I've always been a massive fan of surfings greatest hunch back.
However...., and not wanting to take anything away from our great albino Selachimorpha pugilist....
one can't help but wonder after anally analysing the wsl heat analyser
if the j bay comp was as rigged as the third state of origin game...?
Watched the whole thing
I was thinking the same thing and I'm sure the commentators were as well. They then showed the slow mo from the water which broke down Micks turns and the technical difficulty in his rail turns, tail drifts etc
Also the fact that not a single part of the wave was wasted and no body movements were forced. Flowed to perfection. That board was flying as well
Mick was also on the best waves
From a distance JJF looked more impressive but when you break it down it's easy to see why Mick got the nod.
But how good was it watching the Brazo's get knocked out! 
I'm always up a mate of mine who is a judge. I reckon he reeks of KFC after some of the scores Sally Fitz gets. Kieran (commissioner) is my neighbour and friend. Ive asked him about how some scores look. Apparently the telecast can be misleading. It doesn't convey the size, angle, power and speed accurately from the judges perspective. Also they have more of a feel live for the best blank waves, so there can be a temptation that these get rewarded more. My argument was they watched replays; so they were judging on this as well. The head judge also verbally analyses a wave via replay, but it's up to every individual judge to take any points on board and mark appropriately. I think the tally should be hidden from judges; so they don't know what score is needed to change a heats results. Unfortunately with beach announcing, judges would need head phones to drown out any info...... But it's so subjective. I think Mick was overscored on his 9+, But JJ's were accurate. Medina was overscored on his first wave in semi and the judges evened it up later with his last grovels being marked down. Everyone on the beach thought Mick deserved to win. It was pretty sweet. Pity pipe didn't end like that last year for him. He may still be on tour. 
At the end of the day; the tour is a great watch now with live streams.
Select to expand quoteTimKay said..
Watched the whole thing
I was thinking the same thing and I'm sure the commentators were as well. They then showed the slow mo from the water which broke down Micks turns and the technical difficulty in his rail turns, tail drifts etc
Also the fact that not a single part of the wave was wasted and no body movements were forced. Flowed to perfection. That board was flying as well
Mick was also on the best waves
From a distance JJF looked more impressive but when you break it down it's easy to see why Mick got the nod.
+1 Mick was seamless.
absolutely agree that he got the best waves of the pretty much waveless final
and also he was lightning fast
maybe I'm just a disillusioned bitter old cynic
Select to expand quotetheDoctor said..
absolutely agree that he got the best waves of the pretty much waveless final
and also he was lightning fast
maybe I'm just a disillusioned bitter old cynic
Maybe..
Select to expand quotetheDoctor said..
'least I'm not a kook
(actually, probably that as well)
Never said you were 
How do you judge ? You can dress it up anyway you like but it is all still open to subjective opinion!
I quite enjoy watching the broadcasts simply for the level of surfing but in all honesty am not a fan
of surfing contests ....local or international ...their level of contribution to the average surfer is approximately zero
both in terms of progression be it technical or physical.......i don't see too many new things emerging from contests
apart from some minor expansion of the surfing lexicon by the WSL commentators when they run out of things to say !
ie "Man hack" thanks Ross, and am still yet to be able to concentrate long enough on a complete sentence uttered by Rosie
due to the obvious distraction......
Take it for what it is or could be ,good entertainment ..if they could get a half decent director ....worst flow ever!
The Final ....mick out grommed him...keener faster hungrier was my read
