The Value of Competition in Freeride
Photography by Ludo Mouveau
This is an adaptation of an article I wrote a little over a year ago as we were leading up to last year's Blowsion Surf Slam. But I thought some of you guys might enjoy it again as we are preparing for Blowsion Surf Slam in just over a month!
Freeriding - at its core - is not about the competition, but freeride competitions are essential for the health and vitality of the sport. The difference between racers and freeriders is that racers live for the competition. They thrive on pushing harder than the next guy and running it in to the next corner just a little deeper and faster than that other guy is willing to go. Freeriders tend to be just a little more relaxed most of the time. You see, when we go ride, we do it just for fun. That is not to say that when the boys get together, we don't push to try and "one up" each other. But typically, there is a very relaxed atmosphere surrounding what we do. That is, until it comes time to compete.
The greatest contribution of the IFWA (International Freeride Watercraft Association) over the last several years has been the increase in the level of riding on the freeride scene around the world. I have been involved with the IFWA since its inception 2005, and almost without exception, the level has been raised at each and every event.
The greatest contribution of the IFWA (International Freeride Watercraft Association) over the last several years has been the increase in the level of riding on the freeride scene around the world. I have been involved with the IFWA since its inception 2005, and almost without exception, the level has been raised at each and every event.
(Above: Godfather of freeriding, Randy Laine, struts a little off of the coast of Mexico)
Back in 2005, a one-handed backflip and a no-handed roll was just about the extent of the variation you were going to see. Craig "Fuzzy" Boyd was doing some one-hand, one-foot combos years earlier. But for the most part, variation on the standard barrel roll and backflip were pretty limited. All the while, the U.S. guys (mainly Randy Laine, Joe Kenny, Jerry Brandon, and Taylor Curtis) have been redefining what surfing on a PWC is for the last 10-plus years. This aspect of the sport was more or less lost on the international riders. However, since the IFWA started bringing the world's best riders together on a consistent basis, we have been able to pull from our respective strengths. Without question, the game has been raised across the board.
Back in 2005, a one-handed backflip and a no-handed roll was just about the extent of the variation you were going to see. Craig "Fuzzy" Boyd was doing some one-hand, one-foot combos years earlier. But for the most part, variation on the standard barrel roll and backflip were pretty limited. All the while, the U.S. guys (mainly Randy Laine, Joe Kenny, Jerry Brandon, and Taylor Curtis) have been redefining what surfing on a PWC is for the last 10-plus years. This aspect of the sport was more or less lost on the international riders. However, since the IFWA started bringing the world's best riders together on a consistent basis, we have been able to pull from our respective strengths. Without question, the game has been raised across the board.
(Above: Central Cal's Taylor Curtis has been revolutionary in making freeriding blend seamlessly with surfing)
Freeriding is pretty analogous to most things in life. If you want to be good at it, or just better than you are now, you have to push outside of your personal limits. Regardless of who you are or what your personal level is, pushing past where you are comfortable in freeride is just plain scary. And you really need some kind of solid motivation to make that happen. For a freerider, there is not much better motivation than having the eyes of the international press on you as you go head to head against the very best riders the sport has to offer.
The weeks leading up to a contest are my favorite time to be in the water. This is the time when everyone is pushing to reach the next level and beyond. There is a crazy mixture of fear and anticipation as you watch your buddy try a new trick for the first time. Couple that with the intensely gratifying feeling of accomplishment, relief, and stoke when he lands it - or just has a huge bail; the water becomes electric with energy. It creates an atmosphere where one almost can't help but dig down deep and redefine their own personal limits.
The real value of the competition, as far as freeriding is concerned, is not in determining who is the best rider - oftentimes the better rider will lose a heat. But the real value is in the advancement and progression of the athletes themselves and the sport as a whole. Competition provides the impetus for us to go out and push the limits of what is possible, and to pull the sport up to the next level.
This is an exciting time to be a freerider. The last few years has seen the central coast guys get deeper in the pocket than ever before and on some of the heaviest waves on the planet. We've got riders doing double back flips (ok at least one...so far), any number of no-footed flip variations, and off axis rotations. Today's young riders from across the globe now have the chance to show their skills on a world level. From Australia, Argentina and Europe to South Africa, America, and most places in between you can now find world class freeride contest or events. The future looks bright for our sport, and I'm excited to see where the next generation is going to take us!
Freeriding is pretty analogous to most things in life. If you want to be good at it, or just better than you are now, you have to push outside of your personal limits. Regardless of who you are or what your personal level is, pushing past where you are comfortable in freeride is just plain scary. And you really need some kind of solid motivation to make that happen. For a freerider, there is not much better motivation than having the eyes of the international press on you as you go head to head against the very best riders the sport has to offer.
The weeks leading up to a contest are my favorite time to be in the water. This is the time when everyone is pushing to reach the next level and beyond. There is a crazy mixture of fear and anticipation as you watch your buddy try a new trick for the first time. Couple that with the intensely gratifying feeling of accomplishment, relief, and stoke when he lands it - or just has a huge bail; the water becomes electric with energy. It creates an atmosphere where one almost can't help but dig down deep and redefine their own personal limits.
The real value of the competition, as far as freeriding is concerned, is not in determining who is the best rider - oftentimes the better rider will lose a heat. But the real value is in the advancement and progression of the athletes themselves and the sport as a whole. Competition provides the impetus for us to go out and push the limits of what is possible, and to pull the sport up to the next level.
This is an exciting time to be a freerider. The last few years has seen the central coast guys get deeper in the pocket than ever before and on some of the heaviest waves on the planet. We've got riders doing double back flips (ok at least one...so far), any number of no-footed flip variations, and off axis rotations. Today's young riders from across the globe now have the chance to show their skills on a world level. From Australia, Argentina and Europe to South Africa, America, and most places in between you can now find world class freeride contest or events. The future looks bright for our sport, and I'm excited to see where the next generation is going to take us!
