Judging and conditions are the achilles heal of modern surfing , an example is Cole Houshmand at bells in 2024 . The judges gave Cole the nod over Gabriel at Winki in a controversial win for the young guy . Houshmand also got through the quarter final against Ethan Ewing in a non event (due to lack of waves) with only 3 waves surfed in total for the heat . Cole got the first wave very early in the heat , then both surfers grovelled for unsurfable garbage for the rest of the heat . The event then went on hold after Cole v Ethan heat .
"Judging and conditions are the achilles heal of modern surfing" Those are for sure the two wildcards..Judging is subjective and waves are outside our control. The example you give is a good one. If Cole doesn't get that nod over Gabe he probably doesn't make the cut. If Gabe gets that call he may have made the Final 5. It's that close. I put the side by side review on my channel (th-cam.com/video/G7pEquUYiy0/w-d-xo.html) and it's still a coin toss to me. I thought Gabe actually won when I watched it live, but could see how it could go either way. Thanks for your comment.
I hope she does well, but I feel like the level of surfing from others on the CT will eclipse her skill level at this point, but look, I'm cheering for her. Patriotically I don't mind adding another American to the arsenal of Caity, Caroline and Sawyer.
@ Wow no I didn’t but I already was on her team but what she’s done this past year was remarkable. She is a total package and will be world champ within 3 years. Also it sucks that S. Kerr just didn’t do as well as I expected but her surfing is on point. She just won Cloud 9 events with Nias and Cloud 9 it looked better than the waves on the CT this year. I dig your show keep it up my brother. It’s cool to have someone with the same views and age that I am still totally stoked on Surfing!
@@joshualogan835I think she didn’t really try on the CS yet.i heard her saying somewhere she’s still trying to improve her surfing before really giving it a shot. I somehow like she’s taking her time. She’s definitely good but let the kids be kids. Her time will come…
I wasn't expecting Tbone to throw out Amuro's name! THANKS!! Amuro Tsuzuki is a great friend and she absolutely RIPS! I'd trade her out for Isabella. Amuro's power game is top notch and she's starting to spend more time in larger surf. She didn't do better than a ninth this season in CS events but I know she was struggling with some issues.
Jackson Bunch is the hawaiian Jacob Wilcox. A little bit more flow and style i think he’s going to have a really good year. Marco could be good but he’s going to struggle at the beginning with pipe and portugal i think. Joel, Jackson, George and Sammy make the cut with sammy being a contender this year i think
It's been interesting watching Sierra Kerr. In the last year she has struggled to get far into several CS contests, mostly not in the greatest waves, but she absolutely demolished the field at the QS in the Philippines that just finished on Nov 1. The waves were up and down so she looked to be showing better heat craft than before, and then landed three airs in the finals and thoroughly combo-ed her opponent. If she can keep that form up she will sail into the next CS series and on from there. A question I have is, if Sierra Kerr and Tya Brozowski are the two most exciting women not on yet the CT, who are the most exciting male surfers in the same position? I'll throw out Brazil's Arthur Vilar, newly crowned U14 and U16 Brazil champion, though he's still very young!
Thanks for this comment! T-bone and I might have to do a show on upcoming talent! Tya did look impressive in Ericeira...really mature surfing for 13. The other young up and coming females are Australian Milla Coco Brown and San Clemente's Eden Walla who was the youngest ever to win the Supergirl event. Eden's brother Zion (13) is already charging huge Pascuales in Mexico (check his insta if you haven't seen it). I saw Arthur Vilar surfing with Italo in El Salvador this year leading up to the Punta Roca event. He's still a bit raw and throws crazy airs, but as he grows into his style, he could be the next superstar.
@@OldSurfDad yeah he was eager to surf saquarema to take a shot at title but couldnt be ready for it.. Ian gonna rip pipe, hes a great tube rider. I think he has a chance to make the cut if he goes well at pipe and portugal
I still remember this! I was pissed! Malia has so much style and grace and is fearless in larger waves and reefbreaks! I'm still peeved by the way the WSL favored Sally without explanation and with blatant favoritism. smh
That's a bold call, but then again would it surprise anyone? 🤷♂ My guess is Caity/Caroline will use their experience to win some heats and events, but once Erin get comfortable she could roll everyone for a few years.
This is such a GREAT CALL! Nadia has impressed me...She made the Quarters in the Olympics losing a close heat to Tati! And I think Lakey will struggle to make the Cut tbh.
Luana should see action as a wildcard. She's so close to being on the CT every year it's heartbreaking at times. She's improving and could make the cut given the chance.
Sierra will get her chance. She should qualify next year if she decides to focus on it, but she free surfs some pretty epic waves with pops so I could see her becoming a free surfer and perhaps having more fun!
@@OldSurfDad Well S. Kerr was in full force contest surfing yesterday at Cloud 9 and killed it each and every heat free surf or contest surfer or both this young lady is on 🔥 fire. Plus having J. Kerr as your Father sure helps
@@OldSurfDad plus I saw this young 13 year old girl whom I think is from Tahiti but surfs of course for 🇫🇷 France Tya Zebrowski whom got a wildcard in the ERICEIRA pro and made it to the finals to get second against Sally Fitzgibbons but I couldn’t believe a 13 year old girl with a nice power hack and a good air game already at 13. Shocking and Stoked for sure.
Cleland, Herdy and Levi Slawson are ones to watch. Jett is gnarly too.
Erin Brooks vs Caity Simmers is going to be the Bird vs Magic of women's surfing
That could be your finals at Cloudbreak!🤩 Who would you take?
@@OldSurfDad I think Caity will take it this time, but Caity vs Erin is going to be a common world champion matchup for the future
Judging and conditions are the achilles heal of modern surfing , an example is Cole Houshmand at bells in 2024 . The judges gave Cole the nod over Gabriel at Winki in a controversial win for the young guy . Houshmand also got through the quarter final against Ethan Ewing in a non event (due to lack of waves) with only 3 waves surfed in total for the heat . Cole got the first wave very early in the heat , then both surfers grovelled for unsurfable garbage for the rest of the heat . The event then went on hold after Cole v Ethan heat .
"Judging and conditions are the achilles heal of modern surfing" Those are for sure the two wildcards..Judging is subjective and waves are outside our control. The example you give is a good one. If Cole doesn't get that nod over Gabe he probably doesn't make the cut. If Gabe gets that call he may have made the Final 5. It's that close. I put the side by side review on my channel (th-cam.com/video/G7pEquUYiy0/w-d-xo.html) and it's still a coin toss to me. I thought Gabe actually won when I watched it live, but could see how it could go either way. Thanks for your comment.
Bella rips. Bad call boys. I love your show bro. She is gnarly.
Gotta admit I did watch a wave of Bella and she threw buckets 🌊🌊🌊
I hope she does well, but I feel like the level of surfing from others on the CT will eclipse her skill level at this point, but look, I'm cheering for her. Patriotically I don't mind adding another American to the arsenal of Caity, Caroline and Sawyer.
Keep a look out for Greyson Grant and Kyan Yang. Very solid kids getting better!
Thanks for this..putting together a show highlighting new talent soon.
Best in class for sure S. Pupo
Jackson Bunch or Joel Vaughn too. But sammy could be top 5 this year his surfing in performance waves is so good
Rookie of the year! Erin Brooks is the entire package
Yeah, she's got so many weapons! Did you see her Dad shaved his beard? He looks completely different!
@ Wow no I didn’t but I already was on her team but what she’s done this past year was remarkable. She is a total package and will be world champ within 3 years. Also it sucks that S. Kerr just didn’t do as well as I expected but her surfing is on point. She just won Cloud 9 events with Nias and Cloud 9 it looked better than the waves on the CT this year. I dig your show keep it up my brother. It’s cool to have someone with the same views and age that I am still totally stoked on Surfing!
@@joshualogan835I think she didn’t really try on the CS yet.i heard her saying somewhere she’s still trying to improve her surfing before really giving it a shot. I somehow like she’s taking her time. She’s definitely good but let the kids be kids. Her time will come…
I wasn't expecting Tbone to throw out Amuro's name! THANKS!! Amuro Tsuzuki is a great friend and she absolutely RIPS! I'd trade her out for Isabella. Amuro's power game is top notch and she's starting to spend more time in larger surf. She didn't do better than a ninth this season in CS events but I know she was struggling with some issues.
Amuro is solid surfer. I notice she can be inconsistent in heats at times, but I've seen her smash the lip and went "wow"!
🤙🏻🤙🏻 Be awesome to see Amuro make the CT 🇯🇵
Jackson Bunch is the hawaiian Jacob Wilcox. A little bit more flow and style i think he’s going to have a really good year. Marco could be good but he’s going to struggle at the beginning with pipe and portugal i think. Joel, Jackson, George and Sammy make the cut with sammy being a contender this year i think
Great analogy and like your cut predictions 🤙🏻
Thanks for this comment. Looking forward to see Jackson Bunch this season. I think he might have more range than Eli Hanneman. We'll see.
It's been interesting watching Sierra Kerr. In the last year she has struggled to get far into several CS contests, mostly not in the greatest waves, but she absolutely demolished the field at the QS in the Philippines that just finished on Nov 1. The waves were up and down so she looked to be showing better heat craft than before, and then landed three airs in the finals and thoroughly combo-ed her opponent. If she can keep that form up she will sail into the next CS series and on from there. A question I have is, if Sierra Kerr and Tya Brozowski are the two most exciting women not on yet the CT, who are the most exciting male surfers in the same position? I'll throw out Brazil's Arthur Vilar, newly crowned U14 and U16 Brazil champion, though he's still very young!
Thanks for this comment! T-bone and I might have to do a show on upcoming talent! Tya did look impressive in Ericeira...really mature surfing for 13. The other young up and coming females are Australian Milla Coco Brown and San Clemente's Eden Walla who was the youngest ever to win the Supergirl event. Eden's brother Zion (13) is already charging huge Pascuales in Mexico (check his insta if you haven't seen it). I saw Arthur Vilar surfing with Italo in El Salvador this year leading up to the Punta Roca event. He's still a bit raw and throws crazy airs, but as he grows into his style, he could be the next superstar.
@@OldSurfDadanother 13 year old to watch: Kiara Goold (just realized she’s 14 now but still very young)
Ian was injured thats why he didnt surf last 2 events, he wants to get healthy to CT next year
Thanks for this...I didn't know. He still got second! Dang, pretty remarkable.
btw, How do you think he'll do on the CT?
@@OldSurfDad yeah he was eager to surf saquarema to take a shot at title but couldnt be ready for it..
Ian gonna rip pipe, hes a great tube rider. I think he has a chance to make the cut if he goes well at pipe and portugal
Ian Gouveia. Surfed only 4 events and made the cut in 2nd! Nuts!
Gangsta mode...but does he make the cut?
Surprised Ian didn’t compete in the last challenger event in Brazil ?
I still think Malia Manuel should have made the CT and not Sally F. Malia was rated higher than Sally, when they both fell off tour.
I still remember this! I was pissed! Malia has so much style and grace and is fearless in larger waves and reefbreaks! I'm still peeved by the way the WSL favored Sally without explanation and with blatant favoritism. smh
Good call on Malia 🤙🏻
Isabella and Erin make the cut with Erin taking the ROTY
Good call. No one wants to back me on Vahine, but that's ok. Haha
Erin Brooks will be 2025 World Champ
That's a bold call, but then again would it surprise anyone? 🤷♂ My guess is Caity/Caroline will use their experience to win some heats and events, but once Erin get comfortable she could roll everyone for a few years.
Mens ROTY goes to Marco
Love this guys surfing and am really curious to see how he goes..
Joel or George ROTY ?
He will be the first off tour. great in small waves that’s it tho
I’d trade Nadia (who was injured the last 2 events) for Lakey who has a season WC
This is such a GREAT CALL! Nadia has impressed me...She made the Quarters in the Olympics losing a close heat to Tati! And I think Lakey will struggle to make the Cut tbh.
Definitely trade Sally for Luana or Amuro, Sally has had her time...
Luana should see action as a wildcard. She's so close to being on the CT every year it's heartbreaking at times. She's improving and could make the cut given the chance.
Sort of agree to give some fresh blood a crack at the CT🤘🏼 Should there be a cap on how many times can you drop off the CT and requalify ?
Take out kenworthy and put in S. Kerr 💯 percent
Sierra will get her chance. She should qualify next year if she decides to focus on it, but she free surfs some pretty epic waves with pops so I could see her becoming a free surfer and perhaps having more fun!
@@OldSurfDad Well S. Kerr was in full force contest surfing yesterday at Cloud 9 and killed it each and every heat free surf or contest surfer or both this young lady is on 🔥 fire. Plus having J. Kerr as your Father sure helps
@@OldSurfDad plus I saw this young 13 year old girl whom I think is from Tahiti but surfs of course for 🇫🇷 France Tya Zebrowski whom got a wildcard in the ERICEIRA pro and made it to the finals to get second against Sally Fitzgibbons but I couldn’t believe a 13 year old girl with a nice power hack and a good air game already at 13. Shocking and Stoked for sure.
@@joshualogan835 Yes! was just saying on another comment here how impressed I was with Tya! One to watch for sure.
Just watched a clip of Bella surfing backhand 🤘🏼 She was sending spray as big as any women on tour