El Salvador Pro 2024: Day Two
El Salvador Pro 2024: Day Two
Eight heats run today with strong devil wind to start and previous event winner Italo Ferreira taking home last place after being defeated by local wildcard Bryan Perez. The Salvadoran brought a big two-turn and straight air combo for an 8.83 to send Italo packing.
Bryan Perez (WSL/Hughes)
An expressed aim of the re-structuring of the tour under previous CEO Erik Logan was to aid and abet the internationalisation of surfing by creating regional pathways. So far, the Big Four: Australia, USA, Hawaii* and Brazil remain dominant. We now have Indonesian and Moroccan representation on the CT and, nominally, Japanese, Italian and Costa Rican surfers (born and raised/developed in traditional surfing countries). Eventually, that process will bear fruit. We'll see the Perez' of Central America qualify.
The current rapid expansion of wavepools into landlocked Europe will create a race and class dichotomy between the Global South (Brazil, Indonesia, Morocco, Central Americas) and the wavepool led Global North. German surfers of sufficient means to afford the 10,000 hrs in a tub (augmented by holiday homes in Portugal) will find themselves on tour against the equivalents of Adriano De Souza ($7 surfboard, grew up in a favela) and Italo Ferreira (dad's esky lid, son of a fish reseller). Australia, Hawaii and California will occupy the middle ground as coastal living is increasingly priced out of the reach of working and middle-class people. Interesting times ahead.
Good battle of the goofyfooters between Cole Houshmand and Connor O'Leary. The affable Japanese-Australian would never let on but he would be burning to see Cole take on the mantle of premier power goofyfooter on tour with an event win in his rookie year. After close analysis of Connor's surfing and an attempt to answer the question: Why is he not winning or finalling in events? It seems to my eye his boards just look a touch under-powered for him. He's a big unit and there can be a tendency for him to overpower 'window wiper' turns.
Connor (WSL/Hughes)
I'm wondering, Richard 'Dog' Marsh, whether a touch more board might add a little more oomph and emphasis to those backhand top turns? What say you, Dog? Academic now, because Connor got through on a generously scored 7.83.
As an example of a big bodied goofy riding a slightly bigger board, I'd offer Ryan Callinan, who I stated at the beginning of the year has the best backhand on tour. An assessment only confirmed last night after watching him demolish Liam O'Brien in deteriorating conditions. I can't be sure about Dog's educational accomplishments but I know he is a meticulous record-keeper so I'm wondering if he could invest in a protractor, maybe YouTube how to use it, and measure the top turn arcs of R-Cal and Connor as part of his coaching duties. Perhaps that might unlock greater success for Connor by way of incremental improvements? In a subjectively judged sport any improvements, no matter how marginal, have to be considered progress towards ending up on the right side of what are increasingly close calls.
Connor and AJ (WSL/Hughes)
None closer than the one meted out to Kanoa Igarashi. Who ended up going down to Matty McGillvray by 0.03 of a point. In statistics that is called 'within the margin of error' - which means, it could be a mistake, it could mean nothing at all. In pro surfing, it could be a career, a shot at a World Title, relegation to a lower tour etc etc.
In 2022, a single wave at Teahupoo propelled Kanoa to the Final 5 and a shot at the World Title. In 2023, he imploded to a 17th place finish. This year was supposed to mark a major resurgence. Reunited with old coach Jake 'the Snake' Paterson, and a fresh vlog on YouTube. It started swimmingly with a second place finish at Sunset but now he's back to languishing in 14th after a series of dismal results including a complete meltdown on Finals Day at Chopes where he exited with a 0.93 heat total.
Kanoa (WSL/Hughes)
There's a lot riding on Kanoa. Parents who got together and consciously conceived and procreated with the intention of creating a pro surfer. I cannot get my head around that. But credit to them, they pulled it off. They created and manufactured the first bred for purpose pro surfer. So many things could have gone wrong and everything had to go right to achieve that. That parental pressure must be behind the occasional Igarashi meltdown. The one he had at North Narrabeen (0.80 heat total in a QF against Connor Coffin), the Tahiti debacle. There are others. The one thing a coach cannot do: reach inside a surfer's head and help them retrieve a surf gone horribly wrong. It's one of the few common problems between pros and rec surfers. How to turn around a terrible surf? You know the ones: out of position for a set in the opening stanza, wait around forever to get the next one, someone gets the wave you've been waiting for, catching terrible waves to try and “get off the mark”, falling, fucking up a take-off up etc etc. How do you coach that, Jake?
Anyhow, Kanoa Igarashi, back down to 14th spot, where he was last year, with the Top 5 sailing away at a rapid rate of knots.
Eventually, the devil wind got too bad and competition was postponed. Did the surfers expect competition to resume late afternoon? It felt that way, as if the cervezas had been flowing. In the first thirty seconds of their heat, Griffin blocked Joao and copped an interference - a devastating blow for someone who wore yellow two contests ago yet now sits in third - then Gabe turned up with the wobbly boots on against R-Cal. He came good toward the end, setting up a red-hot all Brazil showdown against Joao in the Quarters.
Speaking of showdowns, Yago and Robo get to reprise their Tahiti duel in the Quarters. It'll be the fourth time the stablemates have drawn each other, with a 2:1 ratio favouring Jack, though Yago has last blood, and in Punta Roca he has an agreeable lipline - both of his heats have 16+ totals and every scoring wave has featured progressive airs.
In the second-last heat of the day, third-placed Ethan had a chance to gain on Griffin, perhaps overtake him for second place, but Matty McGillivray put the sword to EE with a performance fitting of someone ten places higher. If Matty had a coach, he'd be flummoxed how and why Matt can sometimes look as dynamic as a Final Fiver yet other times flounder like a journeyman.
Matt McGillvray (WSL/Hughes)
Speaking of all-country showdowns, Matt now goes up against Jordy, who has stepped into the Final Five. It's the first time in years the big dog has been in the finals conversation.
The draws for men and women are both now at the Quarters, all set for a big final day of competition, possibly as early as tomorrow.
//STEVE SHEARER
Surf City El Salvador Pro Presented by Corona Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Bryan Perez (SLV) 15.33 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.40
HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.00 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.57
HEAT 3: Joao Chianca (BRA) 13.50 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.50
HEAT 4: Rio Waida (INA) 13.84 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 11.93
HEAT 5: Connor O'Leary (JPN) 14.50 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.57
HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 14.00 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 9.33
HEAT 7: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 13.96 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.93
HEAT 8: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.27 DEF. Liam O'Brien (AUS) 11.23
Surf City El Salvador Pro Presented by Corona Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Joao Chianca (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.48
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.17 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.00
HEAT 3: Jack Robinson (AUS) 14.33 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 11.43
HEAT 4: Yago Dora (BRA) 16.50 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 10.93
HEAT 5: John John Florence (HAW) 13.26 DEF. Bryan Perez (SLV) 13.00
HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 16.67 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 9.00
HEAT 7: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 16.40 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 13.76
HEAT 8: Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.74 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.36
Comments
Thought Perez ripped.
With the forecast for clean surfable conditions in the next few days, I can’t for the life of me understand why the sent the round of 16 out today ??
WSL just got some good press from Teahupo’o that they desperately needed and then they go and fuck it up like that ??
Head scratching moment for sure !!
Next week looks dicey winds/weather. They're best off making the most of whatever they can, in order to finish in the best waves possible.
Agree and now they can wrap it up in a day :)
I reckon there’s a snowflake’s chance in hell land locked euros or any other rich pool goer from a non-traditional surfing country will make the tour.
There’s too much nuance to be learned, that only a lifetime (6-20 year of age) of ocean immersion can provide.
Pools remain the realm of kooks, the rich, good surfers getting some coaching, one off novelty trip or a combination of the above.
Yeah that’s a big call, a Brazilian grommet can surf all day every day ,at different locations and conditions, big small ,close outs,peeling , learn how to paddle out,weak swells, powerful swells,rips,sweeps,crowds etc .How does a wave pool compare to Chopes?
Reading a map ,watching the weather/swell charts, finding your own bank , lining up the takeoff spot, wide sets ,snaking, drop ins , tides , peaks
I agree. It's no coincidence that the majority of pros come from low period average east coast beachies. No substitute for reps and experience.
Hypothetically even if there was a wave pool phenomenon they're going to be a fish out of water in the ocean with rips, currents, tides, backwash, paddling etc.
Basically that's the plot of North Shore.
A bloke told me a high end surf coach on the goldy told him it’s hard for local kids to cut it to make it . As they don’t surf enough shitty grovelly waves as they surf too much good waves on the points .
In a comp that I cannot be bothered barely watching, I really appreciate these wraps Steve. Thanks for the analysis of Connor and Kanoa. I’m here for the opinion rather than the outcomes of heats. Cheers
+1 Solitude. I watched 10 minutes yesterday and today before moving on to other things.
100% ..watched 5 min of Conners heat today it was hard to watch
Same here. Boring stuff. Only made worse by going on instagram and seeing an argument about scoring between Brazillians and everyone else on every single post from the WSL.
- Medina now into 7th. Looking good to crack the final 5 with Saquarema next and a podium finish at Cloud break almost guaranteed.
- Definitely feels like Griffin and Ethan are in danger of being mowed down by Yago, Gabriel, and Italo in these last two events. I'm tipping at least one to slip out of contention.
- I think Kanoa's style and approach looks overcoached. How he ever made the final 5 to begin with is beyond me. He has his moments, but I find it all too rigid. It almost looks like he's trying too hard and that he's too tense.
- I'm not convinced a bigger board would do it for Connor. All his vertical turns are top class, I just don't think the waves here are giving him steep enough sections - apart from the closeout turns that he's been crushing.
- I really can't pick a winner for this event, but the momentum looks like it's swinging towards Gabriel and Yago.
- John now 6000 points out in front and will be very hard to catch by trestles.
Agree Totally! Never been a fan of quinoa. Connor having to adapt to mushier waves his boards look spot on maybe a tad more vol to get thru the dead sections.
John getting so far in front he's at risk of a serious knee injury...
shhhh, don't hex da boy !
wow. that was a quick turnaround 2 days in succession FR. And I thought JJF was on fire. onya!
2% not really setting the world on fire.
Really? Griff got the highest heat total (not counting the interference) and I think Crosby had the next highest. Not doing too bad. And Cole lost to Connor who was awesome today. So not sure how they could have surfed much better
not really a fan of the brazzo's , but yago is the exception , he's been surfing good for a while now, just needs the cards to fall and he's due for a win imo.
A bit dark on this location and wave hey Steve - how ya’ feeling about the next stop Brazil ?
Fantastic.
Straight faced :)
Great wrap as usual, Steve! Just one nit-picky comment. As opposed to Connor, Tati, Kanoa, and Brisa who were born and learned to surf in Australia, Hawaii or California then changed nationality for the Olympics or sponsorship reasons, Leo Fioravanti was born in Italy to Italian parents, and learned to surf in Italy too. Once he showed promise in Italian grom events he started travelling to events in France, Spain, and Portugal. Then when he got sponsored by Quik and Belly started dating his mom he moved to France, and also started spending lots of time in Portugal. So, while his surfing developed once Quik picked him up, gave him a travel budget, and starting pushing him, he's a pure product of Italy. It's just that when you're Italian, or German, eventually you have to move to France, Spain, Portugal, or the Canaries if you want a shot at the Big Time.
How old was he when he left Italy?
Alessandro Dini, Quik's Italian Marketing Manager got him onboard in 2007 when he was 9-10 (he's born Dec. '97). About 2 years later, Quik switched him to the Euro Team. By mid-2010, his mom had started dating Belly, so Leo started spending more and more time in Hossegor. But, any of the groms on the Euro Team at that point were doing all the Euro Pro Juniors, going to the training camps on Lanzarote, had been on the Crossing, and most had been on trips to Oz, Indo, and the North Shore, and were already hanging with the rest of the Young Guns, like Kanoa. He and Kanoa are the same age and came up together.
Belly started dating his mom?
Well, I don't know who instigated the relationship, but Belly was the Quik Europe Team Manager at the time. So, they saw each other a lot, and I guess one thing just lead to another. But they've been together over 14 years now. Lovely couple. Leo is pretty much Belly's stepson.
Mum?
Copy that Dave, and will correct for any future reference.
No worries, Steve! There are always little ones that slip through the cracks. Keep doing what you're doing!
....
I woke up & happened to watch most of the Medina heat. Gabe typically surfed as tight as he could to the 'pockets'. Then noticed some great Yago airs and John surfed a great underscored wave. Easily a 9.2+. But tripped out on Colapinto #2 as I was eating breakfast, watching it on a big TV screen. Colapinto #2's surfing is so horizontal. The first wave (at 1:10 in the video) I guess was reasonable & maybe have been (only just) an 8.17. Two strong early turns & the rest of the waver surfed with reasonable flow. But the 8.50 was trippy. At 3:10 in the video, Colapinto #2 does a two wiggle take off and does a very good extended driving cutback. But instead of fading a bottom turn and then vertically blasting the curling lip, he dodges the curling lips (could have been two vertical blasts into two curling lips) and does another cutback; then its a re-entry on a flat crumbly section; then closes the wave on a similar but more lame crumbly section. This type of rubbish surfing; missing the best parts of the wave, is not an 8.50. The judges are freaking tripping and this represents everything crap about the WSL at the moment. John's 8.93 was on another level, at least 2 points better. Gabriel's 8.50 was at least 1 point better.
?si=kOfYHek-pCxSFrFRHow about all the rights. Turn point/reef rights. On tour. Hard road for the Goofs!
Reef? There's a reef?