Stab Magazine | Rumor: CT Surfers Are Considering "Throwing" Their Heats At ISA World Games

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

738 Views

Rumor: CT Surfers Are Considering “Throwing” Their Heats At ISA World Games

To get back to California and ready for the Freshwater Fiesta!

news // Sep 7, 2019
Words by stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

The ISA World Games are set to begin today in Miyazaki, Japan, with waves forecasted in the 5-7 foot range thanks to a nearby typhoon. 

As you probably already know, this year’s ISA Games will feature an elevated cast of competitors, including top Championship Tour talent such as Kolohe Andino, Kelly Slater, Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina, Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson and so on, thanks to an IOC rule that requires Olympic-hopeful surfers to compete in both the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Games if they want to be eligible for the Tokyo Olympics. 

I’ve been trying to navigate the ISA site for the past hour or so, but the heat draw is either hidden in plain sight or for some reason not available to the wider public. I do, however, know who Kelly Slater surfs against, thanks to a screen capture from our friends at Red Frog in Panamá.

Screen Shot 2019 09 06 at 4.40.23 PM

With all due respect to the following countries, if 11x World Champion and greatest competitive surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, lost his heat against kids from Ireland, Panama, and Senegal, it’d be safe to assume that it was by design.

Per the Olympic qualification rules, there is no requirement nor advantage to top CT surfers performing well at the ISA World Games. Kolohe Andino could, quite literally, lose in the second round (the ISA WSG are double-elimination) and still be just as likely to make the Olympics than if he won the whole event. 

And if you think about it, getting out of Japan as soon as possible would be an advantage to CT surfers who hope to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. Reason being, the more time they spend surfing heats at the WSG (you could surf as many as 12 heats in this event), the less time they have to rest their bodies and prepare for the next CT event—the Surf Ranch Pro—which begins just four days after the end of ISA. And as we know, the end-of-the-year CT rankings is what actually determines the first batch of Olympic qualifiers. 

Yesterday we reported on Italo Ferreira “losing” his passport, raising the (mostly) jestful point that he could be faking this search in order to avoid going to Japan while still remaining in contention for an Olympic bid. Italo has since deleted his Instagram posts but said, in today’s IG story, something to the point of: “I’m in a delicate process now, trying to find the best possible way to solve everything. God willing, everything will work out.”

Italo went onto further explain his situation in a series of videos (which we’d love for one of our Portuguese readers to translate in the comments below), but from what we gather, Italo will likely not make it to Japan in time to compete in ISA. 

UPDATE: Italo’s IG stories have been summarized as such by a Brazilian Stab reader (thx David): 

He is saying he got a new passport and a Japanese visa, and he is currently trying to get another visa but doesn’t say from where. Most of the video he is thanking everyone for their help and support (Brazos and Americans). Also, he says losing his passport was kind of his fault, he should’ve been more aware and this kind of theft can happen anywhere in the world.

Free Surf Sean Evans 47

Gabriel Medina warms up in the pre-typhoon slop prior to Day 1 of the ISA WSG. Photo: ISA/Evans

Meanwhile, reports from Japan indicate that some CT surfers have toyed with the idea of “throwing” their opening heats so that they can return to California and prepare for the Freshwater Pro. Event officials apparently caught wind of these rumblings and were quick to set the surfers straight, letting competitors know that if they obviously threw their heats, they could be disqualified from Olympic contention. 

The thing about surfing, though, is there are infinite excuses for a poor performance. Let’s think of a few possible reasons that, say, Gabriel Medina might lose early in the event:

  • board wasn’t working
  • caught bad waves
  • wax was slippery against freshly-shaved chest
  • misused priority
  • Glen Hall told him “fuck you”

And with all of these get-outta-jail-free cards in his back pocket, how could a surfer—even one of Medina’s prowess—be proven to have thrown his heat? It’s impossible. 

So to all the CTers competing in Japan, know that we’ve got your back no matter how badly you surf.

Squad. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement