Floatergate

As the ASP approaches Rio for the Billabong Pro, a number of ASP screw-ups from last year start coming to mind.

Many of the mistakes they made were corrected, and did their best to move forward from that point onward, (I’m talking here about the Bobby Martinez tennis fiasco and the Slater being crowned prematurely drama that saw CEO Brody Carr resign) but one issue was never satisfactorily resolved, and the air was never really cleared as to what the surfing world at large considered a major error.

In the quarterfinals of the Billabong Rio Pro last year, Adriano De Souza was awarded a 8.3 for a single floater, while Owen Wright scored a 6.6 for a wave that included a big turn; a tailslide and a clean slob grab air. Adriano went on to win the event.

There’s not too much degree of difficulty in a floater unless it was pulled off in a 15 foot closeout at The Kom or Dungeons

In the ASP judging criteria, there are certain things that are not conducive to scoring a floater high. Firstly, it isn’t very progressive is it? Secondly, there’s not too much degree of difficulty in a floater unless it was pulled off in 15 foot closeout at The Kom or Dungeons or something. Thirdly, where was the innovation? I hardly think a beachbreak floater breaks any innovative grounds. Fourthly, combination of maneuvers is what the ASP judges look for and is Owen had while Adriano had no game, and finally, the ASP also looks for variety. Owen had plenty of it and Adriano had none.

Floatergate – it’s a helluva thing. As we approach Rio it must be noted that Adriano de Souza is sitting comfortably in 2nd place with 12000 points, behind Slater on 13200 points, and could easily jump ahead and steal the lead should there be some sort of repeat. But there won’t be. There can’t be.

Check out the 2011 heat here, and feel free to add comments.

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