WSL Longboard Tour Proposes Four Events In 2023
Since longboarding fell under the WSL/ASP auspices, no two seasons have been identical. Some seasons have had one contest, some have had four. Some seasons had four proposed contests with only one contest running.
Even after the Woz brought in Devon Howard to right the ship, has stability alluded them.
Next season, however, the Longboard Tour is making a play at an expanded and hopefully stable tour, with four stops. Yesterday, they announced the schedule which included a stop in Australia. Surprisingly, it wasn't at Noosa or any of the Northern NSW pointbreaks, but at Bells Beach in Victoria.
They'll also incorporate the CT system of a one-day, winner takes all final. That will be held at Malibu, California.
“We’re excited for the new developments and growth for the WSL Longboard Tour,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, the World Surf League Senior Vice President of Tours and Head of Competition - handily shortened to WSL SVPoTaHoC.
“The intention of the new structure is to create improved opportunities for surfers to compete. We’ve added more tour stops, incorporated wider qualification, and are committed to crowning World Champions in the water with a new one-day Finals-format. We look forward to the 2023 season and beyond to continue to celebrate the world’s best longboarding.”
2023 WSL Longboard Tour Schedule*
- Bells Beach Longboard Classic (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): August 30 - September 2, 2023
- Surf City El Salvador Longboard Classic (El Sunzal, El Salvador): September 19 - 25, 2023
- Longboard Championship (Malibu, Calif., USA): October 3 - 13, 2023
*Fourth Longboard Tour event to be announced at a later date
Comments
Tallest dwarf tour
Haha!
firing Bell's would be epic
Longboard guns would get a boost in development in that case. Or the banana'd longboards of the 90s - eg TC and Glen Winton in comp at Haleiwa iirc
Edit: Big Bells - in August/September! - would be interesting as it would force a change in the style of board ridden from the California style traditional log popularised by JT since about 2000. It's the design increments I find fascinating in the shortboard comps and BWWT, so I'd say longboards are ripe to re-learn some old lessons if things get juicy. Look at footage of Bonga Perkins, for example. Predict less walking to nose in these conditions, more cutties and turns from a central point, too.
I'd go and watch.
Nope the tour JT help invent pretty much bans progressive long boarding and forces cross stepping, knee dropping and plenty of toes to the nose.
Watch former longboard winner HI in clips. He rips on a longboard but that’s not how you score in long board comps. Normal tour rewards progression but the longboard tour represses progression.
someone should start crying about equal pay. :)
How do you qualify?
Is there a Longboard QS?
Sort of. There were seven contests this year, but just three of them were 'championship' comps.
The others were called 'Regional Series' comps, and I assume doing well in those is the pathway to the top.
Qualify through a competition to see who takes the best photo of a sunset shining through a translucent D fin?
A stomp competition?
Period costume competition where the girls see who can sport the highest waisted nappy-bikini and guys try to recreate a lifestyle scene from a 1964 edition of Surfing World?
Competition to see how many metro living, Vanlyfe lurking , longboard toting gronks they can assemble to invade a regional surf spot on a long weekend and then see how much they can irritate locals?
Most Madonna vogue totally - uncontrived strike-a-pose and dysfunctional surf manoeuvre?
Points for surfer Most capable of continuing to uphold the self deceit concept that “we are all just celebrating surfing and the lineup is one big melting pot party “ as they burn everyone on every wave and then paddle past the entire pack on their 40000litre piece of shit log?
DSDS, i think you've just explained a Rhythm photoshoot perfectly.
Comment of year, gold.
Sounds like you might have tried to catch a wave at the Pass or Noosa lately on a thruster and are a little frustrated ?
I hear you brother. If it was a actual walk the plank comp involving pirates and sharks at least it would end quicker.
hahaha .. ahhh . that was good.
i like longboarding abit , but that 9 foot shortboarding wasnt cool . but neither is standing still doin f all . however some riders make it look great doing either style while the majority kinda suck . just like regular surfing i guess
Spend a lot of money on travel for not much prize money LOL. Seriously though they should do a mal contest around most short board events and it would get more people interested. Even have a legends heat in most WSL events. That is way more exciting.
"WSL SVPoTaHoC"
You know how to delight the readership :)
I still really struggle to see Longboarding - especially trad style- as a sport.
Especially compared to Big Wave surfing which seems to have fizzled as a sport.
Big wave surfing is easy to understand as far as scoring goes, Longboarding is just incredibly fuzzy as far as putting numbers on people shuffling back and forwards on logs in waist high peelers goes.
Agree, I tried to score some waves and failed. Was off by 2-3 points.
I did that in an actual comp when I volunteered to judge lol
Edit, was only one comp, was not invited back :p
Ha.
Ah club comps.
You probably didn't listen to the 'free advice' guy who always goes with "a 5.5???? Matty never gets less than a 7 when he paddles out"
I just did it to have only 4 out :) But I do love the glide, it has it's purpose and flows you toward mastery.
traditional longboarding is kind of boring...
a firing Bell's with high performance longboards, bottom turns, getting vertical and floaters in pumping surf would make for good viewing.
I just bought a Taylor Jensen THE GEM. 9.1. So much fun..
I would rather watch the grass grow.
That's OK, burleigh. If you can't appreciate all types of surfing no one cares.
Great to know you ride a longboard. I picture you to be one of those SUP foil pests sitting at the end of Burleigh.
I picture you to be one of the non surfers watching from the land....whilst others surf and foil and sup.
enjoy watching the grass grow.
"a firing Bell's with high performance longboards, bottom turns, getting vertical and floaters in pumping surf would make for good viewing."
Totally, Roadkill. In longboarding, if you go back to the 90's the boards were very heavily influenced by shortboard design - the 'potato chip' at the time, So my first 1996 longboard is like a banana and can crank power turns at size. But it doesn't nose ride too well. Clubs had 8ft divisions to surf in too, so 8 footers abounded. The Hawaiians did really well in events and world championships, and longboard events were held in heavy waves. Think Rusty Keaulana, Bonga etc
When JT took over the sport with the Californian style - traditional - walking, style, rail, poise, single fins it really took off. So much so that the performance variety has pretty much stopped. Hundreds of thousands of young people followed this traditional path.
If Bells is on tour, and threatens to be big and wintery (esp if La Nina goes away and we get a normal winter again) then the game just changed. If you want to win you are going to need a board that can take a drop and turn hard. Those 90's shapes would do that very well.
I think of design changes recently and you have the BWWT pioneering tiny quad fins a long way up the long rail, as 9ft+ paddle in switched fashion away from tow. I think of JJF's ghost at MR in 2016 - using the old trick of low entry rocker and widepoint forward like the late 1970s, to crank some unanswerable carves. This could be a very interesting comp for current longboard design: could we say it's reached a stasis in trying to recreate the golden era, say 1965-6 on Cali points?
I would love to see Phil Razman attacking Bells.
High performance boards are far better viewing than traditional heavy logs.
Strongly disagree.
The reason "modern" longboarding died out is because it's so horrible to watch people flapping around on enormous, over-rockered longboards.
Incredibly inefficient planing devices and just looks like really bad shortboarding.
Thats opinion, of course, but current events seem to back up my views.
Having said that, I still agree with VJ above.
But I think his expectations are set too high.
More than likely, if Bells is a one off they will stick to trad logs and ride according to the current judging criteria.
But we'll see.
I too would like to see them go beyond the current old skool board designs and incorporate some design advancements for Bells.
Well that gets exciting then - maybe there's somewhere else the longboard can go to avoid the flapping (I too welcomed JT and style when it came around) but also handle some size. From memory it needs to be 9' true, nose width must be a certain width, maybe tail width too; these days its a single not 2+1 - those are the board requirements. Maybe a shaper/surfer can mix the magic ingredients and we'll see flow and style but also big turns and some functional moves. I think of WL footage at Bells on logs, evolution/sea of joy craft, and singles.
(What would I do? 60/40 the rails, esp in tail, put a tucked under edge in tail around/aft of fin, maybe more down rails throughout it, widepoint just forward, a decent single to double-thru-vee concave...)
Extra points for no legrope- at 8' Bells??
Would you call this longboarding? Obviously not in the traditional sense. Gliders seem to be gaining a bit of traction in the 'longboard' world.
Shayma ripping into big Bells.
Greg Brown has been making performance longboards forever and still does....and he still rips.
I sure would call that longboarding icandig. Shyama is walking it, doing great turns. I've got a copy of pacific longboarder that's about 20 years old now that does an interview with Herbie Fletcher and his 'astro deck gun collection' - who says longboards can't be gunny?
And Browny on the pink board, seen some great surfing.
Edit: Lachie Rombouts (sp?) is also redefining it, his huge wave in the black Nor easter swell on a big, big board, and his surfing of that NSW south reef are very inspiring
yep. no leggies . gonna be some great watching of some swimming . hopefully swell large too .
jetski assist ????
I'm guessing you have never seen Jackson Close getting shacked behind the rock at Snapper? The guy surfs better than most short boarders when its pumping. Not all modern mal surfers are "flapping around" Steve.
Like this ?
Pretty sure it's scored using Instagram likes
No hater either.
Some of the most fluid and pleasing surfing I've ever seen was Joel Tudor riding a log at cross-country, join the dots peelers at Wategoes.
Nat Young had a famous quote about surfing being sport/art, suggesting taking the sport path was perhaps the wrong way...
Have you seen JT surf in the flesh VJ?
It's definitely artistic- not in a showy way either.
Just impeccable trim lines and functional moves.
Nope & I would love to. Closest was when at Crescent with friends, apparently some of the young longboard guns had come down after the Noosa contest - some absolutely beautiful lines and trim, confidence. Overheard a couple of them taking positive note of my son going through racetrack on a single I'd shaped, was quite chuffed as he was flying...
So let me get this correct.....Longboard event at Bells, however on the CT' they've taken away G-Land and put the wave pool back on the calendar????? Makes sense
In August/September to boot! That's got to be about the coldest water temps of the year, will be great as an advert for wettie sponsors. You're a long way off shore and if the wind is strong and not perfectly aligned, it is quite challenging.
It will be interesting to see how they perform if its pumping 6-8 foot Bells . Some of the WSL longboarding comps I've seen over the years has been ..... well underwhelming is probably generous for the standard displayed for what is meant to be the worlds best ... ?
Are there other sports with separate tours for those choosing to use antiquated equipment?
A Tour de France on Penny-farthings? AFL using a stuffed wallaby? F1 with anything built 3 weeks before the race...
Penny Farthing Championships: https://evandalevillagefair.com/the-races/
"Since 1983 the Evandale Village Fair and National Penny Farthing Championships has built up a reputation for holding the most competitive Penny Farthing races in the world."
Does the RedBull Soapbox Derby count as "choosing to use antiquated equipment" for "F1 with anything built 3 weeks before the race"?
https://www.redbull.com/se-en/tags/soap-box-race
Classic racing at Goodwood, events using the old Group C rules here in Australia, formula HQ racing, J Boat yacht racing (magnificent! They are huge)
Anything using sheepdogs to round up sheep :)
Antique gaming championships
Telemarking
So yes, but not a separate tour. Maybe the J Boats are a separate tour.
I am a lifelong Teley skier and its evolved as you most likely aware......but really similar to long boarding in that there is an old school vs new school divide. Old using leather boots and Cross Country Downhill skis and New school utilising all the new technology in bindings, boots and skis. Telemarking way more like surfing than snowboarding IMO and I have converted a few to Teley skiing over the years.
Sorry about thread hijack....always will give Telemark skiing a plug if I see an opportunity haha.
After all the Heroes of Telemark saved the world from the Nazis getting the atomic bomb.
The worlds select proffessional surfers trying to ride a shortboard for Olympic gold points in1-5ft onshore mush ...
hopefully may be seen as antiquated gymnastic tricks in the future.
Since Gland and Cloud Break is off the world tour,send them there. That would make great viewing
2004 Aussie Titles were held at Bells.
Josh Constable, Grant Thomas, Wayne Deane & Jackson Close all ripping on overhead waves
2004 Aussie Titles were held at Bells.
Josh Constable, Grant Thomas, Wayne Deane & Jackson Close all ripping on overhead waves
That’s what I thought of too when they announced this but couldn’t remember the year. It was an unreal day and the sets kept building. The surfing was outstanding. This is good for longboarding, it needs a kick back in the high performance direction, maybe not right back to where it was but a more balanced mix between the two. It will definitely be more entertaining than Manly this year, and hopefully a Vicco or two can get a spot and ruffle some feathers
Thanks Dazzler, was trying to remember the year. Yes it pumped. Perfect Bells bowl on a longboard! Surfing was of the highest standard.
Let Greg brown enter
He surfs a long board so well
Show these young crew how to put it on rail and go vert
And he’s double there age!!
Yeah Beggsie - and Will Cuzzo
Bella can pump that time of year but it’s absolutely freezing - not “spring” as most people would understand it.
It’s usually super windy and colder than the depths of winter!!
Part of the fun.
Do long boarders only go right!
Longboard shape for Bells - Phil Myers 9'1'' channel bottom ,2x1 fin setup, moderate (sensible) rocker. Had one , great board.
The Shaun Brooks 50 year storm invitational had some photos probably on Swellnet of Shayma Buttonshaw(?) noseriding a monster.I am sure there would be many who could offer something.I endorse one of the previous comments re Greg Brown. Seems a good fit to me.
The Shaun Brooks 50 year storm invitational had some photos probably on Swellnet of Shayma Buttonshaw(?) noseriding a monster.I am sure there would be many who could offer something.I endorse one of the previous comments re Greg Brown. Seems a good fit to me.
There's a bit of Bells in this footage:
But where is the long boarding?
in the technique. Its the evolution board tho, <9ft
Here’s Shyama at Bells. Chuck him a wildcard https://nobodysurf.com/shyama-gliding/amp/
Time
For
A
Soft top
Finless
Tour
I'm with you Beggsie
Don't know much about joel T other than what crew mention on here. Heres a few different shapes he talks about for those interested.
Don't mind watching the finless funk either, if the mood suits for something different.
Yes It's not traditional mal riding but funky fun gone wild.
Ride what and how you want.
funky burps or as someone said this year on here, jazz hands on ritalin
0.40min and 1;28min
couldn't find a short clip of the seated wizard position;)
Here we go, Surfing Vic has announced there'll be two wildcards - one mens, one womens - to the Bells comp and they'll go to the winners of a two-event state titles:
"Surfing Victoria is excited to announce the 2023 Victorian Longboard Titles event dates with the addition of the 2-event series becoming the pathway for Victorian’s to gain a wildcard into the Bells Beach Longboard Classic World Longboard Tour event.
"The Bells Beach Longboard Classic is set for August 30 to September 2, 2023 and will see 48 of the world’s best Longboarders do battle including two local and two national wildcards. The event is one of four events on the World Longboard Tour in 2023.
"Victorian Wildcards will be allocated to the Men’s and Women’s State Longboard Champions at the conclusion of the Victorian Longboard Titles giving them a shot against the world’s best longboarders.
"Round 1 of the Victorian Longboard Titles will be held at Phillip Island on February 18 and 19, 2023 before concluding at Point Impossible on the Surf Coast on April 29 and 30, 2023.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Victorian Longboarders and strengthens our pathway from clubs, to state rounds, and ultimately the World Longboard Tour” said Surfing Victoria CEO Adam Robertson.
“Victoria has a rich history of longboarding which includes many nationally successful longboard surfers. It’s fantastic that there is now another world class surfing event here in Victoria, showcasing the best longboarders on the planet.”
Ben Considine should also have to be in the conversation. 3 time Aussie Champ - for logging which I know is different - but surely his skills are transferable. Competitively he has the chops.
https://portapp.com.au/news-sport/news-sport/longboard-and-logger-champi...
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/bellarinetimes/news/australian-surf-champs...
Let's Wipe the White Board to Accommodate a Warm Water Rip Curl Bells...
But why we gotta do that shit tbb...c'mon...surely WSL are all above board...(Cough)
No need to ask Why!
(1) Coz Stu already penciled in the Original 2020 CS Nov Comp at Phillip Island (Tremble!)
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/09/10/wsl-introduce...
(2) Rip Curl sponsored last years random Manly Oz Long Board Leg...(For the very first time...Huh?)
(3) Manly Rip Curl Pro "Long Board / CS were run as one Event. (Oh! Now ya see...very fishy!)
Meaning > Manly lose Long Board & or CS > ( Note original Oz CS leg was also Springtime Vic)
2023 Oz CS Tour has not been Gazetted until Rip Curl hooks CS (Qld vs NSW vs Vic)
If any Premiers could be fucking bothered...Reckon Dan could lock it into the Spring Racing Carnival!
Real sophisticated! Snob like VIP extravaganza!
(So now the crew can see why some one needs to walk the plank)
Don't all hurry...leave it to the basher...bloody hell! Ok..here's wot we got!
The co/ed Long Board Tour kicked off in 2011 (Just doin' the Oz Leg Only...not a real job!)
2011 March Noosa / Kingy + July Cottesloe
2012 March Kingy + July Cottesloe
2013 March Kingy
2014-17 March Kingy + July Cottesloe
2018 Feb Newcastle + March Kingy + July Cottesloe
2019 Feb Noosa (Saved by Festival Organizer Ben) + July Cottesloe
2020 Feb Noosa + July Cottesloe
2021 Covid
2022 May Manly Long Board / CS ( Dual Event / Podium) sponsored by (Rip Curl)
https://www.boardriding.com/news/gwm-sydney-surf-pro-victors
2023 Aug/Sept Bells (Q : Ripcurl Spring Carnival CS / Long Board Combo?)
Is this another Interstate Grand Theft Indy thingy?
Note that WSL did trim 2022 CS Tour & are real slow at posting 2023 CS Tour?
Are we seeing > { 2023 Victorian Easter Ripcurl CT + (Original) CS Spring Carnival Long Board }
Will Surf City Bullies steal Qld / NSW Royal Easter WSL Show Bags? Seriously...this is not funny!
tbb did try & make it sound all sinister...not much to work with...still...
Reckon NSW might try & steal our rain sodden unloved rough as guts Cooly CS...Grrr...Border Wars!
Possibly tbb's bipolar is kickin in...but it does read this way & it won't end pretty for some!
Challenger of Origin Tag Series...fuck yeah! Loser has to run ELO's Oz CT leg.
Geeze I am real dinosaur Kneeboarder who rides a long board (pintail) and Telemark skier....have heaps of fun but.
Most of those Longboard pros rip on shorties too but yes the whole Hipster, Van Life Look at Me and my cool friends and please don't stare at my arse while you paddle behind me crew while we totally passively aggressively take over this break have become the Elephant in the room in surfing.
10 years ago I sort of thought it was a breath of fresh air into surfing but now its a really bad smelly fart
The WSL championship tour stars tomorrow. Looks like we have 4 Aussies to barrack for - including local Surf Coast ripper Ben Considine.
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2023/lt/49/huntington-beach-longb...
Get behind this bloke - he's a good fella.
It's on.
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/520257/its-on-day-1-of-the-bioglan...
No Swellnet stream?
Small audience? I'm mainly only interested because I'm cheering for the local lad.
They did the Manly one? This part of surfing is where the growth and young people are?
Watching Ben on Rincon I'm seeing WL lines from some of the yt footage
"This part of surfing is where the growth and young people are?"
Currently has a global audience of 1,700 viewers.
I know, but you've seen the advertising power of it's imagery, the crowd developments at places like the Pass and others. People are taking it up in numbers. Maybe they don't watch comps, or the comps are not as promoted as the shortboard tour?
My own opinion is that many logger crew don't like the jock mentality of shortboards and competition, hence logging is a respite from the seriousness of that whole world.
I think you are being very charitable there, Stu. I think they just like being able to get loads of waves at others expense. It's very easy to be a chilled out cool cat when you and your mates are burning everyone else in the line-up.
Case in point: this current WSL event has had a far greater impact on the ability of recreational surfers to get waves at Bells than any Easter contest in my memory. The pro's on the real tour are generally much more considerate and polite in the water.
Sure, some pro's have been pricks over the years, but I can't remember ever sitting in the Bowl while set after set was hoovered up by Instagram influencers (while their enablers hooted encouragement) paddling into semi formed waves 50 metres before they start to peak.
Do you reckon we can convince FR to write a wrap of the event?
Competitive longboarding completely trips me out, I find it hard to imagine there is an audience for it.
It works as a sort of beach party festival type thing, ala Noosa Festival where all the old farts can come together and the logging youth can spin and twirl to entertain them.
As a broadcast sport where you put numbers on rides and try and compete to find a winner?
Nope.
It's all just cosplay, yeah?
Ride equipment that was superseded in 1968, dress accordingly, and act the part when you get to your feet: slouch the shoulders, li'l slip o' the hip, nonchalantly pretend you move like this all the time.
Great fun.
But finding a winner?
It's similar to the pro shortboard tour going back to celebrating EE and JJF's rail carving (which I support) over Italo's and GM's airs. Like going backward to 2001 and AI rather than the present.
If there was a longboard event where a slight move back to a hp board was warranted, this is it. Trad longboarding has a place (eg world title at Malibu a few years back) but at bells is awful. Even some of the clips posted from last week in really good conditions appeared so sluggish. Bring back the occasional tri-fin and even a tiny bit of rocker please. Also, holding the trials at Torquay pt was a terrible idea (was this due to limit on days at bells?) Opportunity lost for some really good Vic longboarders who can perform at Bells I think. Apologies in advance for being a negative nancy
There’s a good clip of Harrison Roach on YouTube at solid enough bells on a tri fin log that is really nice surfing.
I saw that one but thanks for suggesting anyway. He’s a phenomenal surfer but, for me, I just can’t appreciate that type of longboarding in those waves. Probably because I grew up when hp (or good hybrid approach) was fashionable and saw some really great examples of that. I’ll keep watching the event though!
I'm fighting a losing battle on this one. I reckon all forms of surfing are relevant. However, even Mum walked past and said "He's doing it on a wave that's not very good, is it?"
Peppa, they did the trials at TQ? What about Impossos? Agree on the 2+1 and a bit of performance in some of these waves.
Also, thanks SN for the Mooloolaba article, I was able to show Mum the 1960's pic and she showed me where her family used to camp near Alex side of the beach the decades before, and mentioned the boat trip you could do over the river and how good the cowries were on the Cartwright side. Also she remembered hiring the surfoplanes on the Mooloolaba beach.
Possos would have been better but still so diff to bells. Have any shortboard comps been held (anywhere) with the trials in a diff location to the main event?
Maybe some of the Bells events when it was mobile? Ie Johanna?
True but I think that would have been circumstantial due to conditions? whereas the lb trials were booked for Torquay from the outset.
Yeah that's weird. Maybe as it has a wave most days, even the little ones? Closer to a coffee kiosk? ;)
Truly odd to hold it at T.P rather than Bells yesterday, gotta be a reason for it.
Incredible how poorly/unluckily timed this event is for the WSL. Could pick almost any 4-5 day block up until the weekend just gone and they would have scored decent conditions. Even yesterday...missed it by that much!
Maybe the limit of contest days at Bells?
Also it's unfathomable to fall into this period of bad surf following as you said, the non-stop months of good surf. They'll get OK wave but jeez, what could have been.
No diff to Olympic qualifying for chopes I guess!
Leggieless board on the rocks with close up coverage in the live feed
Red meat for the forums
Looks like the WSL crap wave curse has extended to the mals as well. Bells and Winki look terrible
Sofia's wave from before was a ripper. Girls are surfing so fluidly, great to watch.
Ted and Nat at Bells, 1969. The boards are shorter but we see Australian power surfing continuing out of the longboard era:
Must admit the more of the comp I watch, the more I am thinking "Imagine if someone had a tucked-under edge..."
I find it insufferable.
Would love too see some mid-lengths out there, something.
It just ain't a good longboard wave.
Just watched Molnar in heat using wider nose and thruster tail (so assume tucked under edge) - got soundly beaten. When she did get to the nose, board pearled and tail disconnected - the edges tend to send the tail out of the wave when you get to that foot or so near the nose so it's a double edged sword.
Mid lengths out there at that size and two others out, yeah, that would be fun.
"I'm fighting a losing battle on this one. I reckon all forms of surfing are relevant. "
I'm on your side VJ. Even foiling and skim boarding look fun even though I've never tried either - I enjoy watching both. (then again, I could watch a game of darts for a good half hour before getting bored). I wonder if the naysayers have ever tried doing what these guys are doing. It's harder and takes more skill than you'd reckon. I've ridden short boards for most of my life and I've tried cross stepping and nose riding and I'm shit at both.
Here's an article on the 2023 Australian Surf Championships which incorporates many forms of surfing.
(Go the Viccos)
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/surfcoasttimes/sport/team-victoria-surf-to...
It's all good. Just get out there any way you can - but as far as making longboarding a spectator sport - each to their own. I like it.
I do love logging, and have hung 'em over many, many times on small peelers here and on the North Coast points.
It's perfect for that.
Also see numerous exponents of amazing long boarding, mostly at Wategoes and the Pass.
Some of the best surfing I've ever seen has been Joel Tudor logging at those waves, just incredible poise, balance, flow and nose-riding.
But this- ain't it.
So...we can count on you for that wrap on the event?
Ah shit. Shannon’s back. That’s it I’m out
Ha!
Yeah Bells throws them a wave that is not immediately perfect, in a way it's a great litmus test. Local loggers know the coast has other more ameniable waves, and tbh it's a great coast as you could either log or shortboard somewhere on almost any day. Normally Bells area isn't a log spot, and there's a kind of conformity on what kind of equipment goes out there for the most. Eg young one recently overheard "someone took out a mini mal at Winki" "Did they get stabbed?"
lol
Horses for courses
I find Bells is predominately a log or mid-length wave in terms of boards that actually surf it these days.
Lol to that winki comment!
What did you think of Bryce Youngs long boarding in that Needs movie VJ?
Will watch later & report back
1.3K watching now.
Not sure how this is worth their while.
And that's with David Beckham in the commentary booth.
beard and hair styling that puts the shortboard tour to shame
Chloe Calmon surfs really well!
Just realised I've probably seen a few of the competitors in the water at times over the last two weeks. Was wondering if I could still keep up with the young ones...
Hey FR: what's missing? Am I right in thinking aggressive Australian power turns? Could that be incorporated and still keep within the judging criteria? (which is different to the shortboarding)
Day 2 is up and waiting for a call, nice and clean conditions with a rapidly rising tide, right here in Swellnet's rebel coverage of the event:
39K views for day one on the WSL vid
Some beautiful light and contrast early on the ocean, beach and cliffs. Sophia's first waves on the clean faces were great - you could also see the water peeling up over the length of the inside rails on the nose rides.
Lots of variation in the competitors boards, you get the impression there's more room for innovation here. The rails on most of these boards are so much more pinched and bladey compared to the 1960s originals I've surfed, though remain pinched and I'd guess without the edges so far today. Anyone interested in wing design or displacement would approve!
How can you tell the rail profile VJ?
Swellnet favourite Lucy Small up next.
Lucy has got the wobbly boots on.
Soares' final ride was incredible, only a 6 though?
Leaving room for a 10 second barrel.
Ha.
You can see it from a distance FR, the relative thickness at least. Our family logs I spent the time to properly profile the rails along the length of the boards with a timber stand with a whole lot of holes drilled in it, and some welding rods lol
Rincon going glassy in the lee of the cliff where it's a little more blown out at other spots today - Bells at 1-2ft hi tide glassy Rincon is a pretty good look for a log comp.
Silvagni is unreal.
Keeping the thread alive VJ. Good work. Missed most of today @ work.
Are these guys/gals all professionals?
ie making a living off this Longboard Tour.
I'd say none would be making a living from it? Both Declan and Tully work other jobs here in Manly.
Maybe Taylor Jensen would be an outlier?
Ben Considine is a physio @ Kieser in Geelong and also runs coaching with his father. He has a couple of sponsors, but I doubt he's making much of a living from the tour.
No leggies from the two guys out there now.
Cheers icandig, keeping up with it in between going out and around. having a surf myself, etc Just took rellies to see comp site and it's so nice and low-key. The winki top carpark is driveable (parking filled though), hardly any overfill, southside carpark is empty with great views.
Hi tide and westerly is into things, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the viewing that I've seen this morning. Re: professional wages from it, the comp has a much more down to earth feel, and getting a wage from another vocation and longboarding the tour really takes things back to times like the 60s and 70s too. And yep I have seen some of the competitors out in the water.
I do love the 'cultural capital' and coffee references. A more discerning audience us 37K viewers are ;)
And one further thing noticed is the amount of really wide square tails on the comp boards - it makes an interesting contrast to the round pins of the shortboard pro tour. The boards seem relatively narrow, nothing like the 23" of my log, but really wide square tails and I guess a relatively straight rail through the tail. Almost all (all?) are single fins. This stuff is of interest to me as I'm about to shape my first logs after 25 years or so of shaping shortboards + midlengths. Things have progressed quite a bit in this time, lots to catch up on! - and it looks like there is room for innovation in competition in the longboard tour.
I guess I'm coming to it not knowing what has happened before, not knowing who the surfers are, and it's quite novel and I like it.
Is that innovation?
Looks like standard nose-riding outlines and fin configs from golden 64-66 period logging.
I'll ask Bob McT next time I see him, but those logs look pretty "classic" to me.
Possibly glassed lighter?
Chief Ben Considine cheerleader here. Sorry if I'm spamming - I remembered seeing this a while back and went back for a look. I'm not a real design aficionado - and obviously just a look at how one team approaches the surfer / shaper / board development, but I thought you guys might glean something from this. Board talk begins about half to 3/4 of the way through.
Why you wouldn't be wearing a leggy in these conditions, old mate lost his board once and nearly twice..
And he's lost it again! Nearly took out TJ. Sighhh
Taka looks frantic haha, crazy. Moments of brilliance in there though.
These logs look incredibly ill-suited for the conditions.
Ah, they're running it today? Wind sock locally says lay day.
By innovation perhaps I would better say variation - big differences between some of the shapes. Larger potential to find a real advantage over others.
Today is a day for the hipo 2+1. Tony looks good tho.
Running every day VJ. Swell solid now and winds easing, should be a fun arvo.
There you go Silvagni interview, Stewart performance log with edge in the tail. Sounds very humble too.
Bat tail too!
Kai's board looks alright and staying back on the tail area means making more of the wave today, perhaps. Go for a 5 and watch the bowl drop out under you.
Well done commentary team, just before 18:50 to go in the Delperro/Esquievel heat, they break down Landon's board and how the very pinched tail rail, wide tail, no edge combo works for him at Bells.
Yeah Declan! Patience paid off.
Ah it's Matt Chojnacki with the comments on boards and around the grounds, excellent!
https://www.instagram.com/stories/craigbrokensha/3181864315137984200/
Yeah, Matt is excellent.
Awesome logger too.
Skindog was surfing really well out there.
Yep I've followed Matt's big wave exploits around Sydney here on SN, very impressive and I reckon he'd have a really good take on what kind of longboard would excel at sizey Bells. So far this morning it's really impressive to see the pinched, soft rails mentioned, they seem to work inasmuch as they can do full cutbacks into the pocket, so that's food for thought
Skinner with the 'double scoop' - two deck scoops that guide water to the kicked deck in the tail, push down the tail - interesting!
Bro and I had a Gray Nicholls twin scoop for the cricket back in the 1980s!
Bigger sets now
Yep, there's those 4-5fters.
Russell Crowe voice "Are you not entertained?"
Winki looks pretty quiet.
Loving the slow mo replays of the 30m straightlining through the whitewater to reach the next section..meanwhile missing moments of the in heat drama. Good to see WSL's coverage incompetence of showing absolute dead air stretches across all it's mediums.
Also good to know where Shannon hughes has been hiding out so as to further avoid in future.
Other than that was entertaining enough. Love watching the style of the women.
A nice little lunchtime sideshow..That'll do for me though.
whoa, there's a 2+1 fin cluster.
Thought that was frowned upon now?
Yeah I thought multi fins were not allowed now?
AEC Referendum Mandatory Staff Entry Requirements
Crew may have read such & bypass...Reference Doc Only
Just thought it fair to link the AEC docs.
(Click) Right Column for AEC Mandates.
https://www.aec.gov.au/employment/working-at-elections/types-of-jobs.htm
[disclaimer] tbb / Ex Wife / Daughter were all former AEC / QEC volunteers / workers.
Oz #1 Vax Mandates for (1 day employment)
Consider one is not compliant until 2 weeks after each / either Vax = 4 wks of 6wks Campaign
Also consider that only certain (Aged / Travel) groups can access priority Vax Combo
16th > 30th Sept : Booster > Flu Shot Deadline > For 100K Aussies or they can't work for AEC.
Just saying that no other media will inform of this AEC Vax deadline...trust tbb...this is very real!
Level 1 + (Assistants) > Bilingual + Scrutiny + Aboriginal + Remote
Mandate : 18+ / Neutrality / *Follow & Promote Covid Safety Measures.
*Mandates > 1 Outbreaks 2. Govt Utilities 3. Function Rooms + see Aged / Prisons / Remote (below)
Level 2 + Pre Poll + Declarations
Mandate: (All Above) + Police Checks
Pre Poll (2nd / Officer)
Mandate : (All Above) + Licence + Mobile
Pre / Poll / 2nd + In Charge + Liason Officers + Scrutiny Returns Ast =
Mandate : (All Above) + Light Commercial / Insurance
Mobile / Aged Care / Govt Utilities / Reserves-Communities / Prisons...Record List for All of Oz Event
Mandate : (All Above) + Up to Date Covid Vax + Current Flu Vax + Masks + Daily RAT tests
Remote
Mandate : (All Above) + 4wd.
Crew can read that AEC reward Vax compliance with Total Ballot Access / Exclusivity & higher Pay!
One could understand such during a Health Emergency...(But we're not in one?)
Truth now being that Health Workers can access these facilities daily with less Vax or No requirement.
tbb was merely pointing out this extraordinary 1 day Vax Mandate discrepancy needed questioning!
All see it has Zero Health Compliance...so who is granting AEC exclusive Bio Security powers & why?
There has never been & may never again be this level of Vax Mandate for most part a 1 day meet up.
Requesting for Media to investigate largest most insane Vax Mandate outside a Pandemic...Huh!
So sorry crew my bad...tbb did say to bypass this comment...research doc as said...
Bipolar Overload...been picking up Rubbish & tyres & Road signs all day...need a lie down!
It was bound to happen & tbb was voted most likely to be caught out...No malice or harm done!
haha. All good TBB!!
Added a bit of much needed spice to the comp ;-)
Better longboarding waves this morn.
Kai Sallas just dropped a 9.
A really nice weekend morning. Here's the feed:
And there's the finals wins - Soleil Errico for the womens, and Kai Sallas for the mens. The women's final had a bit of drama, as the lead switched with about 7 seconds to go, while Alice was out the back raising her arms asking for a score update.
And Declan as runner up in the mens - he surfs unreal!
Is that the same Declan fella i might have seen surfing around Byron when he was a grom VJ? He ripped then!
I'm not sure SR, most of the surfers are new to me tbh. He has an awesome drop knee turn, and turns faster and more fully than most. It's a bit like footage you see of a young Nat pushing things - the Aussie rail game.
Ha true. I'm not sure how you're supposed to know! Sorry VJ.
Yeah that's awesome. Those drop knee turns are pretty epic hey.
And good to hear 'The Animal' lives on in the modern longboarder.
If it is the same dude he was THE nicest kid in the water when he was a grom.
Always full of stoke and cheering on everyone elses waves.