The Ultimate Surfer

Matt Roush says...

Surfing fans facing withdrawal now that HBO’s 100 Foot Wave is over can get their fix with a competition series where Mother Nature has been taken out of the equation as each of the competitors—seven men, seven women—try to master the man-made 6-foot waves at California’s landlocked Surf Ranch. Renowned champ Kelly Slater, who’s a consultant and “mentor” on the show, helped develop this cutting-edge technology that provides a perfect wave each time for the surfers to show their stuff. They compete in teams in a Wave Challenge, and the highest scorers with immunity get to pick one team to go to an individual elimination “Surf Off,” and that team gets to pick who they go up against. Inevitably, you’ll hear someone say, “I’m not here to make friends.” At least they have skills, which is more than you can say for the exhibitionistic fools for love on Bachelor in Paradise. (A second episode airs Tuesday.)