Some people remember the 1972 World Titles in San Diego. Although I wasn’t there to experience it (I wasn’t born yet) it is the surf contest I remain most enthralled by. I’ve been to many Championship Tour finals at Lower Trestles, a handful of Pipe Masters (and various other North Shore contests), a bunch of WSL Longboard events (yawn), and even a Single Fin Classic in Uluwatu. Even so, I’m positive I will die knowing more details about the 1972 World Titles than I do about any contest I’ve attended in person.
This’s because, to put it bluntly, the 1972 World Titles were a blazing hot mess. The event wasn’t a failure, far from it, but it was about as chaotic as a surf contest can get. The money was tight, the surfers were up to their worst behavior, and there were “no older, wiser, sobering influences” to set things straight. In other words: it was pure, authentic, unfiltered, non-stop entertainment.
Without getting too deep in the weeds, some of my favorite highlights are Michael Ho breaking into a car using a bewildered Ian Cairns’ screwdriver and surfers jumping into the pool with the goal of shooting their boards onto unsuspecting hotel guests’ (victims’) laps. My understanding is that there were also a lot of drugs.
I bring up the 1972 World Titles not because I believe drugs are the secret sauce for creating exciting surf contests, but because the 1972 World Titles tapped into something I feel we’ve lost sight of this decade: authenticity and memorability. I’ve noticed there is a certain, overwhelming presence of filtration and a noticeable lack of “punk *** surfers” acting like surfers at contests. Or, maybe surfers are acting like “punk *** surfers” but we would never know because these great scenes are zapped before they make it on the webcast, or even into online reporting.
I bring up the 1972 World Titles because there is a new surf contest on the docket for 2025: Natural Selection Surf. And, what do you know? Right now, there also just so happens to be a distinct need for a surf contest “for the people.”
So far, with minimal detail, Travis Rice has promised a “one-of-a-kind mix” of surfers riding “waves of consequence” for his Natural Selection Surf contest. The event will be filmed with “cutting-edge camera technology” and, if the results look anything like the artistically color-graded promo, the footage will be something to watch.
Even with many details unknown to the public, it seems that Natural Selection is currently in a valuable position because they have the benefit of watching surf contests of all varieties, niches, and scales that already operate every year. There’s a history spanning over half a century of surf contests, both good and bad, to study in preparation of their own foray into hosting.
I’m no operations manager, but I have a few words of advice for Natural Selection I believe would cement their position in the pantheon of events (if their goal is to build the biggest and most passionate fan base possible).
My first tip for Jodi Young, Travis Ferre, and Jason Murray would be to learn from the World Surf League’s mistakes. Although the WSL has a massive following, the organization is constantly being criticized for its commercialization, scoring issues, contest locations including overuse of Lowers (especially for finals), and intense focus on high-performance, shortboard surfing.
Personally, I don’t think the answer is to go the opposite direction altogether and focus solely on alternative craft or hold an “expression session” or not score the contest. However, I do think there is a way to eliminate many of these issues and host a contest that emphasizes high-performance surfing without being expectable.
Perhaps the most obvious solution that comes to mind involves the location. Viewers want to see epic waves. Sure, that definition changes depending on who you ask, but generally people want to see heavy barrels or high-performance, rippable waves (waves they would not see in their own backyard).
Right now, the Natural Selection contest is already scheduled to be held in Micronesia. This is promising, since the event is occurring in February, during the region’s strongest surf season. My suggestion, regardless of which wave the event ends up utilizing, is to increase the holding period. Contests like the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational have a holding period of three months so the contest can run only if the conditions are perfect. Ditto that for the Rip Curl Padang Padang Cup, which will not run if the waves are not up to par. These contests have huge followings, because when they run, they’re worth watching.
Feeling obligated to run a surf contest just because it’s scheduled to run is shooting oneself in the foot. Viewers want to see, essentially, a surf movie in the form of a contest: promising surfers, good waves, and a competition. No one films a surf movie with terrible waves (unless it’s to make a point, like Dane Reynolds or Nate Tyler).
We’ve seen this in real time: the 2018 Margaret River Pro was windy and lackluster and thus, the WSL received (probably fair) backlash for holding the event despite the crumbly conditions. The shark attacks didn’t help, either.
The second bullet on my wishlist is to invite interesting surfers. Being talented is a prerequisite, of course, but there is so much talent out there that does not make the selection obvious. If the event is purely designed to attract a following, the event managers are best off inviting surfers with large followings: world champs, surfers with a lot of media presence, surfers with controversy. It’s also important not to only invite one type of surfer. Invite contest surfers, freesurfers, surfers from the retro movement, YouTube surfers, and every other type you can think of. Also, surfers who don’t compete often would be interesting to throw in the mix, like Torren Martyn or Dion Agius.
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Even better, Natural Selection could play up drama to their advantage and schedule heats between people with controversy already. For example, put Filipe Toledo in a heat against John John. The people need a new Kelly-Andy story. If you create the next great surfing rivalry, you’ll create a die-hard following and secure attention on the event for the future.
My third wish is not to mandate specific equipment or provide dimensions. This leaves a more interesting viewing experience: different surfers will approach conditions differently, and with different boards. Choice of equipment is an important skill in surfing, and it should be allowed to be utilized as seen fit.
Plus, this allows for different approaches to be compared side by side in real time. I’m not asking for an Electric Acid Surfboard Test style contest, but letting some ride twin fins and others ride thrusters could be a unique way to attract audiences from both the hipster and CT ends of the pro-surfing spectrum.
Are single fins capable of nailing 10-point rides against surfers who ride thrusters? I bet Joel Tudor could make a good case for it. This both allows for conversation (and more interest in the contest) as well as providing an ode to surf contests of the past: board choice was a big indicator of progression during the shortboard revolution, so why not allow people to be progressive now? Also, heck, if Jamie O’Brien gets invited and wants to ride a soft-top in the tube, let him!
My last request for Natural Selection would be to make the event fun. It seems obvious, but on the other hand, you’d be surprised how un-fun a lot of contests seem to outsiders. Competitors often seem bored or ultra-focused and not enjoying the moment, and nobody wants to watch that.
For all of the flak I (and many others) gave Vans for the Pipe Masters contest this year, I will admit that it seemed like the surfers legitimately wanted to be there. This is an understated way to attract attention to any event.
A bonus for Natural Selection would be adding entertainment, such as musical performances, which could be enjoyed by those in Micronesia and around the world. Maybe invite Alex Knost to perform with his band Seventies Tuberide, or get Kelly Slater, Rob Machado (who is involved with the Natural Selection event already!), and Peter King to play as “The Surfers”. If Tom Curren, Jack Johnson, or Donavon Frankenreiter are available, any of them would attract an audience entirely on their own. Surfing and music go together like peanut butter and jelly, and adding an element of performance out of the water would make the competition seem more authentic and enjoyable, a bonus no matter how you slice it.
All in all, I have high hopes for Natural Selection Surf. The people in charge have a solid grasp of the state of modern surfing (its strengths and its weaknesses). Creator and writer Travis Ferre is funny, candid, and has a vision for surf media (and that is no easy feat these days). With Nathan Florence and Rob Machado on the advisory committee as well, there’s a lot of potential to impress both viewers and competitors. I’m genuinely looking forward to watching the event come February. That is something I, and other surf fans, haven’t felt in a while.
