The 'Aussie Treble' And Other Contest News
For the first time since 2021, this year's Championship Tour is again hosting three Australian contests: Gold Coast, Bells, and Margaret River.
This week, the WSL announced the 'GWM Aussie Treble', a tour within a tour that will see the best performing surfers across the three contests awarded a GWM Tank 300 - which is not to be confused with a GWM Cannon.
The Treble is clearly inspired by the once-prestigious Hawaiian Triple Crown that included contests at Pipe, Sunset, and Haleiwa, and which many surfers saw as a victory second only to a world title.
Tapping into this rich history, GWM spokesperson Steve Maciver said, "This sponsorship has allowed us to strengthen our community presence and connect with the broader surfing community at a grassroots level."
With all three Aussie contests locked in until 2028, the Aussie Treble should have at least four years to run.
Sally in a Tank
The third event of the CT, the Rip Curl Pro Portugal starts this weekend - Saturday local time, Sunday Australian time. Ryan Callinan has pulled out following an injury - fractured fibula - suffered during the Pipe Pro and which he endured during Abu Dhabi. Ryan's out for one contest, his spot taken by ex-CTer Jorgann Couzinet who's leading the European QS rankings.
Gabriel Medina remains on the sidelines with his injury, his place taken by Ian Gentil. Meanwhile, Crosby Colapinto returns from injury after missing the first two events of the season.
As for the wildcards, Yolanda Hopkins, who's the highest-ranked Portuguese surfer on the CS will be the Women's event wildcard, with another ex-CTer, Federico Morais takes the Men's event wildcard. Finally, Gatien Delahaye from France will be competing as the WSL Wild Card. He’s currently the highest rated European surfer on the CS Rankings not yet in competition.
Last August, Julian Wilson threw his hat back into the competitive ring. After three years in retirement, the itch got too much and Wilson announced his return, also hoping the WSL might show some clemency in the shape of a Challenger Series wildcard. This week they did just that, so Wilson won't have to scrap through the QS to get a start.
The campaign to reclaim a CT spot begins at his adopted hometown of Newcastle in June.
Comments
I hope JW gets back in as no-one on tour now surfs as progressively as he did and can also back it up in big waves. It seems like most are now focused on safety surfing heats and the best you'll get is a stock standard air reverse.
Acknowledge the style of Robo & Ethan, but they're just not capable of pulling off many of the moves JW repeatedly landed in competitions.
Gunna be interesting- I've got no doubt he can still hang with the CT big dogs in good waves.
Not so sure how he will go grinding it in the CS 4 man sausage factory in mostly shitty beachies full of hungry men ten years younger than him.
Thats an extremely difficult assignment.
Right? Highlighting the nonsensical disconnect between the proving ground and target.
If only locations and timetabling - at all levels - could be determined on merit not funding.
Lets be honest....
The Challenger Tour is basically in waves 90% of surfers, surf 90% of the time.
Its not exciting to watch but it does reflect reality.
I'd say it's significantly worse.
It does reflect a mediocre reality but it sure doesn't reflect a championship tour reality.
He'll need to draw on every ounce of his on shore 1st bay Coolum knowledge for sure
Haha I’ve never ever other than a swim
A little older, a little balder, a little heavier, a little less nimble and a little bit further from a world title. Cracking surfer, hard not to like. Can’t see it but good luck Jules.
Fingers crossed for pumping waves for the changa to give JW a shot. I dunno, I felt pretty bad watching Kolohe meltdown, wasn’t easy viewing.
Interesting rolling all the contest news into one article.
A bundle if you will, so who is going to take the car ?
This tour season is about to run away on itself.
Will it fly by like last year?
Sally in a Tank, parked in a Shed...
First prize: A Chinese tank.
Second prize: Two Chinese tanks.
ha!
So The Surfabout is back?
Hoping Julian brings some Kelly style, 'i know how this works' mongrel, like Sally, but in any case i wouldn't want him in my heat. His surfing has always been excellent.
Excellent Frederico is back...said no one ever :)
It's excellent that Frederico is back.
Chinese tanks on Aussie soil, a taste of things to come perhaps?
Check out the braking tests done on the TANK 300 . At 100ks they have a nasty habit of lifting the rear tyres off the road . No thank you !
Perhaps a salute to the doubters...JDub just won a local QS1000 yesterday at 1-2ft Newcastle beach.
The little peak they surfed for the event is about as piss weak and "QS-ey" as it gets.