I hear that a lot around 3 Mile
Is that not the case with most "glamour sports".
A lot of professionals success can be contributed to their sponsorship or marketing and maybe being in the right place at the right time to get that sponsorship. If your average rider could afford to spend the time and money to kite so many different waves and spend as much time on the water he might even be better. Don't get me wrong they have to be pretty dam good to be there in the first place but as u say how much better are they than the above average rider.
I have always liked the idea of "wildcards" in comps but to be realistic, they are picked by the organizers and judged by the organizers judging panel.
What would be cool to see would be to pick 6 of u above average
local WA riders that had plenty of experience on Tombies on a big day and put them up against Arron Hadlow and Andy Yates or some of the guys that make these moves at an invitational event at Gnaraloo.
Gnaraloo would be happy to host it and make sure the judges were completely independent and you would get the answer to your question "ok".
I know this isn't about kiting but you guys are all adrenalin junkies and it's the best example i know of of an above average guy not getting the recognition he deserved.
If he had been Italian and riding a Duacati you would all know who he was instead he was a Northern Irish Farmer completely un-marketable and without doubt the Motorbike KING of the the world and always will be. Check out the link cause i'd rather go out in Tombies on a 10ft day having never kited before that sit on the back of this honda!