Yellow Alert! Final Five Predictions
The world’s best are in town and I had to see them for myself. In person. I borrowed an e-Bike, left my board, backpack, wettie and everything at home and put on my surf fan/journalist hat and got on the scene. I have to admit that it was damn fun zooming down that trail on my Murf.
Upon arrival I wasn’t entirely shocked to see how crowded the lineup was, but I did scratch my head as to why certain people would decide to come and surf Lowers on a day like this. Just days before the big final five event and no one is giving anyone an inch at Lowers. It’s midday on a Tuesday and it’s not like it was pumping or anything. The crowd was ferocious.
There was a bit of texture on it and pretty long sections, but of course there were a few diamonds if you got the right one. It was mostly the usual suspects getting the best waves out there and seemed like the same one guy was getting most the bombs — and that guy was not who you might expect. It was was not Griffin Colapinto.
I spent most my time on the beach looking out for Griffin, Carissa, Caity, Filipe, etc…and any of the other competitors as they warmed up for the weekend but saw mostly all the other recreational surfers getting all the goods.
I was really curious to watch Ethan Ewing post injury, but he waved as he rode by me heading up as I was on my way down. Filipe had a few cheap imposters out there riding some of his hand me down boards that garnered a quick double take but the lack of speed off the get go gave it right away. Carissa did a huge layback right as I walked into prime viewing territory. Griffin smashed a few incredible right-handers too.
I poked around on the beach to some of the filmers, coaches, and other pros in attendance to hear what they had been seeing the past few days. This is what I gathered about the WSL’s big day coming up.
Sunday September 10th is the day! Maybe. Maybe not…
Everyone seems to have compared notes on this and according to Mike Parsons, who speaks in seconds and intervals, Sunday should have plenty of waves, probably a great direction for the right. The left might be a bit soft with the occasional decent one. A perfect day to run.
Though I heard that some of the big dogs at WSL say, “I’d run the first day if I could. It costs us too much money to wait around.”
So maybe it will start before then…idk, but the later days have some waves on forecast too, but the wind is looking a little sketchy.
UPDATE:
As we have gotten closer it’s looking like there is a real chance that Saturday September 9th could be hard to pass up. WSL has now gone on a “Yellow Alert” for a possible start within the next 24 hours. Rumor has it that they finally realized that the first Sunday of the NFL season has them thinking hard about running Sunday. Funny surfers are still being bullied by the jocks…
After figuring out what the waves could potentially look like I began to run through all the scenarios that could play out and quizzed many onlookers on their thoughts. Most of them had a similar outlook on how the heats would play out and this is what they told me:
WOMENS
MATCH 1: Molly vs. Caity - Caity wins a tight battle, but gets radical and prevails over Molly.
MATCH 2: Caroline vs. Caity - Caroline looks so consistent and her backhand and will drop numerous 8-point rides. She wins vs. Caity.
MATCH 3: Tyler vs. Caroline - Caroline takes it to the former world champ and secures her spot in the final.
MATCH 4: Carissa vs. Caroline - Carissa wins the first heat, Caroline wins the second and the pressure cooker all or nothing lands in the hands of the Hawaiian. Carissa wins her 6th World Title and this battle is the most exciting match up of the day.
MENS
MATCH 1: Joao vs. Jack - Joao froths out hard and has a hard time getting the right waves to find himself excellent range scores. Jack does some giant layback and a huge air and wins.
MATCH 2: Ethan vs. Jack - Ethan has looked better than ever some are saying. Ethan takes this one with a couple of the biggest carves ever seen.
MATCH 3: Griffin vs. Ethan - Griffin goes to the air against the Aussie’s carving approach, but it’s not enough against Ethan’s rail game on the long right walls this day.
MATCH 4: Filipe vs. Ethan - “Everyone is ripping til Fil paddles out.” Ethan puts together some beautiful rides, but Filipe will not be stopped and goes back-to-back.
Thanks for playing.
(Above photo by WSL)
