Ever since its formation back in – 2014 we think it was, the blunders of the WSL have been legion. Many issues may have been teething problems, but here we are in 2023, post-COVID and Trident can’t help but scratch our heads and wonder – huh?! Something that could be on this list is J Bay’s exclusion from next year’s tour – but that’s a 2024 blunder (and the rumour is we’re back in 2025 anyway, being out next year is to do with the Olympics timing). So, herewith follows but a tip of the iceberg of some of the most bizarre decisions the highest level of professionalism of our beloved sport came up with:
Number 1: The mid-season cut.
Still. Seriously? Surely the WSL must realise professional surfing as a career is tough enough as it is, on a par with professional snake venom extractors, professional dynamite Jenga craftsmen and clowns. So, to make pro surfing even more difficult, almost half the gents and ladies get unceremoniously booted mid-year off to create “sports drama”. What a steaming pile of manure. For us fans, the culling of several surfers remains as popular with fans as leprosy. All Trident can hope for is, after two years of negative press, can it be changed next year please. Equally as silly although far less universally despised is the Final Five World title decider at Trestles, but Trident already discussed this at length in last week’s Poseidon Post article, read it again here.
Number 2: Thanks to the above, Kelly Slater’s sacking then re-entry as a Wildcard after the mid-season cut.
The GOAT is clearly nearing retirement, but what he has done for surfing is remarkable. To mention all Slater’s achievements would be an exercise in platitude. Still, 11 World Titles, dating Pamela Anderson and Giselle Bundchen amongst others, launching several brands and starring in the original Baywatch bears mention. As does winning 2022 Pipe in heavy waves. Insane. Then, in 2023 it looked like King Kelly was feeling his age. Not much to be excited about. Lacklustre results for him in 2023 leading to a very undignified cut from the tour. Fans raged online. Ashes were smeared onto faces and sackcloths became fashion statements. The WSL backtracked in panic and offered a very convoluted wild card for Kelly for the rest of the year. It was all very pandering and patronising, but Slater did surf some ok heats in J Bay and Teahupoo – before bowing out in the latter event. It’s literally like Messi ending his football career and working for a potato chip brand.
Number 3: The firing of CEO Erik Logan.
Truth be told, the hiring of Erik Logan as CEO could just as well be on here. However, that peculiar decision clearly wasn’t made in 2023 thus not legible for this list. Trident feels kinda sorry for this luckless twit who only started surfing after his appointment as CEO. *Trident viciously scratches head. ‘Coz clearly the WSL right now is like the politics in South Africa; the finger gets pointed at the dude in charge, while back at the surf ranch – the entire bloody organisation is pretty much an abject failure. Still, the boss has to take responsibility for the mistakes of his underlings. But the joke is on Erik, said underlings got rid of him in a Mussolini-like coup. It really doesn’t matter if the rumours of Erik’s misconduct are true or not, he really was never the right man for the job in the first place. We wish him nothing but luck, and hope the rumours of him and llamas won’t affect his future career in the slightest. Maybe he can work for Oprah again, there is that.
Number 4: The questionable calls/waiting periods for waves during events.
Ok this one is a toughie, we admit it. Nobody controls nature. Yes Trump, not even you. And in the same breath, as much as they’d like to; no corporate controls nature. Not even the WSL. Anyhow, Trident believes the waiting periods for most of the events this year should’ve been reconsidered. J Bay for example, was absolutely on fire in the weeks leading up to the actual competition. Sure, the J Bay Open had some decent surf during its run time, but many surfers lauded how good the waves were during free surfs prior to the event proper – even with a shark prowling the lineups. Even Teahupoo was a shadow of what it can be. And for the most part; the Ozzie leg, Portugal, South America and even Pipeline was disappointing. All for the WSL’s year to finish in Trestles with only five men and five women. Sure, Trestles is a fun wave by all accounts. It will have plenty of Southern California supporters, tons of surf fans the WSL so hungrily craves. But surfers the world over will implore the powers-that-be to end the season at macking Pipe. Ending the year at Trestles is like finishing a PGA tour at your local rundown Putt Putt course.
Number 5: The name itself.
Do an online search for WSL. One of the things that came up is the Women’s Super League. A football league in England. Perhaps the World Surf League should have done more research. Just saying.
