Day One at the Ranch
LEMOORE, California/USA (Thursday, September 6, 2018) – The inaugural Surf Ranch Pro presented by Hurley commenced today in Lemoore, California with the world’s best surfers taking on inland California’s man-made wave, the Surf Ranch. Surfing in a format new to the Champion Tour (CT), eighteen men and ten women tested the leaderboard structure today at Stop No. 8 on the World Surf League (WSL) CT.
The competition today and tomorrow host the Qualifying Rounds, where each surfer will surf four waves each (two rights and two lefts). On Saturday, all competitors will have one last chance to make the Final with two more waves (one right and one left).
Kelly Slater (USA), the wave’s co-creator and 11-time WSL Champion, ignited the day’s performances with a big 8.50 (out of a possible 10) on his right-hander in Run 2 and totaled a 14.57 (out of a possible 20). Slater’s opening run was easily forgettable, but he came back firing to make up for it and now holds the No. 1 spot for the men’s event.
“For us first guys going it’s a lot of pressure on us to set the standard so we can be in the mix later,” Slater said. “I feel like I surfed the left better on my first wave but the second one I was chasing and not transitioning well. The first run was below average. I fell on both and felt like I should’ve been a touch deeper. But, just the way the tube section works, sometimes the wave slows down right there and forces you out then you just pull back in.”
Surf Ranch Pro Trials winner Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) surfed the event’s first wave to the tune of an average 4.50, letting his nerves prevail. Ohhara recovered on his second run for a 6.00 and still has two waves to showcase his talents.
Pat Gudauskas
Joan Duru (FRA) took over his opening day runs against Keanu Asing (HAW) and Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) after following up on his second run right-hander with explosive backhand surfing to garner a 6.23, which moved into No. 2 on the overall standings. However, Ian Gouveia (BRA) came out and took the No. 2 from Duru with a 7.23 and 7.10. The Brasilian has put his time in at the WSL Surf Ranch, coming up from Southern California every chance he could, and it’s showing in his early performances.
“I just wanted to go out and get two good scores so I could really push it Saturday,” Gouveia said. “It felt good to get that 7 on my second left after getting a decent score on my first try. I’ve been out here as much as I can to learn this wave because it’s still so tricky, but the more you surf it the more comfortable you can feel. I’m looking forward to the next one and going for more to stay in for the finals.”
Tomas Hermes (BRA) made a charge up the leaderboard to No. 3 following his terrific display of WSL Surf Ranch knowledge, but it was Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) who topped Slater for the highest single-wave score of men’s opening day with an 8.67 after locking into a deep barrel ride and then delivering multiple power turns. The Kauai, Hawaii, native knows the importance of this event and is eyeing down a much-needed result, but sits just outside the top 8 on the standings after Adriano de Souza (BRA) pushed him out with a solid performance.
“I’m kind of on the bubble at World No. 21 and there’s a big point gap so I’m just trying to climb up there with a big result,” Zeitz said. “I was a little nervous after the test event since it suited the smaller guys more, but after getting that 8.67 I know it can be done. The goofy-footers have a little more room to move on the left, but it’s definitely the most level playing field that surfing’s seen and in that case the best surfer should win.”
The world’s best women followed suit with impressive surfing. Coco Ho (HAW) leads the pack with Californians Sage Erickson (USA) in second and Courtney Conlogue (USA) in third.
Wrapping up a brilliant day of competition, Ho shook off her subpar practice waves and delivered a jaw-dropping performance. The ten-year CT veteran stepped up with the day’s top single-scoring wave of women’s competition, an 8.17, and heat total of 14.94.
“I actually fell on my first two practice waves, so I didn’t come here confident, but I just hopped on the board I rode in Spain and it felt amazing,” Ho said. “Knowing there’s not a lot of pressure on the Qualifying Series (QS) anymore put me in a good mindset whether I fell on those waves or not. But, we were just laughing about it because the next wave isn’t until Saturday, which I think shows who’s a natural on their board and not able to surf for a few days then come back perform.”
Event wildcard Bethany Hamilton (HAW), injury replacement Macy Callaghan (AUS), andPaige Hareb (NZL) got opening round action underway as Hareb’s backhand attack shined to earn a 13.00 heat total and the outright lead -- but only briefly after Sage Erickson’s (USA)debut. The Ojai, California, native stepped up and delivered on her second right to earn a solid 14.07 heat total heading into the weekend’s third run.
“I couldn’t have anticipated how it was going to feel being in the pool, alone, with the jersey on and I’m happy to say I’m loving it,” Erickson said. “I’m loving competing more than ever in this event because there’s a perfect wave under my feet. Mentally I feel good and my ability has been there this year, but I haven’t had the chance to show that or feel confident. But, here I do being in California even though there’s still a lot of work to do. I’m excited to have my family and friends here this weekend so I think I’ll be in even higher spirits.”
Bethany Hamilton
With the eight surfers completing rides ranging from throwaway scores to excellent surfing, six-time WSL Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), and World Title contender Lakey Peterson (USA) know what’s required of them tomorrow.
During the Qualifying Round, each athlete will surf six waves (three lefts and three rights) over three runs (made up of one left and one right consecutively). The best scoring right and the best scoring left are added together to create each athlete’s total score. At the end of the Qualifying Round the Top 8 Men and Top 4 Women on the leaderboard will advance to Final.
The Final will see each athlete surf another three runs (six waves total) and the male and female surfers with the highest score will win the event.
Competition will resume tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. PST with Malia Manuel (HAW) up first.
Men’s Surf Ranch Pro Qualifying Round Leaderboard Top 8:
1 - Kelly Slater (USA) 14.57
2 - Ian Gouveia (BRA) 14.33
3 - Tomas Hermes (BRA) 14.20
4 - Yago Dora (BRA) 13.80
5 - Joan Duru (FRA) 13.73
6 - Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.70
7 - Connor O’Leary (AUS) 13.56
8 - Adriano De Souza (BRA) 13.56
Women’s Surf Ranch Pro Qualifying Round Leaderboard Top 4:
1 - Coco Ho (HAW) 14.94
2 - Sage Erickson (USA) 14.07
3 - Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.54
4 - Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.00
Comments
I lasted three waves.
Gary's only belief about how long to last is that it should be a little longer than Gary's partner
I lasted 4.
I had nothing else to do either.
I remember as a grom sitting around all day waiting for 30seconds of surfing on Nine’s Wide World of Sports. Whether it was pumping Hawaii or some comp at onshore Narrabeen the VCR was set to record and me and me mates watched it over and over.
Blindboy, Any chance you could get us some honest viewer numbers for this thing.
Just not interested. Can barely be bothered commenting on it.
Pretty boring, lasted about 5 mins
My seven year old daughter goes how come they're all surfing the same? Ironic that a perfect wave creates boring viewing with everyone pretty much surfing with the same repertoire. There's no "wow" and they need to eliminate or reduce the two tubes. Does anyone really care if it was 6 seconds or 12? It's just more viewer yawn time.
Perhaps they could change the judging so that they loose points if they spend more than (say) 5 seconds in the tube and everyone has to do at least one aerial and two nu-skool manoeuvres. Can't believe I'm finding watching powerful hacks, Reo's and deep tubes boring, but The Ranch has managed to do it.
Having said that I soooooo want to surf there. . . .
Have to agree, nothing special to watch but has anyone here surfed it? Perhaps that's the difference, we might be able to appreciate watching it more once we can understand what its like to ride it.... doubt it though. Is the current wave repping the new air section they were spruiking?
If popularity is contingent upon people riding it then they're in trouble, seeing as the WSL is aiming at an audience that can't even surf.
Hey Stu any chance you or someone could give us some honest view numbers on this thing
I cant see how it is not a conflict of interest letting kelly surf this event. He owns/created the wave and could practice on the wave until he got certain combo's perfected.
I'd say undoubtedly it is a conflict and I don't think you'd get too many people saying otherwise. However, what can be done? Who can aggreived surfers complain too? Ol' Baldy's manager runs the WSL. This whole thing, the pool, the WSL, ZoSea, is his product.
Appeal to the law? He is the law.
Surely not too different from Pipe specialists getting into Pipeline.
To a lesser extent, Fanning & Parko have the local advantage at Snapper, plenty of others on the tour who get home court advantage.
Maybe, to a very small degree.
Remember, Slater created this wave, decided how fast it would be, how hollow, were all the sections should be located. Cant really see how that compares to Pipe specialists.
Slater has also doled out the access to the pool. You wanna surf Pipe? Buy a ticket and paddle out. Not so at the tub.
Hopefully they throw it away next year. Or the majority on tour boycott the event. Either way it’s the death knell of the last vestige of pro surfing...
It's on the schedule for next year unfortunately. I too lasted 1 wave. Can safely say that is the only wave I will watch of this contest and I usually don't miss a minute
I didn’t watch . Haven’t watched a heat since Snapper.
Was it truly that shit ?
( fingers crossed - I’m of the feeling now that I want the entire WSL to fail and Dirk Ziff can fuck right back to the rock he crawled out from under )
it really was
i've taped it to watch as a cure for my insomnia
Yes !
Did his poor foot hold up ok?
Its worse then i expected. lasted half of a highlight wave. If the grand scheme is to use this wave or concept as a platform for our sport to appeal to the masses the brains trust are quite more deluded than I thought. However, this is not such a bad thing. I wonder what the "athletes" truly think if they could speak their minds? They seem to just regurgitate the same scripted WSL party politik.
The athletes think - “ holy fuck , I’ve put all my eggs in this pro surfer basket and if the WSL goes arse up then I’m rooted. So yay wave pool !”
Q : How many of the top 34 are stoked to be put on a level small wave playing field with Filipe Toledo ?
A : Not fucking many.
i think we're watching the death of the current incarnation of pro surfing. the wave pool is boring for surfers to watch - must be boring as batshit for non-surfers. (i want to surf it, but don't enjoy watching it.) sponsors pulling out for 2019, facebook debacle, self-inflicted trouble with margs and pipe, no cloudbreak, bad luck with chopes ...
they will need to go to a much smaller, more mobile and more responsive format as many have suggested. strike missions when there is swell to a select few spots with a smaller number of surfers. whether the current water-people-of-the-year hang around to fund that or cut their losses and leave it for the next sucker to fund will be interesting to see.
At least the crew at Trestles California are frothing . They’ve probably got good waves.
And yeah I fell asleep
You have to admit that pool is a pretty bloody impressive piece of design and engineering ........ but then again, so was the Titanic.
I applaud KS for taking what are the first steps for an emerging industry - even he freely admits that this is a work in project .
Sadly, the viewing of this version was hard work.
From the casual observer the wave, format and scoring were geared towards rewarding conservative surfing rather than progressive surfing (In this I saw the modern version of the 1980's "3 reos and grovel to the shore").
Scoring at this wave needs to reward risk early in the ride - perhaps follow mogul skiing and break the course into sections and score a maximum for each (with more points on offer early in the ride than later)........ but this seems to make surfing something more sterile than it means to me.
It's boring for the same reason that vert ramp skating is boring. Just like poker machines, you need the infrequent reward that comes with a relatively randomized output to keep us hooked. When you know what is coming the brain's reward centres don't light up.
At least vert ramp has an element of danger. Zero consequence in the pool.
Nothing quite like hanging up on the ol vert ramp!
Just like going over the falls at pipe on a big day.
world of consequences ........not so much for lemoore.
At least it seems that way. Though i think someone could get truly messed up at Lemoore.
Re foil , Concrete floor, seem super shallow also ?
yes got to agree,i thought the same that it was going to be next level what ever that is but pretty much a replay of the flounders cup.......then maybe this is the next level..
If the left and the rights converged on each other you could have like a jousting knock out comp. Add a sewage slick and away you go.
Gosh that was repetitive and boring last 1 heat.
Is this how the olympics will be?
probably
I enjoyed watching some of it! Pat 's superman effort was where its at! Reward the surfers that really push the limits of surfing just like they do in the snowboarding U pipe comp! Yes most of it is repetitive but pushing the envelope even though its stationary is exciting when it happens!
Competitive surfing? I love it
Wavepools? I love them
Pro surfing in wavepools? Zzzzzzzzzzz
It all seemed good in theory/on paper.
A wave pool creating an even playing field, with guaranteed quality waves.
But it's a failure, not 100% sure why but it boring and i don't think even if the wave shape changed from wave to wave it would make much difference, maybe if it was twice or triple the size it might hold our attention longer, but still eventually be a fizzier.
But i think it's been a good learning experience, and a had to be done, but is it the future?
I think we can all agree a big NO
And that's kind of a relief really.
Wave pools great for a novelty free surf but comps, super boring.
"But it's a failure, not 100% sure why.."
It's like that, eh? No-one can quite pin it down.
Agreed. I was really expecting to watch this event and be blown away by 'something', I just didn't think that something was going to be boredom. I fully intended on watching every wave, which quickly became "All the Aussie's waves", which quickly turned into "Just the 8+ waves" ... Even then, it is a struggle and a great pity at that.
Agree Indo D
Wonder if Slater has made his money back yet?
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/08/surfing-is-dead-long-live-...
'Ain't no gaddam ketchup here abouts ya'll!!!!'
Just gimme some gaddam barton freekin' McAvaney... yeeeeehhhhaaaaaaaaarrrrrrt!!!!??!
No, its just the same old question. Where the fuck is Gaul, when you really need him!
Pammy, and too many years of sun on a nude scone. In a nutshell.
Even the missus said how can you watch this .. that’s saying something
What's missing is the anticipation you have when you are in the ocean
When is the next set coming?
Which wave in the set will break the best?
What moves can I make on the wave as it goes down the line?
Is a shark going to turn up and freak everyone out?
THAT is surfing, not some machine pushing water and creating pretty much the same wave each time (with all due respect given to the engineering involved)
Yep, two weeks out, what are the long range charts looking like? If it's heavy who will it suit more? What are the winds looking like? Etc etc.
Other long form sports. Test cricket, for the aficionados a lot of variables. TdF, different stage types, scenery, crashes, weather, castles. Not enough variables and the wave isn't big enough. As stu said, it's all about the build up to the final day. After watching a bit last night I won't be to fussed with today's action but will probably skim finals day highlights.
100% that's it, its the unknown factor and anticipation.
What's missing is the whole show.
The Nungas... pure genius. 60,000 years plus. They knew all this shit, and more, seminar after seminar, trained by the very, very best there is.
https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/thys-le-nadkarni-brain-nature...
Its still there. Best thing is, the pool trained boyz and girls will never find it!!! And, even if they stumble on it, a ya gotta love ya blax trainin'!!!
I cringe thinking about it. Apparently the Bra boys love it.
That's all right, I met them in the desert. Even called Jeff, tuned 'em to some nice surf, one grey, glassy drizzly arvo. Few phantoms. Just me and them, and their ski, and some sidekicks, for hours. Till the fish came. They were pretty open, they hated the desert. Too hard, expensive, nothing to do they said. And the fish. They bolted in, on the ski. 'Killer' from Chi's (ship jumper they called him), screaming his fucking head off. Again... Offered me a lift to safety. Nah, I paddled through the bay. Ya gotta love ya blax trainin'. It was just a fucking seal. Seen millions of em, played with 'em heaps. The fish love 'em. Still, ya never know.... she'll be right!!! Ya gotta love ya blax trainin'!!!
So so typical
This is about a comp in a wave pool and you still somehow managed to make it about.
1. Indigenous people
2. Yourself
3. blax
Only one thing missing from the four topics you endlessly try to make any topic about is health/fitness
Watching it through the replay, have a limited schedule .
Quite interesting really. So far i think Wilko and Pat g have surfed it the best.
Yeah I thought Wilko looked good as well but have caught top 5 rides from today and they're another level up imo. Event critique aside, if Wilko doesn't post a serious number on his last right he's going to have to smash the QS to be on tour next year.
Hard to go past gabby's first left also.Conner O is another standout! Seems some to surfers a different approach is being taken. New body positioning, different bottom turn top turn lines also.
Gabby's board also looks great. From a shapers perspective it's interesting to watch the actual boards in the water and what's happening.
Any surfers in the event on a quad? haven't noticed yet. On conner O's second right he probably was wishing he was on one.( seems the thrusters can bog/ cav... pretty easy on the foam ball). to much turbulence around the fin so to speak.
Not paying attention to the scores either, which is quite interesting.
Maybe i will judge my own surf ranch winner ?
Kerrupt flip? It's just a 360.
Well as i sit here listening to the Hunters with a beer, I have to say that i was pleasantly surprised by enjoying the wavepool event.Just like a gymnastics floor routine really. I liked the fact that there was no watching perfectly good waves going unridden. I could do other things and time in to watch a wave being ridden and with the sound turned down except for listening to rosie, well I wasn't trying to be swayed by the hype. You have to put a filter on to put this in context, you have to stop yourself for comparing it with ocean/surfing/weather/tides etc etc.You also have to remind yourself that this is not really the future of surfing, it may be the future of a subculture of surfing, so let the toddler be encouraged to be and provide stoke.
Then laugh, smile and grab your board and paddle out.Bugger, caught inside, washed back to shore, walk up the beach and book a flight and buy yourself some farming gear- yee-har !!!!!!!!!!!! Corse not, we can still go surfing and love it how we always have, this is just a beautiful new novelty, something to embrace but knowing full well that at the end of the day, as surfers we are feckin lucky regardless of how we do it, just as long as we still are. happy surfing.
Fuckin' 'ell! The yanks think the aussie rules guys look like a bunch of skinny little dweebs doing weirdo shit, slatts has taken it to a whole new level!!! Somebody needs to tell the poor little buggers about health and fitness, and glutes and muscles and athletic stuff!!! And I know just the bloke!!! Big, pristine, uninjured, raw boned, good lookin'... cunt...
The salient excerpt being -
“ cunt “
Bitcoin boogy blues!!! I like it!! Make a booking!!!
Who is controlling this waves machine? And what are the Indian bookmakers doing milling around in the crowd?
Why are they wearing leggies in a pool? The extra speed / less drag would make a difference, (theres nobody else to hit with a lost board for all the anti no leggie brigade). Pool surfing, boring after 2 rides, i guess it looks like it would be more fun to be surfing it than watching people compete in it
Marketing. Must wear latest leggy, tide watch. What I don't get, need a jet ski to reach other end before 4 minute scheduled wave if you fall 3 quarters from end. Still have interviews during waves when they know when the wave is starting, makes no sense
Notice they don’t show the crowd? It also seems the little amount of people there have to listen to turpel over the loudspeaker, and blink 182 now replaced with social distortion and the brain dead Mike Ness, were blink even gonna play or was it just a ploy to sell some tickets?
So, its official, callin' a new age, surfing has its own bruce. Bbruce. The two b's. Rampaging in the b den.
But, the real winner. I don't blame bbruce. Never have. Literally singing, squwarking for their breakfasts... their lives. In the wild west. Where everything comes at a price. They know she's there, she made sure of that. She knew about pammy... the helpless, listless kid. Seen a million dirks, no big deal, to the best of the best.
Cleaning the barrel. Each hand made bullet, with its own particular mark. Singing and dancin' for their supper, the whole show. She'll give a nod to slatts, even he'll see the cold, steely look, only half hidden by the brim, the curl of the lip, the glint of the barrel. Work to be done. They all sleep with one eye open. She won't care, the hammer drawn, the tears, the grovellin', pleadin', dancin', snivellin'... ppppleeeaasee... click... boom...
Dirk won't even have to make a call. As, who knows, maybe even potts... carefully opens his tablet, and places it along side his folgers, dirk will get his affirmation for the day... just a simple emoji... job done. And as the cleaner picks up the half eaten flap jacks, ants glued in the buckets of syrup, breathing in the stench of fresh diesel, he too will feel cold, hard steel pressing into the back of his neck. And he too will hear the click of the loading hammer. He too, with his mortgage, his broken down jalopy, his wife and kids in the gun barrel sight, will grovel, snivel and dance on command. And his $7.25, will be 'negotiated'... because every cent counts in the wild west, its all that matters in the wild west, in hayseed country. A done, secret deal... And when the cleaner finally turns his head, he won t forget that impression of cold, hard steel pressed into his neck... with his wife and kids next, and he'll thank God for $7.15... plus tips... in an empty stadium. If you're gonna get a gun, a real gunslinger, ya gotta pay big, in the wild west, where everything and everyone has a price.
Recently read about how the human brain is wired to look for and respond to variety or points of difference in what we see. Newness and surprise is a stimulus which creates measureable chemical changes in the brain. We all know this instinctively but it is interesting to know it is a hardwired response.
Wavepools as they stand had a massive newness factor two years ago. However, to hold viewer (and rider) interest they will have radically change their design to factor in:
1. Unpredictable waves
2. Fear - through wave size and mutant warping waves
This is all technically possible, but expensive.
I actually thought as a sporting event it was good, the pressure built on the surfers, some crumbling some handling it well. I'd much rather go surfing than watch surfing, but I'd rather watch competitive surfing than free surfing - just like athletics who can watch a free runner. All that said, I only watched waves online after the event, and only high scores - same way I watch all surfing events, with kids, work etc. who has time to watch sport?
Foxtel iQ allows me to watch plenty of sport after my 2.5yo goes to bed. At this stage he's not to tolerant of TV that isn't his shows but he does love trains. He's a bit slow on the talking as well so he calls trains tee-ta's. Anyway on Sunday morning mum went shopping so I thought I'd do a cheeky surf flick. There was no reaction from my son. 2 seconds latter he went "tee-ta". The swell train had caught his eye. We proceeded to watch 15 minutes of surfing together. Fast forward to early evening and I'm giving him a bath. What does he do? He gets a foam cylinder building block toy and runs it around the edge of the bath aka the wave ranch swell train.
Personally i think this is all geared towards the Olympics and selling wave pools.I found it way too long and a shortened highlights package would be good.Maybe a specialized event with just the top 20 over 1 or 2 days..... surprising was that considering its a man made machine that not all waves were the same,some bigger some smaller and some that didn't tube well especially on the left...also surprised that more risks were not taken as in going for air time.Maybe top 10 only ,$100,000 prize money most radical ride out of 3 rides.