Trident doesn’t know about you lot, but we’ve pretty much exhausted our supply of Prozac with this World Cup. The Boks just made it out the semi’s by a flea’s whisker and we’re pretty sure half the nation is due a heart attack shortly. But before that happens, we present a few things RWC 2023 may just have inadvertently taught the surfing world:
Number 1: There simply has to be some undiscovered world class waves in some of the other Pacific island nations.
Fiji has Cloudbreak. An event that’s made its way back onto the Championship Tour in 2024. And at the same time, Fiji did damn well in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Which begs the question… There are a number of other Pacific Island nations which took part in the RWC this year, namely Tonga and Samoa.
Surely this World Cup would’ve taught fans of both surfing and rugby to look beyond the obvious places to look for relatively untouched waves? Of course, we had Chile competing for the first time ever in the Rugby World Cup, and they are blessed with an abundance of killer waves.
Number 2: The Aussie dominance in both sports has been toppled.
So, the mighty Australians have stumbled lately in their surfing. Likewise, they have stumbled spectacularly in their rugby. Now, Trident doesn’t necessarily enjoy this fact * muffled snigger, but the reality is Ozzie ascendancy has been toppled quite convincingly in both sports. Australians are just like Americans – very good at sports nobody else cares about or is interested in, like Rugby League, basketball and Ozzie Rules. Sure they have cricket, but for all intents and purposes, Ozzies are kinda kak at the few sports in which they compete with other nations. Sad really. * Muffled snigger.
Number 3: You really wish you could watch it all live and soak up the atmosphere.
If you’re reading this, Trident must assume you’ve watched at least one surf competition and one rugby match in your life. Also assumedly, these were fairly big stakes events. Although – if we have to, we’ll accept that you once went to watch a half arsed surf club compo where few competitors were fully sober. Perhaps you used to be forced to watch First Fifteen rugby matches in Grade 8 to “instill some school spirit. However, Trident is simplifying by assuming you’ve watched big surf and/or rugby events before. The roar of the crowd, the sheer spectacle of athletic talent on display. The sponsors, the gees, the beers flowing freely.
The sense of camaraderie as you get behind your team/chosen surfer. It’s wonderful to experience it live. Sure, in both surfing and rugby, watching it on the screen allows for replays, commentary and easy access to the bathroom, but it definitely lacks that atmosphere. Especially watching it on a cellphone. Uh, do better, WSL.
Number 4: It’s okay to be emotional.
But only if you’ve just won a massive event on the Surfing Championship tour. Or you’re belting out your country’s anthem before belting/being belted by the opposing rugby side.
Number 5: You can’t win them all.
Our loss to Ireland in the pool stages stung a bit, but it did prove that not all is lost when you’ve lost. Although we don’t wanna jinx the Final by saying anything else; but lose a game, lose a heat – it ain’t over until it’s over. Sorry England and France, but isn’t that the painful truth?
