Well, I guess right back to the contest writing. I know it’s a bit redundant, but it’s something I am passionate about. Regardless of location, swell, conditions, surfers, board type, or anything else, I will tune into a live surf contest to watch if given the opportunity. There’s a pro junior going on in Japan that I have on in the background right this second.
There are a few contests happening locally this weekend. I’m hoping to make stops by the Seal Beach Surfing Championship and the Hotdogger Championship at Manhattan Beach Pier. But the biggest event coming up, at least for my personal taste, is the final Challenger Series event of the year at Saquarema, Brazil. If my calculations are correct, the opening day of the waiting period starts Saturday around 3am for those in California.
This contest will decide who will become rookies on the Championship Tours next year. There are 2 males and 1 female all confirmed as of this point – Cole Houshmand, Jacob Wilcox, and Sally Fitzgibbons. That leaves 8 spots for the Men and 4 spots for the Women. Speculation is that the 5 male surfers below these two are also in a safe spot. That would be Fredrico Morais, Jake Marshall, Deivid Silva, Crosby Colapinto, and Imai deVault. Supposedly India Robinson is looking solid too. We’re going to assume this theory as true since I don’t have the current time or energy to crunch those numbers at the moment. With that said, we’re looking at 3 Male surfers, and 3 Female surfers to shore up their positions in Brazil.
Good old Saquarema. This is the only wave that holds 2 events in a calendar year – both a Challenger Series and a Championship Tour event. Is the wave that good? Is the market that large? Do the surfers love it there? I don’t have these answers. What I do know is that the wave is a heavy looking beachbreak that is mostly a left, however, last year for the CS event I remember a lot of rights being ridden. No guesses what we could see this year, although speaking of guessing, Surfline’s forecast shows there should be some waves – the wind is what could be an issue. Tuesday looks to be the cleanest. Thursday and Friday show a solid swell. We’ll see when the Woz decides to run it.
Gabby Medina made his triumphant return to competition at this event last year, nabbing his first major victory on home turf in Brazil. There is no heat draw posted yet, so we’re yet to find out if any CT surfers will show out again. There’s quite a handful of former CT guys right within striking distance though – Jacko Baker, Sammy Pupo, Michael Rodrigues, Morgan Ciblic, Joan Duru, and Jadson Andre all look to have a mathematical chance. A few new hopefuls I’ll have an eye on – Kade Matson, Mateus Herdy, Jett Schilling, Nolan Rapoza & Kauli Vaast.
On the Women’s side I think it’s hard to look past Alyssa Spencer and her story. I believe she has missed the CT by 1 spot for the last 2 years? She just won the last contest in Portugal, she won this event here in Saquarema last year, and she currently sits in the 4th position. Really pulling for her. Something interesting to note that I heard Dimity (I believe?) point out – there are only 4 spots left to secure for the women, yet 5 surfers who have won an event, meaning a surfer who won an event still wont get on Tour. It will be between India Robinson, Sawyer Lindblad, Alyssa Spencer, Isabella Nichols, and Bronte McCaulay. Heavy stuff.
This contest is going to be like the March Madness tournament as far as emotions go. We’ll see surfers leaving it all on the line. Win and you’re in for some. Lose and pack it up for the year. It’s got real circumstances; it’s what sport is all about. And while surfing is much more than a sport, when they put the jerseys on and sign up for these events, that’s exactly what it becomes.
Cheers,
hwilsin