Surf Line 86

Incidentally, Tom Whitaker is another big game player. Foolish pundits expressed shock when Whits took down Fanning in R3. More discerning observers might have remembered Slater’s loss to Whitaker in dredging, shifty Mundaka barrels last year, or Slater’s loss to Whitaker at Bells the year before that. Funny, really – that hat at Bells helped open up Fanning’s shot at his first world title. Now, Whitaker has blocked Fanning’s path to the title instead. Although he kept cool versus Fanning, Whits panicked against Aritz motherfuckin’ Aranburu. Tommy tried to launch into a Jordy Smith upside-down flip thing, instead of sticking to his strengths. The result: a deep and painful aranburuing. Regardless, Whits has tip-toed his way back to the VIP room following a shocking 2008 campaign. Sneaky bastard.