The New York Times - USA (2020-08-03)

THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020 N D5

This was supposed to be surfing’s
year. The sport was awarded one of the
most prestigious honors in sports: a
place at the Olympics for the first time.
You know what happened next. The
coronavirus pandemic put the sports
world on hold, pushing the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics to summer 2021. We spoke
with eight top surfers, now scattered
around the world, about what to expect
when the sport makes its debut at the
Olympics. For starters, surfing is like
no other sport. There is no blueprint for
how to perform on an ever changing
field of play. Surfers will attempt ma-
neuvers — aerials, turns, and barrels —
in waves unlike those at the most pres-
tigious competitions, which are usually
bigger. Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia
called the conditions at Tsurigasaki
Beach in Chiba, Japan, the “ultimate
leveler.” Spectators can expect to see a
lot of technical, acrobatic surfing as the
athletes try to impress Olympic judges
looking for speed, power, and flow on
the waves. But ultimately, the ocean
has the final say. If the waves don’t
cooperate, there goes someone’s
Olympic dream.

Watch the full video at
nytimes.com/video/sports

CHIBA, JAPANSurfing’s Olympic debut is scheduled to be held in Chiba at Tsurigasaki Beach, 25 miles southeast of Tokyo, a year later than planned because of the

pandemic. Unlike waves on, say, the North Shore of Oahu, or in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, the waves at Chiba are known for being on the smaller side. At top, the surfers

Italo Ferreira, left, competing at the WSL Championship Tour in Bali, Indonesia, and Caroline Marks at the WSL Championship Tour in Hossegor, France, in 2018.

THE FUNDAMENTALS

Aerials

“It’s good to fly sometimes”

—GABRIEL MEDINA, BRAZIL

Turns

“That’s where your board is on the wave face.

And then it’s just drawing the lines and all

the spray will come off your board.”

—SALLY FITZGIBBONS, AUSTRALIA

Barrels

“You’re just in this tunnel of water.”

—JOHN JOHN FLORENCE, U.S.

PADDLE BATTLESThe first surfer back to the start line wins. And the prize? They get priority — the ability to have their pick of the next incoming
wave. Most of the time, being tall isn’t an advantage in the water. But in a paddle battle, your height and wingspan can make the difference.

‘I believe surfing has a

different look and feel to

a lot of other sports’

OWEN WRIGHT | AUSTRALIA

On what makes surfing different

‘In surfing, you have a play-

ing field essentially that’s

always changing’

JOHN JOHN FLORENCE | U.S.

On one of the key differences be-
tween surfing and other Olympic
sports: the lack of a set field.

‘It’s so hard to win. And it’s

so hard for things to go

your way’

CAROLINE MARKS | U.S.

On the lack of control surfers have

over their environment.

‘I grew up watching the

Australians and the Ameri-

cans doing well. And today,

we are those guys.’

GABRIEL MEDINA | BRAZIL

On Brazil’s emerging dominance

in surfing.

‘We are not given a map on

how to exactly surf.’

BRISA HENNESSY | COSTA RICA

‘I always say to my friends,

in Brazil, the first move that

you learn is air’

ITALO FERREIRA | BRAZIL

On Brazilian surfers’ penchant for

aerials, a skill expected to serve

them well on Chiba’s smaller waves.

‘It’s always like amazing

every time you do it.’

JOHANNE DEFAY |FRANCE

On the feeling of riding through a

tunnel of wave during what in

surfing is called a “barrel.”

‘The paddle battle is the

ultimate fun.’

SALLY FITZGIBBONS | AUSTRALIA

On one of surfing’s more competi-
tive moments.

CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

Eight Stars,

Awaiting

The Waves

Of Tokyo

WORLD SURF LEAGUE WORLD SURF LEAGUE

HEADSHOTS BY NOAH THROOP/THE NEW YORK TIMES

HEADSHOTS BY NOAH THROOP/THE NEW YORK TIMES

WORLD SURF LEAGUE

WORLD SURF LEAGUE

WORLD SURF LEAGUE

WORLD SURF LEAGUE

This article is by Bedel Saget, Talya
Minsbergand Noah Throop.

SURFING