surfing

If you're talking male goofys, I love the way Wilko goes about it - especially backhand. Barely any sqirrelly shit at the bottom. His timing allows real turn, real turn, real turn

As for the chicks, There's some really good surfing going on, but for all round watchability in all kinds of surf, Steph is way ahead. Hope she's back soon

[rmb]

How can anyone not have a thing for sal Fitz?

I think she was mentioned in the Wank Bank thread which is now in the Dungeon.

[godsavetheking]

I'm finding myself very indifferent to the whole pro surfing circus at the moment. I watched a bit of a heat in Rio with a little Brazilian fella doing these zippy air reverses to beat a very uninterested-looking JJF and, rather than marvelling at the undoubted athleticism and skill, instead was reminded of a dog scooting its arsehole along the ground to satisfy an itch. That just about did it for me. Women's surfing is, I'm afraid, an appalling spectacle made all the worse by the 'there's no losers at St Barnabas's' scoring and the overarching 'aren't they plucky' narrative.

[Nick Carroll]

TWW is hotter than TPP

Her Dad is a Floridian old boy, a believer from the days of Flea Shaw and Frieda Zamba.

Tatiana herself is as straight up and simply stoked and engaged as she looks. She has amazing glittering blue eyes, something I superstitiously connect with female fearlessness. She is super fun to talk to and surf with. I bet she wins a world title.

Sally, well I guess what you're feeling there is the failure of the world's surf media to really get to grips with these women. One key to Sal is her Dad Martin. He is not controlling of Sal but he is an extraordinarily meticulous person who has guided Sal's career all the way. There's a fascinating story in it.

[swvic]

Is anyone gunna tell it?

Without it, I'm thinking along the lines of Braithy. Too straight sort of scares me. I link it to puritanism

[buzzy]

I personally think Sal's mental strength and drive is a story in itself. Perhaps it's just me but she hasn't been beaten down by perpetually being the bridesmaid. Each year she bounces back surfing better than the year before. What has happened to her would destroy less mentally strong characters - Cheyne Horan? The injury episode is just an obvious manifestation of her mental toughness.

I also think she's really worked on the poo stance - to me that was the major change in her surfing 2014 to 2015.

She was consistently the best surfer in the event. TWW surfed amazingly and smoothed out her style. BB also looked amazing except for the final, where I suspect nerves got to her.

I really hope she banks at least one world title before her career comes to an end.

[offshore1]

How can anyone not have a thing for sal Fitz?

try as I might I cannot muster up even the tiniest scintilla of interest in Sally Fitz. I think the whole Roxy Go Sally perfect Bogan Princess marketing schtick just did it for me. Or didn't as the case may be. The perma grin and seemingly one dimensional cardboard cutout personality which is constantly turned to radiant just offers nothing of any psychological interest.
I can't enjoy her surfing, it's just not quite right.

I know she ticked a lot of sporting cliche boxes today and is a lovely person and genuine as the day is long and is a super athlete and trains really hard, leaves no stone unturned etc etc etc.

And I know I'm not the target market but still. One of the things I notice amongst women surfers is just how little they care about pro surfing of any kind, even when the sisters are doing it for themselves. You'd think they'd need some sporting cache and people tuning in for the contest they way they do for womens tennis.

plus one. She's a sweet girl and a battler but,
Really find her backhand stiff and wooden .

[philw]

a dog scooting its arsehole along the ground to satisfy an itch

Thanks gstq - that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Nearly spurted cheap red wine out of my nose trying to suppress a laugh. Toledos technical mastery reduced to some sort of desparate, all/consuming, shame.

[Beerfan]

Clean living and tries her heart out. I admire that.

[Biggun]

Tats let it all hang out, but apparently thats not what the judges are looking for. it seems you need a slick marketing plan to get your across the line in first place.

IMHO - Owen's little sister is the stand out, more power in her turns, more commitment...she's the Jordy Smith of the womens tour, consistently shreds but doesnt deliver

[steve shearer]

Tyler is still very young and developing a lot of aspects of her surfing and mental approach.

[crabmeat thompson]

does tyler have the killer instinct to win continuously like steph, carissa and sal? she seems really easily satisfied. no pun.

[8]

Tyler is my pick for sure. Good powerful style and goes hard.

[Davros]

S Fitz was gutsy, busted ear drum, over the falls a few times and charges to win.

[Beerfan]

Yeah if one of the men won in that fashion this place would be a chest puffing jizz fest. But she's a girl so it's not as impressive I guess

[foamy]

Apparently, Dane goes alright at Cloudbreak.