We need not mention Kelly’s unrivaled reign at Teahupo’o (and most spots around the world, for that matter). Photo: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz
Fantasy surfing is getting pretty serious these days. Fantasy Surfer has always had awesome event prize packs and a grand prizes for the top performing fantasy surfers at the end of the year, but things just got a lot more interesting.
The inception of a brand new website, Fantasygrudge.com, allows surf fans in the U.S. and Canada to bet cold, hard cash on their favorite pros. The set-up has the same eight-man team format as Fantasy Surfer but allows the individual to be committed for the season or just one event. There’s also an option to bet against a group or head-to-head.
Just like any other sports betting and fantasy leagues, there’s always a place fans can go for advice. And while you can get that advice from ex-professional surfers like Shea Lopez and Ross Williams on the Teahupo’o event, perhaps a word from the average surf fan will add some meaningful contribution. I may have never thrown on a jersey, but I understand the forecasts, study each destination, follow all the athletes, and probably spend just as much time in the water as most of the guys on tour. Not to mention, I’ve been on somewhat of a heater this year when it comes to fantasy surfing. My picks are based on each surfer’s full value as of the last event, although surfers’ values may vary for each individual’s team (see rules here).
Kelly Slater: $10,500,000
Although Slater seems to be in a funk compared to recent years, his results this year still reflect competitive focus. He’s still sitting at an impressive sixth on the world rankings and he received his best result of 2015 at the last event. Despite his uncharacteristic performance in the last few events, there’s perhaps no other surfer on tour with as much clout at Teahupo’o. He’s been in the finals the last two years and won the whole event in 2011. To not pick Kelly would be foolish.
Owen Wright: $8,750,000
Wright is on a roll. Still on a high from being the first-ever surfer to score two perfect heats in the same event, and headed back to Tahiti with confidence from scoring there only a few months back, this guy will be the one to beat.
Josh Kerr: $7,750,000
Kerrzy has been kind of skimming by this year, or at least staying out of the spotlight. But even with a slight lack of performance, he’s still tied for ninth with Italo Ferreira in the rankings. Kerr also joined the Big Wave Tour this year, so you can bet he won’t hesitate if conditions are huge like they were last year.
Adrian Buchan: $5,750,000
Ace is coming off a third-place finish at J-Bay and likely feeling extremely confident at the moment. Last year he was a favorite to win Teahupo’o before narrowly losing to Bede Durbidge in the Quarterfinals with a 19.00. Any other heat and Ace would’ve advanced. Unfortunately, he fell just short of Bede’s impressive 19.87.
Wiggolly Dantas: $5,500,000
This kid is hungry. The whole rookie class is. But Dantas proved himself in Fiji with a Quarterfinal finish and backed it up with an equal ninth at J-Bay, eliminating Joel Parkinson in the process.
Adam Melling: $5,000,000
Melling’s best result so far was at the Fiji Pro, and he lost to Wright’s first perfect heat score, so give the guy some credit. He has Adriano de Souza and a wildcard in his R1 heat draw, which makes him a favorite with de Souza entering Round 2 in every event so far this year. Add the fact that he is one spot from requalification for added motivation, and he’s a solid pick.
*Jeremy Flores $3,750,000
Flores is a beast. He is still unsure if he’s surfing because of an ongoing injury to the face. If he surfs, he’ll go far.
Ricardo Christie $3,000,000
Christie’s been posting some big heat scores against some big names. If he keeps it up, he’s bound to break out of Round 3.
*In the event that Flores doesn’t compete due to his injury, I’d replace him with Matt Wilkinson ($4,750,000) and therefore switch out Josh Kerr with the local boy Michel Bourez ($6,750,000).
WSL Fantasy League Picks:
Tier A: Kelly Slater and Owen Wright
Tier B: Josh Kerr, Adrian Buchan, Adam Melling, and lastly:
Gabriel Medina: This guy looked to be back in World Champion form out in J-Bay. The confidence he holds going into Tahiti as the event champion will set Medina into motion.
Tier C:
Kolohe Andino: The simple fact that Andino is in this tier seems like a gift.
Michel Bourez: He was looking really good at J-Bay making it to Round 5 coming back from an injury. Now we are headed to his home turf where local knowledge can play a huge role.
