A whole new level

WHETHER we agree or not, the highest-scoring moves in competent surfing are the high-risk, high-degree difficulty aerials.

Personally, I’d prefer to see barrel rides or even extreme power on face-turns scored higher than aerials, but surfers going to the air are essentially the highest-scoring moves in surfing.

What makes aerials so difficult, even when compared to other sports like skate and snowboarding, is that it is performed on the moving, unpredictable wave surface. It adds a huge factor of uncertainty to how surfers master aerials.

The only Australian who I’m confident is performing consistent aerials at the highest level is Julian Wilson, and he’s Australia’s only world title contender in the men’s.

Wilson had some serious foot troubles in his younger days as an aerialist, but he is still very capable of going to the air when he needs the big scores.

Of the title contenders, the Brazilians are the most accomplished aerialists.

How can Australia start producing aerials of this calibre?

A lot of effort is being put into training our young emerging surfers using skateboards and trampolines, but what’s missing with this type of training is the moving platform, so just maybe, designing events solely around aerial surfing might be the way forward.

Food for thought as we head into the Olympic era which will certainly require aerial skills.