Challenger Series Qualifiers Set; Josh Kerr Re-enters The Chat
With no more events left in the Australian or Asian regions, the qualifiers are set for the upcoming 2025 Challenger Series.
The Australia/Oceania region gets eight men and five women, so this is who will be competing in this year's CS:
Victorian Tully Wylie scraped in by virtue of a second-place finish at last week's Phillip Island Pro.
Meanwhile, as daughter Sierra jumps onto the CS, 40-year old Josh Kerr re-enters the conversation with an inadvertent qualification. Kerr told Stab it was "never the plan" to qualify but while chaperoning Sierra he also competed and won the odd heat.
Of course, Kerr isn't the only former CT surfer making a return, as Julian Wilson also got a start in the CS by way of a wildcard. Wilson wasn't shy of stating his ambition to get back on the CT, though it's not yet known how committed Kerr is to the same goal. We'll find out shortly - the Burton Automotive Newcastle Surfest starts on June 2nd.
An observation from the rankings:
Though Australia has three CT contests and one CS contest, it doesn't have a single major Qualifying Series contest. There were just four QS contests on Aussie soil, three of which were worth 1,000, one was worth 3,000.
Meanwhile, the Asian region - where Aust/Oceania surfers can also compete - held eight contests (for the men), four of which were worth 5,000 points. Australian surfers won all four of them.
As a cumulative, Australia/Oceania offers 6,000 first place points, while Asia offers 30,000 first place points.
Something is out of whack when a powerhouse region provides so little to the QS tour.
Comments
Wasn't there a whole bunch of Aussie QS events sponsored by Vissla?
Port Stephens, Tweed Coast, Newy etc etc?
What happened to them?
And Top 20 for Changa requalify, right?
So Jacob Wilcox, at No 21 and not on the QS list above, is now retired?
Vissla last sponsored a QS in 2023.
Back in the 2022/23 season we also had two 5,000 contests. Now none.
Top ten qualify.
I'm not certain but I think the guys that got cut from the tour last year still get one more shot at the CS this year. Which would be Jacob. Hope I'm right.
Top Ten quality for the CT but don't the next 10- ie 11-20 qualify for next years CS without having to go back to the QS?
-12 men and seven women from the CT who did not make the Mid-season Cut,
-10 men and five women from the previous year's Challenger Series rankings,
Ah gotcha, yeah it's a hodge podge and hard to make sense of. From the rulebook:
Challenger Series:
(i) Twelve (12) men and seven (7) women from the CT who did not make the Mid-Season Cut;
ii) Ten (10) men and five (5) women from the previous year’s Challenger Series rankings;
(iii) Three (3) men and two (2) women who were CT Surfers that did not requalify for either the CT or the Challenger Series based on CS Rankings;
(iv) 49 men and 30 women as allocated as follows:
v) One (1) men’s and one (1) women’s World Junior Champion;
and (vi) Five (5) men’s and three (3) women’s wildcards per event. If there are any CS positions that are vacant for any reason, those positions will become wildcards and will be awarded by the WSL Tour Representative.
Because of all the double qualifiers and arbitrary wildcards it's hard to know who's in and who isn't so I usually wait to see who's registered for the first event of the season. Check here for details.
Yep I believe 11-20 on 2024 CS get another crack this year without having to qualify through the QS.
Of the Aussies they positioned between 11-20 in last year’s CS we have:
- Cal Robbo
- Mikey McDonagh
- Jordy Lawler
- Winter Vincent
- Morgan Cibilic
As Winter is a double qualifier does that leave the door open for Taj Stokes?
Lots of horses in the CS race this year
PS - on what grounds does Julian get a wildcard? Doesn’t make sense but right on brand for the Woz
Because he asked for it and they agreed.
From a business perspective, I'd say they needed some star power on the CS.
Think old (literally) Jules may find it another ball game to the one he retired from…….never know, he’s a good small wave surfer and has the experience.
Can’t believe Kerzie would take a spot off a kid. Just be a dad mate (that being said he may not be aiming to compete)
Absolutely agree re Kerr. There is so little money, and hard to make it to these overseas events financially. Certainly easier with a ton of experience and no pressure and your investment $$$ backing you up. Don’t love him taking up a spot that would have gone to someone younger in their way up.
If the young bucks can't keep up with Kerzy they don't deserve the spot! This aint a charity
She’s called Oceanna. Really?
yeah she is...whats your problem
Maybe stay off the weed when you’re naming your kids.
all the names are off the charts. classic.
Check the US competitor names - all "Normal"
Support kids having a go, they can always change their name.
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/531468/ella-mccaffray-and-winter-…
https://www.dweezilzappa.com/songs/1964075-dweezil-zappa-apostrophe-live
https://www.dweezilzappa.com/songs/1964062-live-in-the-moment-ii
Dude! If I read you the roll call of my kids preschool you'd think I was making up names after inhaling bulk nangs.
Houso kids, fake hippy kids. Doesn't matter. Parents must love making their kids lives harder or something...
Ha ha 100%. Parents think they’re being cool, but the poor kids have to live with it.
Good grounds that.
If you wanted to create something thats confusing , and seemingly out of balance or hodge podge.
I think thats been achieved.
Rolling around to the QS events must be so uninspiring.
I do think the fashion in which the lesser tours are put together, the overall pathway and lack of funding / fanfare; surfing seems to be in a poor place (professionally speaking).
Two blokes from Victoria !
So, altogether 8 from the QS, 5 from the Challenger last year, and Julian as a wildcard. 14 out of 96 is not bad. Will probably even outnumber Brazil (unless Muniz, Pupo, Groggia et al, don't make the cut and return to the CS).
Interesting no Jacob Wilcox, Dylan Moffat, Reef Heazelwood, or Ali Reginato.....Although I think because Wilcox was ranked 21, he'll be the first injury replacement....
I'm totally OK with Josh Kerr having a go. If he was good enough to beat younger guys then they're not good enough to be on the CS. He ripped in some of the Indo comps. And stoked to see our Billy back again. Gives us kiwis someone to cheer
Agree. Not like he was gifted anything.
A very solid “thunder from down under” year on the CS… give em hell!!
Why wouldn’t kerrsey have a crack way better than sitting on the beach and watching
Because he’s a squillionaire, he has the means to travel the world surfing where ever he wants and he’s been there done that.
He seems like he'd rather be supporting his kid though than running away from the responsibility, Kelly Slater style. Good on him really, if you can't beat an old has been, maybe being a pro surfer isn't for you?