Sterling Spener pontificates on the role of pools in surfing. Photo: Sterling Spencer // YouTube
Where do artificial waves belong in the world of surfing? If you ask the wave pool manufacturers, the answer is “literally everywhere.” However, actual surfers have a more conflicted opinion. But somewhere between the pool-hating core lords and pro-development corporate overlords, there’s a happy medium – and Sterling Spencer may just have the answer.
The moment came in the latest episode of his podcast Pinch My Salt, where Spencer had pro skater Kris Markovich on as a guest. Though the episode is understandably skate-heavy, the pair do get into a healthy amount of discussion of the differences between surfing and skating. At one point Sterling, and the surf community at large, even get a (justified) light roasting from Markovich about the predominance of double-hand grabs in the sport.
Eventually, though, the conversation turns to the surf world’s perennial subject of debate, and Spencer reveals that his feelings on the subject are actually quite nuanced.
“I just see it becoming two different sports, kind of,” he explains. “I actually like to see wave pool surfing be more like Olympic-style, where it’s more about how athletic you can be on the wave. Then I would like to see the world surf tour in the oceans be more of a dance.
“I think that’s the problem. We’re watching the tour change because everything is super athletic, but we’re losing the soul and style. I think the pools would be cool for just super athletic ‘how gnarly can we get?’ Because the airs are getting insane. I think it’s rad. I just think it’s a different sport now.”
