Some people loved Wilko’s crazy wetsuits. I didn’t. Photo: Rip Curl
The Ugly
Cloudbreak Swell
Would I have paddled out? I can’t honestly say without having been there. But I feel certain that the majority of the World Tour who was there and didn’t paddle out dealt a heavy and perhaps unrecoverable blow to their credibility. They had a comp to surf, their careers depend on them not getting hurt, people depend on them for money…all of these things constitute very good reasons to have not paddled out, and maybe that’s what’s wrong with surfing these days.
Rip Curl Pro Portugal
Everyone makes public mistakes, but the ASP judges are the only ones who can do it without having to explain themselves to anyone. There is no avoiding the subjectivity of surfing, but there is accepting when you’ve gotten it badly wrong.
Brazilian Bikini Surfing
What is the difference between looking at someone’s butt and looking at their sphincter? One is something I quite enjoy, and one is something I avoid whenever I can. As the bikinis of female surfers get smaller, we have to start drawing the line between “sexy” and “anatomical.” If young women want to show off their bodies, that’s their business. If they want to surf well in small swim suits, I’ll enjoy watching them. If they want to surf well in small swim suits with cameramen who focus on shots between their butt-cheeks, I’m grossed out. Unless we sleep together, I don’t want to see your vagina and your butt hole.
Wilko’s Wetsuits
Has there ever been a more blatant and ridiculous branding campaign than putting Matt Wilkinson in different, stupid-looking wetsuits for each event? It didn’t help that the much-loved Wilko slumped this year. Despite the dumb neoprene, Wilkinson has a certain grace and integrity to him that sees him giving interviews after losing and even shedding a few tears. I hope he stays on tour and loses the suits. You can be a “character” without having to sell yourself as a “character”
Shuvits
Unless your name is Christopher “Chippa” Wilson, leave’em in the skate park.
