{"id":22820,"date":"2017-10-11T07:57:44","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T07:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tickettoridegroup.com\/?p=22820"},"modified":"2025-10-17T18:28:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:28:01","slug":"barrels-vs-airs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickettoridegroup.com\/blog\/barrels-vs-airs\/","title":{"rendered":"Barrels vs Airs"},"content":{"rendered":"

2017 is drawing to a close and the world title race is heating up. An old school buddy of mine, Jordy Smith<\/a> is currently the number one surfer in the world but only by an arm’s length. <\/span><\/p>\n

John John Florence<\/a> (2016 world champion) is hot on his heels. With only 450 points separating them and heading into the last leg of the tour it\u2019s going to be an Andy Irons\/Kelly Slater showdown in Hawaii\u2026 Well, I hope it is! (With Jordy taking the cake)<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you follow the WSL<\/a> you will know there are only 3 events remaining. France, Portugal and Hawaii. All of these spots known for their barreling waves. This, of course, should be a worry for my fellow countryman as John John Florence has been dubbed, by Stab Surfing magazine as the best barrel rider in the world. I mean, the kid was getting barreled before he knew how to stand. Not to say Jordy can\u2019t ride the barrel<\/a>. His 10 point ride against Sebastian Zietz in Portugal last year was nothing short of spectacular. <\/span><\/p>\n

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All this talk about the top dogs in the barrel has got me thinking… Surfing has progressed over the past few years and is leaning more towards the futuristic Acrobatic Cyborg Terminator Aerialistic approach. Watching the likes of Filipe Toledo do an air is, (In my mind) the perfect mix between a ballerina, Chuck Norris doing a roundhouse kick and a ribbon dancer on a surfboard. (Don’t believe me? Click here<\/a>) But I cannot help but wonder in this day and age has a massive aerial stolen the title of the ultimate feeling in surfing from riding the barrel?<\/span><\/p>\n

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In my opinion\u2026 NEVER! There is no better feeling in the world when a wave\u00a0approaches and you just know it\u2019s going to hit the sandbank and throw a massive chunk of water over your head. I\u2019m getting butterflies just thinking about it. There is, of course, Chris Bond\u2019s argument. \u201cBut Chad, you can\u2019t do airs thus the reason why you would lean towards a barrel being the ultimate\u201d But don\u2019t be fooled by the grumpy Bondy. This “5,5”\u00a0 little stumpy guy can throw down a pretty solid punt (Air) when the time is right! \u00a0I just haven\u2019t had the right time\u2026 in about 6 or 7 years\u2019 \ud83d\ude09 <\/span><\/p>\n

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I could sit here hyping up barrels over airs until I get so excited I decided to jump in the shower just to get wet. But that won\u2019t validate my point. So I decided to ask a few familiar industry faces what they prefer. Under or above the lip?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jay Veldhuis TTR Trip Leader<\/a>: \u00a0\u201c Definitely getting barreled!\u201d ( This was a complete surprise to me. Have you seen this kids edit that Gwilym Thomas made of him in Indo? He practically started his own airline.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ricky Basnett<\/a> (Former WSL competitor): \u201c basically get barreled all day f&#ken long, then come out and boost an air over your head!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Rudy Palmboom Snr (King of Cave Rock): \u201c Barrels ekse! ( SA Slang)\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rudy Palmboom Jnr<\/a> ( Former World Qualifying Series Competitor & my best friend): \u201c Barrels, because it makes you present that all you feel is bliss. It\u2019s the best feeling in the world\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Dan Wilson<\/a> (TTR Trip Leader): \u201c I would say getting barreled takes the cake! It\u2019s the ultimate in surfing, sure airs are fun but nothing compares to sitting inside the wave on a doubling up 4 footer and getting absolutely blown out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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So, there you have it. Barrels are still the ultimate in surfing. The best part about it is… on the right wave, nearly anyone can get the ultimate feeling in surfing\u2026 A barrel.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I almost forgot! Chris Bond, this next album is for you…<\/p>\n

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