Side

By Derek Rielly

1 week ago

"My intuition is not to attack, hurt, take into credit and judgment, but silence consumes me," writes Italo Ferreira.

Like hungry dogs with juicy bones, Brazilian surf fans and their world champs Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira and Filipe Toledo, have refused to loosen their grip on the outrage of yesterday's Surf Ranch Pro decision where Griffin Colapinto defeated Italo Ferreira and Ethan Ewing beat Gabriel Medina.

Following his loss in the quarter finals, and despite winner Ethan Ewing being threatened with death by Brazilian surf fans, three-time world champ Gabriel Medina posted an open letter to the WSL complaining of poor judging, the defeat marking the first time in five events he’d failed to make the final.

"The surfing community, especially in Brazil, is mesmerized with the poor clarity and inconsistence of judging for many years now, but lately it has been even more shocking," wrote Medina. "It is quite clear that judging is now rewarding very simple surfing, seamless transitions and have taken critical turns in critical sections off the criteria. This is very frustrating and is stagnating the sport."

A post shared by The Greenroom Times (@thegreenroomtimes)

This morning, Italo Ferreira, the 2019 world champion, and reigning world number one Filipe Toledo joined the chorus, perhaps missing the irony that Brazilians have won six of the last nine world titles.

"After a long day, of many thoughts, analyses, news and arguments, I realized that I am tired, psychologically exhausted. It's not easy to spend 10 years swallowing hard," wrote Toledo. "I’m a surfer, original and rooted, who grew up among real surfers, and fairness has always been one of the main points in my experience. That's why I feel tired. For the love of sport, I’m still firm and strong. And now, I feel happy seeing the posts by Gabriel Medina, Ítalo Ferreira, and many others, who can still adhere to the idea that what we seek will always be the evolution of the sport, with justice and transparency. We want nothing but fair. Nothing beyond what is our right. We need our voice to be heard and respected, because, after all, we are the protagonists of it all!"

Italo hits a little passive-aggressive, as if a teen girl has hacked his telephone.

"My intuition is not to attack, hurt, take into credit and judgment, but silence consumes me. The surf that gave me and gives me everything I live by this if I need to prove it yet. My looks and my energy and what they carry says it all. On my part, surf, I give you my all. My devotion My day to day that only me, my team and my family know. And so we shall continue. In the moment of sadness, indignation, reverse and look forward, transform, inspire people."

A post shared by Italo Ferreira (@italoferreira)

Tom Carroll, Shane Dorian, world number two Joao Chianca and the WSL's own Strider Wasilewski all thrilled by the post.

Now, surf fans have turned on WSL's CEO, "sexy cocaine cowboy" Erik Logan, littering a milquetoast post on equality etc with a cavalcade of pointed, and mostly unhinged, comments.

A post shared by Erik Logan (@elo_eriklogan)

Hey Erik, how does it feel to be at the forefront of what will surely become the most shameful era of professional surf?

Money, fame and connections might look cool now, but eventually this all goes away and it will only be your name left as the person who allowed for extreme lack of professionalism by judges in this era of the sport. Please please prioritise the sport over people's personal interests!! Please have your name be the one of a person who decided to stand up and do the right thing!!

The Biggest Theft in Surfing History, We Need Answers !!!

Yesterday was a sad day for the surf history! You guys are killing the sport

Dark day in competitive surfing history, no explanations whatsoever are going to make up for what happened

WSL should be investigate by police! Suspicious of manipulating results.

Zero credibility! This is so disrespectful. You guys are underestimating people's intelligence.

You’re not welcome in Brazil.

What a Shame Erik! Manipulating results again? Dirty

Changes all the judges. That was a shameful day. Of cource you will ignore it but make an effort for the sake of the sport. And while you at it. Get rid off Strider. Even athletes are sick of him.

You’re killing the essence of surfing. FUCK YOU AND YOUR MONEY. W$L

how to explain to children that the surfer who surfed better lost to the one who surfed worse!?

Ruining The Surfing Competition! thousands of people are sad here in Brazil to watch the cowardly judges taking the scores of our representatives. Medina, Felipe, and Italo were STOLEN. Many people canceled their trips to Saquarema, many parents and children will no longer have the opportunity to see the competitions together because they will NOT attend anymore. The WSL is a disgrace. And you are not welcome in Brazil. If I were you, I wouldn't even waste your time coming here because Brazilians don't like dirty people like you and the shame of @wsl @elo_eriklogan you are a not welcome person in Brazil

A little over the top, yeah?

But don't you think the WSL needs to tap into this drama, get a little fizz happening?

Or do you think, shutters down, ignore?