The Santiago 2023 technical manual and the official list of participants in surfing and the SUP Race fell into my hands like gold this week. It is beautiful when journalists receive this type of documents that give us material to process and turn into articles that, I have appreciated, DUKE readers are eager to read.
There are 55 days left until Santiago 2023 and we already know all the competition series (see them below, only in DUKE for now hehe), also the schedule and some other details that I consider interesting. It is impressive the number of confrontations between surfers from the same country that take place in round 1 of men's shortboard, three out of eight series face compatriots.
Getting into another of the week's topics given Ethan Ewing's injury... Is it right to change the rules so that Medina can enter the WSL finals? No! For me it's a resounding no, but people like Kelly Slater and all of Brazil think it's fine... How can these things happen? The answer is simple: A WSL that is interpreted as a puppet that moves to the rhythm of the number of clicks above the sporting aspect.
I honestly hope that the rules are not changed (everything indicates that they will not change). That they do so next year is fine if they want it that way, but not when there are names and surnames on who will benefit from the change. It is already known, and I have said it several times: For me there should be no finals or mid-year cuts and the tour should end in Pipe with the best in all conditions adding points.
It's a strange Friday in Uruguay because it's the Independence Day holiday and it just happened to be the day when the whole country was taking a long weekend. The streets of Montevideo are empty and the day here was lived as if it were a Saturday... In fact, I feel strange writing the newsletter feeling like it's Saturday! Thank God, DUKE readers are mostly non-Uruguayan and, I hope, they will receive this newsletter as a normal drop on their cell phone, the classic one every Friday.
On another note: I'm going to create a WhatsApp group and leave the whole broadcast list thing behind. It's amazing how many people want to receive this and you have to add each one to the list one by one. And, with a group I get away from this.
And the good thing is that it won't be open, obviously, for everyone to write, it will be like those in the kids' school where only the administrator writes and that's it. We'll escape the discussions about whether Surf Skate is cool or not! We'll leave that for Instagram!
-These are the surfing series in Santiago 2023: https://dukesurf.com/these-are-the-surfing-series-in-santiago-2023/
-Check out the surfing schedule in Santiago 2023: https://dukesurf.com/check-out-the-surfing-schedule-in-santiago-2023/
-This is the official list of confirmed surfers in Santiago 2023 and their respective seeding: https://dukesurf.com/este-es-el-listado-oficial-de-confirmados-en-el-surfing-en-santiago-2023-y-su-respectivo-seeding/
-Some Olympic situations that could occur in Santiago 2023: https://dukesurf.com/algunas-situaciones-olimpicas-que-podrian-darse-en-santiago-2023/
-Kelly's other way to go to Paris 2024 (that no one is talking about): https://dukesurf.com/kellys-other-way-to-go-to-paris-2024-that-no-one-is-talking-about/
-ISA approves Connor O'Leary's nation change; he will compete for Japan: https://dukesurf.com/isa-approves-connor-oleary-nation-change-he-will-compete-for-japan/
-For Slater, Medina should be able to compete in the WSL finals (if Ewing is still injured): https://dukesurf.com/for-slater-medina-should-be-able-to-compete-in-the-wsl-finals-if-ewing-is-still-injured/
-Julian Wilson on Erik Logan's departure: “There wasn't much respect there”: https://dukesurf.com/julian-wilson-on-erik-logans-departure-there-was-not-much-respect-there/
-The strength of the WSL put to the test: https://dukesurf.com/the-strength-of-the-wsl-put-to-the-test/
-The path of the good Kolohe: https://dukesurf.com/el-camino-del-bueno-kolohe/
-Michael Rodrigues calls for removal of WSL exclusivity clause: https://dukesurf.com/michael-rodrigues-calls-for-removal-of-wsl-exclusivity-clause/
-Nadia Erostarbe champion in Lacanau: https://dukesurf.com/nadia-erostarbe-campeona-en-lacanau/
-Medina, Fanning and Mason Ho on a secret and perfect surf trip in Australia: https://dukesurf.com/medina-fanning-and-mason-ho-on-a-secret-and-perfect-surf-trip-in-australia/
-The things Clay Marzo does in an hour surfing in Uluwatu (or anywhere): https://dukesurf.com/the-things-clay-marzo-does-in-an-hour-surfing-in-uluwatu-or-anywhere/
-Mason Ho showing the kids how it's done: https://dukesurf.com/mason-ho-showing-the-kids-how-it-is-done/
-Brad Gerlach: “It’s a performance, can you please stop calling it work?”: https://dukesurf.com/brad-gerlach-it’s-a-performance-can-you-please-stop-calling-it-work/
-These are all the qualifiers for Paris 2024, those who remain to qualify and where they will be defined: https://dukesurf.com/estos-son-todos-los-clasificados-a-paris-2024-los-que-restan-clasificar-y-donde-se-definiran/
