Rio. Doesn’t that event just cop some shit. And it’s so easy—the peaky, less-than-perfect beach break of Barra da Tijuca; the rumours of pros pulling out because of all the zika-infected turds floating through the line-up; the flagrant attempt on the WSL’s behalf to appeal to such a large and burgeoning surf market; and of course, all that flag-waving, dancing and unrestrained passion. (What’s that all about anyway? You’d almost think hosting an international sporting event in your backyard was something to celebrate.)
But is it actually as bad as we make it out to be? Sure, there’s a hundred better venues for a CT in Indo alone, and the water quality is definitely a cause for concern (albeit one that the WSL and the surfers are no doubt discussing), but do we really believe that the Oi Rio Pro is the worst thing to happen to surfing since Laird Hamilton got his own website?
After reading so much online condemnation about the Brazil event, I went back and watched last year’s highlights to see if it really was all close-outs and crap. Miraculously, it wasn’t. In fact, some pretty good surfing went down. Here’s five not-so-shithouse things about the upcoming Oi Rio Pro for those who like their glasses half full:
The Innovation
Last year John John threw down a friggin’ rodeo. Felipe was boosting full-rotations out into the flats. If ever there’s a venue where airs suddenly become high currency, it’s the short, punchy beach breaks of Barra da Tijuca and the like. Considering the bag of tricks most guys on tour are carrying these days and the fact that a lot of stops aren’t real conducive to launching above the lip, it’ll be exciting to see what the pros bring to the table this time around. If the last few years have been anything to go by, we could be in for some big punts.
The Barrels
While they might not have compared to Fiji, Chopes or Pipe, some of the pits guys were packing out Barra last year were the real deal. Have a look at the highlights and you’ll see a lot of big points came from late, deep, sand-bottom drainers—the kind of barrels you’d be stoked to score at your local. Rio’s beaches have a tendency to break on shallow sand close to shore, so unless conditions are huge or horrendously onshore this year, expect to see at least the occasional throaty tube get threaded.
Yes, this is Brazil. Photo WSL/Daniel Smorigo
The top 34 surfing the kind of waves we surf everyday (more or less)
Sure, it’s not ideal, and it totally goes against the notion of ‘the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves’, but isn’t it kind of refreshing to watch the top 34 surf the type of shifty beach break conditions most of us have to deal with everyday? Competitors are suddenly forced to abandon the waiting game and instead root around the inside like a couple of frothing grommets, hunting down double-ups, air-sections, basically anything that would’ve once had their mates going ‘Aww fark yeah, that was sick!’ It’s a venue that favours energy over strategy, and if you keep your eyes open, you could probably even learn something from the way the pros take apart the junk.
Nat Young and waves that could be an average post-work session for most of us. Photo: WSL/Cestari
The People, The Place
Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Rio is actually really beautiful—lush green mountains wedged up against the coastline, water everywhere, women, sunshine, parties. Like any city in the developing world it has more than its share of problems, and I think we can all agree the waves aren’t world class, but the energy that exists there is like nowhere else on tour, and if you thought you loved surfing, the locals will put you to shame (or at least drown you out).
One thing Brazil isn’t short of – an infectious energy. Photo: WSL/Cestari
John John Florence
The fresh prince of Oahu ain’t too worried about heading to Rio. Turns out he’s actually a pretty big fan of the place.
