Way, way back in the foggy mists of time, there used to be a thing called a “surf contest.” According to folklore, surfers traveled to faraway places to compete against each other in foreign countries. They moved about the world freely, shaking hands, dining out, and (gasp!) sometimes even hugging. Now, of course, touching is not allowed. Breathing loudly is a no-no. Traveling is a thing of the past, as are surf contests, struck down by the Coronavirus pandemic. Of all the countries in the world, the United States and Brazil have been the hardest hit.
The World Surf League is putting out old footage from contests that happened a long, long time ago. The one you see above was the 2010 Billabong Pro Santa Catarina in Brazil, and it saw Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Jadson Andre, Joel Parkinson, and a whole bunch more. This, as you’ll recall if you are some kind of Rainman of surf contests, was the event that saw rookie Jadson Andre upset nine-time World Champion Kelly Slater in the final and Dane Reynolds finish third in his last full (and best) season on tour.
See the full episode on Worldsurfleague.com
