So does anyone else think that the guys who are providing the special comments for the WSL really don't contribute a whole lot?

I mean we get the odd bit of heat gold from Pottz every now and then but surely I'm not the only one who thinks they're a bit average when you compare them to other sports. Not having a dig at their surfing skills and prowess but I think maybe a change up is needed or even another media option that could give a breakdown of the days heats? Maybe bite size info chunks available on Facebook or something?

Anyone else feeling this?

You can't compare the duty of a surf commentator to that of any other sport. Every other sport broadcast can rely on regular activity from the competitors. With surfing, well there's a reason for the heat restart policy due to flat periods. They have a difficult job at times. I certainly wouldn't rubbish them for that. Would love to see the average person try to do a better job.

Yeah I understand the challenge they face with inconsistent surf and it would be tough to fill the dead air if the that was the sole focus. I do think a big more of time they have could be filled with maybe breakdowns of the wave, conditions, analysis of maneuver's, getting into the mechanics of pulling off those big maneuvers, board tech, board set ups, fin set ups, new techniques or even heat strategy.

I just feel like every time I watch I'm always left wanting more. As an example, the cricket coverage we get here on 9 is phenomenal, the commentators break down every inch of the game, every ball, patterns, history, stupid little quiz questions, it's endless and I feel like surfing has so much more to offer in the terms of content that could be delivered upon but they come up way short.

They do go into some of the stuff you've mentioned form time to time, but again, you can't compare surfing to cricket. Cricket has a far bigger following than surfing and thus it attracts people who don't know much about it and want to be informed. The people that watch the live surf broadcasts are going to be predominately surfers. Thinking about it from that perspective, surf have an analysis of the conditions. But if, for example, the commentators were to start talking about what the thruster setup a competitor is using is going to do in its interaction with the water/wave, I'd feel babied. I'd probably turn off the commentary. Most surfers will know what the thruster setup is all about and will therefore not like to be told again, as if they are clueless.
Much like you can't compare surfing to any of other sport, I don't you can apply the formula behind good commentary for any other sport with surfing and expect it to mould perfectly.

It's not about comparison of the sport, it's the production of the content, the formula seems to work in almost all sports I've watched and I disagree with your opinion that viewers would feel babied, not your feelings but the greater community.

Personally I'd love to know the fins a pro was using and their setup, e.g. when Kelly took on pipe on a 5'9 with a quad, what's the idea behind it and the mechanics behind it, how Julian Wilson can smash an air in almost anything and the steps behind Parko drawing those signature long carves etc. I think the more information the better, if anything it could even grow the viewership through educating kooks and intermediates who are just getting serious. Obviously there is a line that has to be drawn at how basic the content goes, or how in depth it goes, but so much potential.

We could just be discussing a difference of opinion but I feel like surfing can offer so much more content to a viewer, informed or not.

If surf broadcasts were centered around a Slater style mechanical wave with guaranteed action every few minutes, viewership would explode. There would be more of everything that's necessary to keep any sort of audience entertained. The big wave tour has one big negative: the amount of time it takes for a ride to go down. The big wave tour commentary sucks sometimes, but it's not their fault. I agree, information is good, but it doesn't matter how much information you can throw at an audience - if no rides occur, commentary will start to err on the sucky side.

Have to admit I'm not a fan of ASP commentary
Especially Pottz
Great surfer, knowledgable but poor delivery
Every heat call is a replicated one of the previous and he comes across as talking down to the viewer
Everything is either amazing or super with the same stories time and time again
But then again it might be a reflection of how cloned the athletes are these days
Its not exactly the party tour anymore
No throwing up in the shorebreak before a heat after a big night out

Only two commentators I can bear to listen to are Ronnie Blakey and Ross Williams. Joe Turpel is a moron. Even the American forums agree on that. And yet he's the lynchpin of the commentator panel.

Bring back Snacob with his live beer bets on results. Yew! And Occ for a laugh.

Too late now, the WSL is fully Americanised. Bringing Ronnie back was an afterthought when they realised they were ostracising one of their foundation markets by removing all Australian commentators this year. Otherwise Pottz would have been the closest thing to an Aussie on the panel.

One thing's for sure, Pottz will mention "speed, power, flow" every single heat of every single event. Sometimes more than once per heat. Yes, you've mentioned the judging criteria 1,000,000 times Pottz, we get it.

I agree that RB is much better than most but he hardly ever makes a call on a waves scoring before the judges start to put their markers out. RW never holds back with his view on what the wave should be scored. I think he is the best by a country mile. It reminds me of the cricket - where most commentators are too close to the players and are reluctant to call it as they see it for fear of offending. I think RB represents a few of the boys as well which limits what he can say.

Commentary should be unbiased and add to what we are seeing. Not just telling us what we can already see.

As mentioned above - there is huge room for improvement with more technical pieces. It's like they do not do their homework pre heat. Just show up and talk about what we are viewing. Tough gig though with all the down time between waves. Which leaves lots of room for extra material to be shown. Stop the repetitive nature.

I think they suck...but mostly beacuse they run out of things to say during the wait between waves...I reckon making go pros or trace ups complulsory on every board would make things alot easier on those guys...imagine if they could break it down during the wait and you could see, in real numbers, the differnec between two compitors waves

Ive never enjoyed commentating for any sport really. But then again I'm not really very interested in other sports. Having someone describing what I can plainly see with my own eyes is annoying. I watch a few heat highlights from time to time. But I generally only watch free surfing vids with music playing. Love the legends heats though & when peeps start talking history like you might mean by potz gold.

Turn the sound down for better results

I do that ha! put on some music and just watch, but then they cut to go back over a wave just as the sets coming through so we miss the live stuff, super frustrating!!

I was thinking more along the lines of a youtube channel maybe providing a few breakdowns of the heats, maybe delving into the tech and some of the strategies, like a 10 minute video or something I dunno, would anyone else watch that?

I like the go pro idea that sounds rad! Placement would be a bit of an issue though I guess

Haha... I thought Pottz was one of the better ones but hey, I guess they'll get there in the end, bring Occy back into the mix for entertainment value, piss poor commentator but funny as #%<£,

I agree though that the sound off is the best outcome.


they should give the gig to Roy and HG

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Surf69 said..
Haha... I thought Pottz was one of the better ones but hey, I guess they'll get there in the end, bring Occy back into the mix for entertainment value, piss poor commentator but funny as #%<£,

I agree though that the sound off is the best outcome.


they should give the gig to Roy and HG

Anyone see that old ASL video HG commentated in the 90's? I think your on the money there Surf69

Potz is the best commentator "on the planet"

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ADS said..
Potz is the best commentator "on the planet"

Ha ha
He does talk about the planet a lot doesn't he
Like he's travelled to one or two in his time

Yeh, looks like a couple on here didn't get it though.

Jake Patterson and Dooma were my favourites, bloody funny buggers. Tis a shame they got run off for calling out the judges (I think it was in France quite a few years back.)

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DJMWA said..
Jake Patterson and Dooma were my favourites, bloody funny buggers. Tis a shame they got run off for calling out the judges (I think it was in France quite a few years back.)

I think that's the essence of the problem too though, you don't see footy commentators employed by the afl or likewise with cricket or other televised sports, having an opinion is part of commentating so pretty boring without it. I guess wsl have a problem in that given the lack of mainstream coverage they need to provide both the commentators and judges but surely they can provide both and still have both parties given the freedom to express an opinion......

I think your right
Commentators in other sports don't have a problem in calling out suspect calls
In the ASP it's like there not allowed
They come up with some sort of justification for a crap score.
Its highly enjoyable viewing but at the same time it's hard to see it as more than just a popularity contest.

Snakes beer bets were a classic

Nick Carroll was great I thought at Chopes Insightful

I think the use of drnes to show where they sitting in the line up, sets coming etc wuld add to it.

When Medina and Andino paddled themselves up the reef it would have been good to see from the air to understand what was going on.

The good ones are when you can have it running n the laptop and listen to it and work and flick it on when a wave happens

yeh,if only todays commentators could be as good as the gold like this bloke from yesteryear

How the f#%k Horan surfed that single fin like that has always amazed me!!

Yeh horan surfed the ****ing life outta that one fin