The recent running of the Quicksilver Pro on the Gold Coast was perhaps the dawning of a new era in surfing, with Brazilian you gun Filipe Toledo taking out the title over the Sunshine Coast’s Julian Wilson in a high scoring final jam packed with exciting and progressive surfing. Explosive turns and gravity defying aerials had the crowed pumped and forgetting about the absence of the likes of Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina, who were all knocked out earlier than expected. The biggest change however was arguably not in the surfing, or the names at the top of the leader board, but in the attitude of the professionals competing in the event leaving many spectators to ask “Where’s the fun?”

The Gold Coast had seen 2 months of solid conditions leading up to the event, only for the surf to die off completely the day after the waiting period began. With Cyclone Pam forming in the Coral Sea swell was imminent and the organisers decided to go on hold for 10 days even extending the waiting period by 2 days (a decision only made twice previously in the history of the World Championship).

Unfortunately the swell did not arrive in time and despite the finals being held in pretty decent waves, the earlier heats had to be run in less than favourable conditions. Having missed excellent surf before the competition began, and knowing the excellent conditions would likely return after the competition had ended, many of the surfers were visibly frustrated. But is this any excuse for some of the world’s best surfers acting like what can only be described as a “toddler chucking a tantrum”?

Gabriel Medina’s reaction to an interference call whilst surfing against Glenn Hall would have been almost laughable if it weren’t for the fact that Medina is the current Wold Champion and presumably an inspiration and hero to young surfers all over the world. Far from a contentious call, Medina clearly affected Hall’s opportunity to surf a wave when he did not have priority. The two exchanged a few pleasantries in the water but Medina didn’t stop there engaging in an immature and disrespectful rant in his post heat interview.

The World Champion and “role model” swore whilst venting his frustrations with his fellow competitor and the priority rules, and even had a shot at tour commissioner Kieren Perrow for his decision to extend the waiting period. Less than gracious in defeat, the young World Champion might be a great surfer but still has a lot to learn if he hopes to be widely respected and well liked, like his predecessors Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, and Joel Parkinson.

Josh Kerr was also guilty of an out of character show of frustration pounding into his board several times after losing his heat, but perhaps the most comical dummy spit came from American surfer Fredrick Patacchia (Freddy P). Following his loss, Freddy rode through the shore break deliberately beaching his board onto the rocks at Little Mali. But it didn’t end there. Ignoring his support crew, spectators, the media, and fellow competitors, Freddy didn’t even stop to grab his boardbag as he ran from the water through the competition area and straight to his hotel room in Rainbow Bay. Dripping wet, furious, and standing at the door of his hotel room it dawned on Freddy that he did not have his room key.

To Freddy’s credit he realised that he was perhaps overreacting later embracing the honouree name (Freddy’s Rock) given to the rock which he smashed into, and even running a competition on instagram, giving the board to the spectator who posted the best photo standing on Freddy’s Rock.

There is little doubt that young surfers idolise these superstars of world surfing, but it is not just their style and moves that these kids will try to replicate. Unless we want our sport to turn into an experience akin to driving through Sydney in peak hour (ie. aggressive, frustrating, disrespectful and inconsiderate) it is imperative that surfing professionals lead the way in showing the fun in surfing.