Barrels or Bust?
Friday 24 June 2022 Matt McGillivray and Jordy Smith were relegated to the elimination round in 4-6ft Rio yesterday. Jordy, in particular, can feel aggrieved. Saffa fans seem to be, writes Spike.
BAD HAIR DAY: Gabriel Medina was washed ashore by the Brazilian Storm. Photo WSL / Diz
For a change in Rio, the surf was pretty good for the 8th stop on the tour. The waves at Praia de Itaúna, Saquarema, were clean and barrelling 4-6ft although a little tricksy for anyone trying to find good scores. The two Saffas weren't the only ones pushed into the Round 2 elimination though. All five top women in the current rankings were relegated too after a low-scoring opener, while one of the local favourites' new hairstyle didn't do him any favours.
Wave selection and strategy was key, and so was the judging. A lot of people are asking whether bunny hops should be judged a good thing, and whether backhand snaps are better than barrels, or how much better are aerials over barrel rides? Rookie Aussie Jackson Baker took out Heat 7 with a 9.87. Only 0.71 of a point separated his heat win with second placed Callum Robson (AUS) 9.37, and Jordy at 9.16.
The question being asked is whether a deep barrel on a dredging, albeit smaller, wave is a bit underscored at 3.83 (Jordy)? Was that backhand wave with two top-turn snaps a bit overscored at 5.17 (Baker)? And lets not even get into how judges judge aerials, and the whole philosophical debate about what constitutes good surfing, or more to the point, what constitutes power and flow?
BARREL BUMMER: Jordy was finding deep tubes but not the right wave scores. Photo WSL / Diz
Anyway, McGillivray probably has less reason to feel hard done by, with Italo Ferreira (BRA) pulling off a strong win by 12.60 against the South African's 9.00, with Joao Chianca (BRA) last on 6.30.
Gabriel Medina (BRA) struggled in the tricky conditions, and despite staying very busy, could not catch up to Connor O’Leary (AUS). Medina was relegated to the Elimination Round behind Ethan Ewing (AUS).
Another surprise result was when Michael Rodrigues (BRA) defeated Griffin Colapinto (USA) in the dying minutes of their heat. Colapinto was leading Rodrigues and Jake Marshall (USA), until the Brazilian wildcard banked two scoring rides, enough to edge out Colapinto by just 0.06 points.
“It’s such a hard heat to talk about, I don’t know what happened! I’ve been competing in some national events, but when I got the wildcard for this event, it’s was such good news. I’ve been working hard on my surfing, on my mind, on everything. I feel ready and making this first heat is amazing. I’m over the moon,” said Rodrigues.
ON A BURN: Gabriela Bryan surfed Lakey Peterson and Brisa Hennessy into Rd 2. Photo WSL / Smorigo
Otherwise, the Brazilians were right at home in Rio, with no fewer than five men winning their heats out of a possible eight: Rodrigues, Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Yago Dora and Miguel Pupo, while Tatiana Weston-Webb (10.77) bested her opponents Sol Aguirre (PER) 9.90, with a surprisingly bad result for Carissa Moore (HAW) on 1.80. Weston-Webb advances directly to the Quarterfinals. For Moore, her loss into the Elimination Round is just her second of the season (first at the Surf City El Salvador Pro) out of eight events.
Searching for his fourth title in Rio de Janeiro, current rankings leader Toledo was happy to be surfing in front of his home crowd: “It’s fun, it’s a wild ride, it’s a lot of emotions and we've got to control it. It’s really hard to do, but with my team it makes it a lot easier. I’m just enjoying time with my family, and trying to relax and have fun.”
2022 CT rookie Gabriela Bryan (HAW) delivered the first upset of the day when she defeated World No. 5 Lakey Peterson (USA) and World No. 3 Brisa Hennessy (CRI), sending the top seeds to the Elimination Round. Caroline Marks (USA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) also advanced to the Quarterfinals, relegating top seeds Johanne Defay (FRA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA).
FRAMED: The Rio event finally got some really fun looking surf after damp squibs Photo WSL / Diz
Women’s Opening Round 1
HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 11.07 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 5.97, Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 5.74
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 10.77 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 9.90, Carissa Moore (HAW) 1.80
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 10.67 DEF Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.77 Courtney Conlogue (USA) 3.33
HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 8.24 DEF Isabella Nichols (AUS) 7.67 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6.7
Women’s Elimination Round Matchups
HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Sol Aguirre (PER)
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 3: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRI) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
Men’s Opening Round 1
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.60 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 9.00, Joao Chianca (BRA) 6.30
HEAT 2: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 12.33 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.27, Jake Marshall (USA) 7.24
HEAT 3: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.67 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 8.50, Samuel Pupo (BRA) 7.50
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.77 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 11.00, Miguel Tudela (PER) 9.23
HEAT 5: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.90 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.50, Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.83
HEAT 6: Connor O'Leary (AUS) 10.56 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 7.47, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 6.40
HEAT 7: Jackson Baker (AUS) 9.87 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 9.37, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.16
HEAT 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 8.90, Jadson Andre (BRA) 7.50
Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Miguel Tudela (PER)
HEAT 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
HEAT 3: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA)
HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Nat Young (USA)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 7: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 8: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)