In a single moment on Saturday the twelfth of April in a far flung central American country on the other side of the world, Finals Day in the fourth round of the Championship tour cured South Africa of all political turmoil.
No, not really. But a great sentiment, isn’t it?
South African vs South African.
This historic all-South African heat even made the mainstream media. So, who knows – perhaps an all-round superb South African result in this year’s WSL could spur a whole fresh new interest in the sport in the country.
Bah Humbug, some of us will say. We have enough crowds, others will say. Keep surfing core others will say. Well, you know what kind of people prefer exclusivity? Literal Nazi’s. So embrace this long-awaited (and possibly not very long lasting) surfing resurgence and the potential newbie surfers it may produce. Maybe one will be a future surf champ for all we know.
SA surfers on tour have long been one of the main reasons Trident even bothers with watching WSL events in the first place. Sure, we all have our favourite surfers, of various nationalities – and these guys (and girls) shred the ever-loving heck outta the waves they surf – but lo! Watching some surfing heats live is more akin to watching golf – if you’re not a golf fan.
Try watching slow Trestles or trying to sell the concept of waiting periods to the mainstream, and watching WSL surfing live can have about as much appeal as contracting leprosy. But for Trident, watching the slow heats with Jordy and/or Matt in it is an incentive.
South Africans in the WSL Fantasy Surf League,
Trident even actively decided against competing in any surfing fantasy leagues this year. This is due to our patriotism towards the two Saffa’s on tour outweighing any cold, unbiased approach to picking surfers. Which in turn led to not doing terribly well overall in previous fantasy leagues over the years. Well, that’s what Trident is claiming at least.
But still, with respect to the lesser known surfers on the Championship tour – like, say the Brazilians who haven’t won a World Title, what skin does the average South African surf fan actually have in the game?
Don’t get Trident wrong. If you;re on the CT Tour, you’re an excellent surfer, worthy of fame, fortune and breakfast cereal endorsements. However, knowing we have some very competitive SA surfers right up there makes surfing just that bit more special.
Matt’s perfect ten at Chopes. Andy Irons would have been impressed. Jordy’s event winds, and close calls to a World Title.
Right now the okes are in the middle of the Aussie leg, 3 events in total. Both Matt and Jordy are looking settled, and both traditionally do well on that blasted blight of a continent down under. Um, okay, so both their Aussie campaigns seem a bit slow now… But here’s to Margaret River and here’s to both making it past the cut, and both ending up in the top five.
Stranger things have happened after all. Such as South Africans in a completely different sporting code winning four World Cups.
