*** Official Rip Curl WSL Finals Thread ***

theramrod

Nep status
Nov 14, 2014
605
825
93
N Cackalaki
What about something like the Superbowl? Ignoring the venue (which you cannot in surfing), coming down to a head to head showdown to crown a season champion is the way of most pro sports. Even the funky college football championship has a pseudo head-to-head system with the BCS.

Of course teams like the 2007 Patriots would say that it sucks and it should only be about the regular season.
You have a good point. Last year if anyone other than Gabriel or Carissa won because they had an off day on a wave of no consequence it would feel like a complete sham considering the dominant year they had. This year no one surfer has dominated and the finals day format does seam a bit fitting. Maybe I'm having more of a problem right now with Trestles being the decider though there is no one venue that would make for a truly level playing field for different surfers shine at different spots. Damnit Sponge, as I am writing this you are making me look forward to Finals Day. Anyone know who's playing the halftime show?
 

Geopac

Billy Hamilton status
Jul 28, 2003
1,366
584
113
Ballast Point
It appears the swell gods will finally answer the WSL's prayers and snap the elongated run of a season full of mediocre contest swells. Powerful Southern Hemi storm forming on the charts this weekend off New Zealand which will send a solid SW swell arriving 9/11-12. That is if the forecast models hold true. Flippy is praying its fake news!WSL.jpg
 

sponge

Tom Curren status
Feb 10, 2002
13,166
10,557
113
Honolulu, HI, USA
Visit site
Recorded on Thu 9/1/22:

YouTube version:
 
Last edited:

SurfFuerteventura

Rabbitt Bartholomew status
Sep 20, 2014
8,407
4,588
113
Ribbit
What about something like the Superbowl? Ignoring the venue (which you cannot in surfing), coming down to a head to head showdown to crown a season champion is the way of most pro sports. Even the funky college football championship has a pseudo head-to-head system with the BCS.

Of course teams like the 2007 Patriots would say that it sucks and it should only be about the regular season.
They should just go ahead and follow through with the Bobby Martinez Tour recommendations... turn it into the World Surf Tennis Tour, and follow the Tennis format for points and who is number one.

That, or maybe an F1 approach where brands pick two surfers (drivers), and a back up, to form their team. Have shapers championship points as well as podiums with top 3 at each event.

Whoever reaches years end on top, wins, same as for the "builders" (shapers) champion.

Couldn't go any worse than the current finals format. Which, IMHO, is a total sham.
 

jkb

Tom Curren status
Feb 22, 2005
10,042
8,981
113
Central California
They should just go ahead and follow through with the Bobby Martinez Tour recommendations... turn it into the World Surf Tennis Tour, and follow the Tennis format for points and who is number one.

That, or maybe an F1 approach where brands pick two surfers (drivers), and a back up, to form their team. Have shapers championship points as well as podiums with top 3 at each event.

Whoever reaches years end on top, wins, same as for the "builders" (shapers) champion.

Couldn't go any worse than the current finals format. Which, IMHO, is a total sham.
So you think Flippy deserves the title this year?
 

wedge2

Billy Hamilton status
Jan 20, 2011
1,417
1,852
113
Can’t stand the finals format/location, kind of derails the entire year IMO
Yeah makes no sense...let's reward soft wave skills (brazillians) after pipe, teahupoo, fiji, J-bay, W. Oz etc. for the FINALS??? granted fiji sucked