2021 CS
Any chance of SN doing a short forecast piece for the upcoming France event?
Haven't had a study of the rankings since the weekend, I think Macy is the only Aussie girl lurking near the top for re-qual, maybe Molly Picklum but maybe also a year or so off challenging for the top.
A few in the mix for the men though which is exciting, Jordan Lawler and Liam O'Brien in particular. Connor and Wade are way down the bottom and would need a lot to go right to re qualify.
Ericeira was a great time to watch into the evening, besides that fog delay. Jackson Baker did incredible as well, very similar to Merewether/Bells I thought and if he didn't fall on those waves in the final I reckon we had the win!
Will have a scope of the forecast Belly.
Great thanks Craig.
Yeah I crashed on Sat night, the break between the womens (quarters I think) and the start of the men semi's with that (rather slow) expression session killed me. But in total consumed a lot of the event due to the friendly time zones and obviously France will be similiar, looking forward to it!
Nat and Zeke look locks to be back on tour next year. Many years in between CT for Nat (some sort of record?) so will be interesting to see how he goes.
Yeah I went to bed earlyish Saturday night and got up pre-dawn Sunday and watched the replay of the final. I nearly stayed up but that delay would have killed me if I had.
Enjoyable contest, except for the overscoring of Zeke heat after heat.
With the rankings, it says they're including the best result from last years QS as well as the 4 comps this year? So Matt Banting is still rated 15th despite not surfing an event yet (injured). Callum Robson also doing well
I really don't understand the reasons the WSL added the third tier.
It pretty much makes the QS a non-event, and just adds to the cost base of the WSL. This so looks like the failed Rugby Australia tier in between club rugby and super rugby. They were bleeding money to empty stadiums.
The QS is now a glorified club comp where the top performers take home a bit of cash. Very few people will give a fuck about the results unless a mate is surfing.
The WSL couldn't run a bath.
France has started, women in the water now. Knee high shorebreak
I gave it about 90 seconds. Tiny. Hopefully more swell on the way.
Tough conditions when every round is elimination, even if you have 2/4 chance of progressing.
It's meant to be even smaller for the next 2 days. Maybe waist high for an RC surfer (remember the little RC Tom Carroll toys)
The Jeremy Flores expression session....was beyond embarrassing as far as surfing goes.
Hopefully some swell to come..
22 CT wildcards announced, Andino and Lakey for injuries and Owen and Malia for oh so close / long service. Balance will be from these events.
Not sure why Owen got a wild card.
with the retirements he had qualified, hadn't he?
Just checked he missed out by 2 spots (finished 25th, 3 retirements)
I went looking for a written forecast on the desktop as the WSL phone app was not giving me much joy. The Forecast link on the WSL site directs you to the MSW automated model - sheesh.
SN's is here: https://www.swellnet.com/reports/france/aquitaine/hossegor/forecast
Surely 4 events to determine the 2022 CT placements would justify a written forecast from WSL's forecast 'partner'.
Anyway, looking like a tough event based on the automated models. Tiny again tonight, some sort of cleanish (cross shore?) swell Tues / Weds, a storm swell Thur / Fri and the weekend looks decent with offshore winds. Waiting period ends Sunday so it's looking like survival surfing for the key mid-event heats.
This comp's actually been alright the last 2 days. Last night started onshore then cleaned right up, day before started flat but picked up quickly. Aussies doing a bit better too this time. Bit confusing with the double-banking though
I watched an hour last night in the onshore.
Typical QS, one turn to a close-out reo.
slog, turned off.
At least there was plenty of action with the double bank.
Made me realise what I enjoy about pro surfing.
A: wave quality. In good waves, I'll watch just to see good waves being ridden.
B: Match-ups. Love to watch the elite go head to head. Would set an alarm or stay up to watch the best of the best.
Take those out of the equation and it does not hold my interest for long.
It did get better though, glassed off with the sun out. But yeah still an ordinary beach break when you think about it.
Thought I'd get something going.
Been following pretty closely.
4 events to qualify for the 22 CT's.
Aussie girls in general seem to be struggling.
A few coming through in the men, Liam O'Brien at the US open, and a heap in the mix at Ericeira.
Old Nat Young and Zeke Lau giving it a nudge across both events so far.
Right now bombing sets and fog hold.