Is it really the fins that will do it?

Vanders said more coverage and I could not agree more....or I should add better coverage as the one camera on a solo shot just does not cut it....


So what you do to make it better ?

Watch the WSL - they seem to have it sorted. Expensive operation to run though.

Comps - who really gives a toss though. Surf for enjoyment. Play soccer if you want to join a comp

Longboarding comps are great to watch live, the sport lacks backing of any real value and will never be seen as mainstream.

A good set of clear judging categories on the entry form - eg: elements like Noseride , cross step back & forward , drop knee , trim , control , style

Standard Board across the comp , everyone gets the same piece of glass to play with - no advantages just the skillset

Each to their own - I'd be off anywhere else if there's one on nearby

What would make the perfect comp you ask Chrispy dude (good question)...I guess a comp where guys were just going out thinking they're free surfing some novelty kinda place & then are told oh by the way we were judged you & they were like whatever hey how good were those waves today...I don't know, I don't follow comps. From 1994 to about 2003 I barely watched tv. 1/2 that time I didn't have a tv, the other 1/2 I rented vids & watched freesurfing & Rage music videos I'd collected on vhs. It was years later I learnt that certain surfers in that time had won a world title (the yanks ;) I didn't follow it at all & would skip the competition segment of tracks mag or whatever to read about the surf trips.

With the net these days I do watch comp highlights from time to time if the place is special. The comp they had at that Sydney wave the Maroubra boys called ours or whatever was interesting. Somewhere like J bay is cool too...but at the end of the day my favourite surfing to watch is freesurfing with a good soundtrack.

What would probably make it heaps more interesting for me was if they somehow made it possible for us to watch live footage & become part of the judging panel or at least call BS on some scores. However this would unfortunately leave the results open to exploitation unless executed in such a way to somehow make it fair. But otherwise there is no incentive for me to sit back & watch more than the occasional surfing highlights. I need to have some kinda input, I can't just sit back like a vegetable.

I'm more of a creator than a consumer, its just too boring. Always said that when people have suggested getting involved in comps for fun. I just don't get it. How can being told when you can start & finish a surf session be fun. Ok maybe certain places would be great. Places that are usually packed & you get to surf them with just one or two other people & its cranking. That would be cool for 20 mins or whatever, but then it would be painful being restrained from surfing & having to watch other people surf. At least if I was judging from another country typing in scores I could have the sound down with some music playing & a few beers

Gees Mick the comps you went to sound pretty ****ed up.i go to crescent head comp mainly to get away for a week catch up with a few crew drink a lot of beer and get to surf the point with only 4 others out which is great if it's pumping. But after a heat or when I get knocked out its off to the back beaches for uncrowded waves no one says you have to hang around but if you do you usually see some good surging by hp surfers and traditional styles.pretty much the only comp I go in as I love crescent and it's back beaches but in saying that watching on tv is pretty ordinary

lol mate they weren't that bad. I have some good memories from when I was a grom watching some of the best in the world competing at Triggs Point in the 80's & Margaret River in the 90's...but these days with less time I'd just prefer to be surfing.

I think its different in the West, WA "Windy Always". Unless your on the SW or down along the great Southern, the coast lacks the bays & wind sheltered spots the East coast has in abundance. I will often surf from early morning until the wind comes in mid morning. It tends to be all over once the wind comes in & on the other hand we tend not to be as crowded as a lot of places on the East coast. So having a surf spot taken over for a comp I'm taking part in isn't as advantageous.

Comps here aren't so much a beer with the boys watching your mates ripping it up. Its more a bunch of parents cheering on their groms. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just that I don't have kids. Soz yeah...don't take me the wrong way, I froth as hard over surfing as the next bloke. Just prefer to be doing it, not watching it. Thats what it boils down too...cheers

**** comps. everything about comps stinks. thats my 2c.
now i'll return to my cave.

Longer waiting periods
Better waves
Bring back the Rip Curl Search Comp or tha Billabong Challenge