Last Friday, we flicked emails to some of the world’s best, asking them what waves they’d add to the World Tour roster given the choice, and the below locales were the overwhelming favourites. Don’t get us wrong, the gang over at the IBA are absolutely killing it with the current tour, but like Ryan Hardy says, “it’s nice to dream”. Here are a few of the comments that landed in our inbox over the weekend:
DAVE WINCHESTER: Waves like Chopes because it’s one of the best waves in the world. Cloud 9 because it’d be so competitive and the contest in the past was amazing. Blackrock, it would show everyone how many moves can be done on a boogie. France ’cause when the beachies are on, they’re on.
Ah the possibilities of Tahiti.
AMAURY LAVERNHE: I would love to see a comp on the south coast of Sydney – maybe a mobile event as this part of the coast is so consistent. Also a comp in Tahiti and Indo would be amazing. The show would be insane and conditions perfect for our sport. I hope I’ll still be on the tour when things like this will come.
JEFF HUBBARD: The spots I’d like to see on the IBA World Tour would be: Nuggan – would be ideal, huge ramps, pits, lefts, rights etc. Blackrock – every wave is the same, a perfect three-footer, so fun and easy. Cloud 9 – looks so perfect for a comp, see the Tension video with the Super Tour venue there, long pits to massive boosts. Tahiti – they have so many great hollow and heavy waves and I would love to hang out there for a comp. The Tahitians are ripping hard these days.
Timeless Cloud 9 from Tension 4.
JARED HOUSTON: I’ve narrowed it down to three, they are: 1. Cloud 9, Philippines: I’ve never surfed it but I’m pretty happy to say that it will be my favourite wave in the world. It’s a right-hander in warm water, it’s an easy-looking take-off into a perfect barrel section followed by an all-time ramp-section down the line. It seems like every wave is kind of the same out there and that’s sick for a comp because it allows people to see the true differences in their favourite riders’ surfing. In short, I think it’s a top contender for the best bodyboarding wave in the world. 2. Roaming venue, Tahiti: There is more to Tahiti than Chopes, which has recently come to the limelight with all the Within Productions. I’d love to see an event there, with Teahupo’o being the primary venue and the others as back-ups. Bodyboarding needs a presence at Chopes and if we get a swell it will be great for the sport. The airbowls of Sapinus, Tapuna etc. could quite possibly be some of the biggest around and imagine the show that would go down on the smaller days. An event of this nature has the potential to be the best event of all time. 3. Skeleton Bay, Namibia: Completely impossible, which is why I’m saying it but I just think it’d be insane to see the world’s best out there on a single swell getting the longest pits of their lives. The stoke-factor would be through the roof!
RYAN HARDY: Fun question! Ok here’s my dream spots: Nuggan, Blackrock, North Point, Shark Island, The Right - tow comp, Cloud 9, Philippines, Padang Padang, Super Suck, P-Pass, Teahupo’o, Skeleton Bay. Yep...it’s nice to dream.
Indo need we say more.
DAMIAN KING: Philippines would be sick I reckon. It's (Cloud 9) the perfect bodyboarding wave, clean, fast pit to ramp. It also allows time for you to work the wave for moves in and out of the tube. Shark Island, I think this is a must. The waiting period is long and there are a lot of things to complain about, but it's one of the best bodyboarding waves in the world. It has a strong bodyboarding history behind it and it's the contest that'll get the mainstream talking. We're silly to stick that in the closet. Also Indo-style waves - any wave with a bit of length to it, something that challenges riders to think more than one big move. This will test riders in world-class waves that run down the line, show who can read and ride to the waves rhythm and get the most out of the whole wave, not just line up one section to do a move off.
Oz Pipe with all your favourite riders.
So there you have it. What waves would you love to see added to the World Tour? Which ones would you like to see removed from it?
