Challenger series 2022
Yep I watched a bit of that last night. It's brutal for sure. Tough conditions ay
The way they want to pump the numbers of surfers and “grow” the sport...it’s only going to get worse...
4 man heats in onshore 2ft surf.
total crap shoot.
Luck has far more to do with it than anything else.
I tuned in for Rio Waidas heat because he fucking rips and would love to see him qualify, it was really hard to watch.
Such an expensive jaunt. What 5K for flight and accom to get the south africa to surf 30mins? No other events nearby to tack on and/or help cause (because if you're out in the round of 1096 then you're not getting the call up for J-Bay).
From Ballito hop over to Huntington for another shot at a 2 foot random beachie and probably 10K poorer.
There will be some really good surfers missing out. If you do happen to survive the 300 heats over 8 events and make the dream tour, guess what, you're up against Felipe, Robbo, JJF in the first 5 events and then bang back on the challenger tour for 2023.
Yep.
I've continually said the CS has the potential to be a real graveyard for CT level talent.
So much luck involved.
amazing how many good surfers there are, however not too many on the CS are GREAT (excluding the tour surfers that also compete in CS events) The good surfers all blend in unfortunately.
Mateus Herdy, Rio Waida & João Chianca stand out for me.
Ramai Boukhiam is clearly a CT level talent.
Eliminated by 0.4.
First place less than 0.6 in front.
Thats chance, and nothing more.
I watched that heat. The ending for Ramzi was tragic. Two foot crud with the second place surfer sitting on him with priority and preventing him from catching a wave.
freeride76 wrote:
Ramai Boukhiam is clearly a CT level talent.
Eliminated by 0.4.
First place less than 0.6 in front.
Thats chance, and nothing more.
I just had a google, he rips, stylish and powerful.
Whether snapper, manly or ballito, every heat basically has 3 surfers (of 4) that get a 9 or 10 something, they have 6 x 4.0 - 5.0ish waves. I mean how do you even split that?
In some ways this system works as it saves the young battler forking out to chase QS 1000's all around the world - they can just do them in Oz and if in top 10 Aussies / Kiwis get the chance to grovel on the CS.
What would even it out a little is a couple of higher quality waves. The cream (Chianca, Ramzi, etc) would rise. Having Sunset and Haleiwa would be ideal.
Ballito kicking off now.
Pissing down rain and pretty damn cold. Throw in an injury and it’s a decent day for having the rest of the men’s round of 196,000,000 playing in the background.
Go Callinan .
How can they have a CS comp at Ballito? It always looks like dogshit, and there are so many good waves in the vicinity.
@IB - I imagine most of the better spots on that coast would be like asking Lennox to have a comp.
reliable beachie
Congrats to Molly Picklum for taking out Ballito. Also to Macy, just pipped at the post.
Rio Waida - what a surfer, all but guaranteed he’ll be Indonesia’s first ‘CT surfer, and he won’t be making up the numbers.
Poor buggers, after surfing total dross this week in Ballito, they are now off to Huntington Beach for the next lottery in their tour.
The dream tour this ain’t.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/nov/25/jackson-baker-australian-…
Wishing him luck in 24....
Agree. It'd be good to see him back.
On another score does it feel weird to others that there are no major contests from September right thru to the beginning of February? Traditionally this was an important time of the year but now there's nothing.
abc-od wrote:
Agree. It'd be good to see him back.
On another score does it feel weird to others that there are no major contests from September right thru to the beginning of February? Traditionally this was an important time of the year but now there's nothing.
You’re right. And it’s not just weird, it’s a massive failure by WSL who insists that season finisher at Trestles in Sep is somehow better than an epic finale at one of the world greatest waves - Pipeline. When Pipe was a title decider I was quite hooked to the tour. Since they changed it I completely lost interest.
Feels so weird.
Hawaii is kicking off and we finished off the CS months ago in Brazilian beachbreak.
flollo wrote:
Agree. It'd be good to see him back.On another score does it feel weird to others that there are no major contests from September right thru to the beginning of February? Traditionally this was an important time of the year but now there's nothing.
You’re right. And it’s not just weird, it’s a massive failure by WSL who insists that season finisher at Trestles in Sep is somehow better than an epic finale at one of the world greatest waves - Pipeline. When Pipe was a title decider I was quite hooked to the tour. Since they changed it I completely lost interest.
Yep ..
+1
…..yeah but now we’ve got the digital triple crown, how cool is that?
What a brutal tour. One could argue nearly harder to win than a CT owing to the sheer number of surfer and talent at that.
You travel half way around the world ONLY for the challenger event and come third in your first round and that it’s, pack it up and go home.
Gotta feel bad for the like of Joel Vaughan, Jordy Lawler and Kalani Ball at yesterday’s 2 foot onshore Ballito.
If you make it to the top 12 you really deserve your spot on the CT.