WORLD TOUR AND FANTASY SURFER CATCH UP AND PREVIEW
FIRST OFF… BEEN SLACKING ON THE COVERAGE LATELY, SORRY.
Secondly, a bunch of crazy stuff has been happening lately! I don’t know where to start… Parko, things have almost never looked better for the bloke. He’s in the lead and his throwaway score is a 9th place finish! He’s yet to win an event this year but he’s made 3 finals earning him 3 second place finishes, got 3 equal 3rd place finishes, one 5th and one 9th. That’s an extremely impressive year. With over 5000 points separating him, Slater, Fanning, and John John Parko is right were he needs to be to FINALLY WIN the World Title he deserves. With a title race so close it’s all going to come down to pipe but the Steamers Lane Event will greatly influence what will need to happen in Hawaii for Parko to hoist the trophy that has alluded him for so long aloft. I will be watching Parko’s every move.
Next let’s talk about the Gabby vs JW Final. Lots of controversy surrounding this one, LOTS…. I think Shea Lopez summed it up the best; “Did Julian get the score? Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. It was close enough that it was always going to court controversy, especially seeing the heat straddled the paradigms of hollow surf and hi-fi aerials with some fine examples of both. Judging is a smoky science but a science nonetheless. Scores are given for a reason. Scores are judged against scores. Clearly, no one wanted that final score more than Julian, and if the subsequent brouhaha that is already simmering away online detracts from Julian’s surfing one bit, just go and replay the opening 10 minutes of his semi final against Adriano and you’ll see a guy deserving. This day has been a long time coming for Julian Wilson. His surfing has earned it. His surfing this afternoon earned it. His surfing in the final earned it. He’s earned it.” And if you missed it Gabby cried and walked off the stage not even acknowledging his competitor for his accomplishment. Poor sportsmanship but proof that Gabe will never be satisfied with anything except a win and a World Title.
Slater, everyone want’s to talk about Slater….. and number 12. After what looked like serious momentum in that direction Raoni knocked slater out giving him his 3rd bad result of the year. He’s holding 3 firsts too, and a win at the Lane could change things dramatically but who can really even guess at this point. Can’t wait to see what happens here…
In our small World of the Pioneers Fantasy Club things have been fun for me at least!!! From 25th to 5th to 12th to 7th and then back to 12th!!! I feel a bit like Slater minus the wins!!! Good results mixed with bad results! My only prayer is that I pick very wisely for the next two events if I’m to achieve my goal of finishing in the top 5. At the moment our club leader is in the top 100 and has a solid lead over the club. Not out of reach but pretty close. I’m shooting for two 1000 point finishes to finish the year!!!
Here’s what the top 15 looks like in the club;
So who you gonna pick for your O’Neill Fantasy team? I’m thinking guys that have surfed well all year and cheaper guys that have had some experience out at the lane and in cold water. If it’s big it’s going to favor the surfers who can really use the rail and if it’s small then guys that surfed well at Trestles will do well here. Here are Shea’s picks, he makes some good points but you can never be sure.
Here is the event trailer, adjust your team and get hyped!!! The Coldwater Pro starts in a week!