WSL Admits Fault in Underscoring Nat Young’s Snapper Rocks Wave

Now, in a rare move, the WSL has walked back the original score, and admitted fault. After reexamining the wave, they gave this update:

“The Head Judge and Nat met for a heat review and watched all of the waves from Nat, Mikey and Charly. It was recognized and acknowledged that Nat’s 4.03 was in fact underscored and the wave should have been in the 5 or 6-point-range. Even though it was not the 7.21 that Nat needed to get into an advancing position, we still wanted to acknowledge the error.”

This is just the latest in a recent flurry of allegations and controversy aimed at the WSL judging panel. It’s nothing new, of course. But this time around, it started with Gabriel Medina and 2023 Surf Ranch Pro at Kelly Slater’s Lemoore, CA wave pool.

(Medina, casually, chimed in on the WSL's post: "I'm here for the comments ")

From there, the small fire turned into an inferno. Numerous jabs at the judging panel were lobbed in the following events. Will the latest with Nat reignite the blaze? 

Offering insights and a call for peace on the WSL's admittance of error, Kelly Slater wrote: "Seems like judging has really gone down the ‘size of wave’ direction instead of a focus on the best actual surfing. I do like it being acknowledged and addressed here. Should be no defensiveness in these calls as we are all human."

Tough times, especially if you’re tasked with the unenviable job of judging a subjective sport, one with passionate fans, and where competitor's livelihoods are on the line.