2016 Generation Surfing Style: Take Over at WSL World Tour

Photo | Lieber Films — with Noah Beschen.

At Australia ends Surfers at the WSL World Tour are revealing a new style. Top surfers are taking to the third stop of the WSL World Tour at Margaret River with new force. 

The WSL video report of April 10 titled "10 Major Moments from Round Three at Margaret's" speaks of this new surfing style. 

The Drug Aware Margaret River is the last of the Australian leg of the World Tour. After this WSL will move the entire show and its caravan to Brazil, Fiji, South Africa, Tahiti, US, France, Portugal and end it with a bang in Hawaii. 

Things have changed at the WSL this year, not only are Fantasy Teams around the world collapsing with the fall of old time favorites but a new surf style seems to have taken over the WSL. Where does this new 2016 Surfing Generation Style come from? From the unknown streets and unknown beaches were athletes have taken on the sport in the past years. It is a natural evolution. It has nothing to do with age nor experience on tour, it is a new energy. Less talk-More surf. Less Drama and Theater more Intense Athlete Performance Showdown. New style, new innovations, new force, new creations, new energy and new flow.  

The story of Snappers and Bells repeated itself during the first days of Margaret River, favorites fell against Wild Cards and Rookies. 

Kelly Slater fell early in Margaret once again -despite being the only surfer who rode out not one but two tube in the event, rode left and right and took to the air, his surf was no match to the Wildcard from Italy Leonardo with just 18 years.  

John John Florence also fell again early in Margaret in a breathtaking battle with Ciao Ibello -rookie from Brazil. Both riders took to the air with dominance and the Brazilian surfer prevailed. The upsets continued with the fall of none other than the 2015 World Champ Adriano de Souza who fell also under the Wild Card from Italy Leonardo. Taj Burrow announced his retirement at Margaret, Mick Fanning stepped off the Tour for a year break even when he was ranked 5th, rumors of Slater dropping off the World Tour spread and everybody wonder what the hell is going on? Can they make a comeback? Sure why not but is there something else happening? 

Seizing the confusion or perhaps creating it is the 2016 Generation Surfing Style. Some rathered experienced Surfers and others really fresh and recently born into the World Tour are on the vanguard of this new movement. 

What is the 2016 Surfing Style Generation all about? Power, force, flow, strength, commitment, speed, maneuvers, control, decision and airs. You might think that these words are nothing new to the Sport but where before there was speed today there is increased velocity. Where surfers used to fit in one smooth vertical today they smash in two. Where the white water used to take down the air players today they ride it out intensely even blown down by storm land winds. Fast is faster and strength has become sheer rip.

Control of the wave, big wave riding, fearless take on, water sprays, reverse air tricks and a fck you attitude, the 2016 Generation has no respect for the established limits and breaks water and ground to set new standards. 

Just watching the leader of the Jeep Ranking Matt Wilkinson -a flag of this movement pretty much summarizes it all. His style is aggressive, powerful, almost as if attacking a wave rails it vertical and just hacks it with no mistake until the end every time. 

Wilkinson, Kolohe Andino, Caio Ibello, Jordy Smith, Joel Parkinson, Nat Young, Michelle Bourez, Sebastian Zietz, Julian Wilson, Adrian Buchan, Conner Coffin, Kanoa Igarishi, Italo Ferreira are the new names, learn them, study them, adapt with them, feel inspired by them and understand the importance of what they are achieving for the sport. 

Wildcards which we have seen emerge in these events like Mikey Wright or Leonardo Fioravanti are all into this new 2.0 style. They come from unkown locations or are leading the QS Series. 

John John Florence -despite his recent streak of luck is also a flagship of this style. Not all of these riders are new to the World Tour but all their Surf is focused and while may look radical it delivers with no space for mistakes. They are focused beyond the game. 

To forget about the Brazilian Storm and their influence in molding this new surfing style behaviour is out of the question. Few take to the air like the Brazilian Storm Troopers. The Brazilian Storm may have shifted its front but it is still strong. Medina -who is just tuning up has this unpredictable magic to his surfing style although he keeps it more flowy-loose like. Felipe Toledo -despite his injury also represents this aggressive-in-control surf behaviour. Caio Ibello -rookie putting the money in the wave, Dantas and Italo Ferreira are still casuing the high and low pressure systems of the Brazilian Storm to collide and Adriano de Souza still has the power to turn it into a thunderstorm. The Brazilian surfers moved almost intact as a group through Round 3 of Margaret, their contribution to the Sport is but just getting started.   

But beyond how each surfer rides the new style is influencing how Heats are played out. The entire rhythm of surfing competition seems to have intensified and picked up speed. 

Heat surfing has changed. Even in the early Rounds Heats have become battlegrounds. Back to back surfing takes out throughout the Heat. Few seem to be sitting out in the back holding priority. 

Riders show a new energy, a special kind of energy, filled with confidence. They just want to rip the wave apart and give it all they have. They do this wave after wave. If someone scores a 8 right behind him the other will drop a 9 even before the score comes through. Rides are mostly being judged on replays because of the way riders rapidly exchange blows during these battles. No over thinking, just going down and deep, down the line, vertical and engaged. Surfers are scoring huge numbers and still improving on them during the Heats.  

On April 10 WSL assured that Round 4 at Drug Aware will showcase Super Heats. 

In Heat 1 Matt Wilkinson -on fire, leading the Ranking and recently having taken Bells and Snapper will face Joel Parkinson and Julian Wilson.

"Joel Parkinson was flowing in his Round Three heat against Michel Bourez, racking up a total of 17.4 points with his seamless style," WSL commented. 

Round 4 Heat 2 will see the Relentless Nat Young take on Buchman and the Wild Card Leonardo. 

"Not satisfied with knocking off his longtime buddy Kelly Slater, Italy's Leonardo Fioravanti took out another world champion Sunday, reigning ruler Adriano de Souza,"  WSL warned. 

Heat 3 will find Gabriel Medina, Kolohe Andino and Jordy Smith in a real head to head battle. WSL assures that Medina is clicking at Margaret, looking fast, loose and fresh but those who have been watching the action know that Andino and Smith are looking really dangerous -specially Andino. 

"Kolohe's giant alley-oop helped propel him over a very dangerous Wiggolly Dantas in Round Three. The Californian was told by his coach to use every weapon in the favorable flight conditions," WSL warned. 

The final Heat of Round 4, Heat 4 will set the Margaret Road for Zietz, Ibelli and Ferreira. 

The WSL has been praising the surf style of Caio Ibelli since last year. Lately Ibelli has been highlighted for clashing John John´s ticket to further down the line heats and rounds but the surfer from Brazil which seems to be calm even when risking it all in the air is out to prove more. On the other hand no one can question the flow of Jordy Smith and his energy.

The game is on and the pressure piles up. 

Surfing is one of the most physical, mental and spiritual demanding sports on this planet and this new style is a natural response which has risen around the World. It is manifesting itself spontaneously at the WSL World Tour. 

Much of the urban world seems to be soaked into this new form of surfing. From the streets of wherever forgotten street they live to out into the break and the ocean, it rises again, refreshing the Spirit of Surfng. 

Who will take Round 5 at Drug Aware? Who will fly to Quarter Finals? Who will take Brazil and Fiji or even more the World Title is something impossible to predict. Anything can happen but one thing is sure this new energy which has taken over the WSL is here to stay. Its force is unstoppable and evolves the Sport to a new faster, stronger and more powerful level. Whoever pushes the limits of the style will continue to rank among the top surfers in the World.