Margaret River Pro Wildcards Announced
Three days out and all the slots are filled.
After coming second on the Gold Coast, hopes were high that the WSL might extend another wildcard to Julian Wilson. It's not without precedent: Both Barron Mamiya and Mikey Wright were granted one wildcard, then follow ups after finding success (they each came ninth).
However, Wilson's second-placed finish and proven record werent enough to convince the WSL.
The WSL's Men's Event Wildcard has gone to Mikey McDonagh. Meanwhile, Winter Vincent will replace Ramzi Boukhiam, and Ian Gentil once again gets Gabriel Medina's spot. In six starts, Gentil has only once got past the Round of 16.
Also, now that Medina definitely can't make the cut he'll be relying on an injury wildcard next year. Medina will surely get that wildcard, which puts a cloud over the injured Ramzi Boukhiam. Will Ramzi miss out again? Or will the WSL jury-rig the system to fit both?
Lastly, Jacob Willcox returns to the CT, albeit temporarily, after winning the trials event and getting a run.
Men's Opening Round heats with wildcards
In the Women, local Bronte Macaulay replaces Tatiana Weston-Webb, while Nadia Erostarbe continues as replacement for the pregnant Johanne Defay.
Another local, Willow Hardy, won the women's trials and will line up against Gabriela Bryan and Vahine Fierro in her Opening Round heat.
Women's Opening Round heats with wildcards
Comments
Clowns! Julian deserves a wild card! What a joke!
FFS! Drop Gentil and add Joycey. Maybe the WSL are scared of getting called out again for rigging outcomes
I had no idea Barnaby surfed
They really didn't like that two finger salute, did they?
go willow
No Julian or Morgs?
Travesty !
who comprises the trials lineup? is it a mix of sponsor-elected people + locals or?
Are there any pro surfing historians out there? Free ride?
In 1979, Mark Richards was way behind on the points table when he went to Oahu right? He had to hope others like rabbit, dane, Horan, crashed and burned AND at least make the finals at the pipe. He then had to hope others crashed and burned again at the Haleiwa world cup, AND win the event. He beat PT in the final, denying Horan the title.
But my question is, in todays cut format, would've MR even got a chance to win the title?
seems bizarre that julian and morgs didn't get wildcards after their recent performances
There would have been uproar if a wildcard had won that oh so special GWM Aussie Treble
maybe jules is getting ready for the newcastle CS event ? maybe hes more focused on that as if he can win that hes almost guaranteed a spot on the ct next year
wild cards.... do they bear any relationship to the CS? they should just pick up from last year's CS standings. sponsor wild cards make zero sense when there's a year's worth of competition results.
hopefully the box fires, FT fails and we can cyber bully him into another "mental healths" to get Ramzi a spot.
That’s a pretty horrible comment Nick. No one should be advocating bullying of any kind, let alone to someone who has mental health concerns. FT is a genuinely nice guy and doesn’t deserve the jealous abuse doled out by nobodies like you.
Agree and well said.
Nick Gee how bout you man up and apologise for such a shitty comment. You obviously lack any awareness around the real issue of any form of bullying, mental health issues and the devastating outcomes that can result? Hopefully you were just publicly taking the piss in poor taste? God help us if you weren't !
Stoked to see a strong local contingent in the mix, especially with the forecast. Willcox, Hardy, Robbo and Macaulay!! Some classic past and present west oz names.
I hope the wild west gets a clean mix of quality waves for everyone to enjoy.
Wet & warm oceans on the east coast of Oz ...again... (rain for 4 years)
Thanks in advance WSL, for organising the surf camera work & broadcast.
How come the judging of surf performance varies between mens v's womens heats...
if it is muscle mass & weight moving more vs less water, maybe have weight divisions instead of gender?
often wondered that too and think it has hindered proggresion in the females
Great for Mikey McDonagh to get a start- hope he does damage in the draw.
Will be a good test, see if he’s at that level.
Is Olive Hardy (2nd place) Willows little sister? Solid family chops there!!
It would be criminal for Ramzi not to get a WC next season after the last debacle with KS.
Really want to see Jules, but is there really any point having him surf more events this year given that single event wildcards cant accumulate any CT points?
He needs a full season wildcard or proper QS qualification, otherwise he's just a sideshow (albeit an entertaining one) that takes points away from genuine title contenders.
Fair call @Smorto. Wasn't it the case in the past that wildcards did accumulate CT points?
Yep it was, but that got changed.
I think it was changed because when wildcards won an event (or at least did well) then all of a sudden they were in the Top 10 on the rankings but not part of the tour, which led to confusion from average punters expecting to see that person at the next event because of their high ranking.
Might be wrong but that's my take.
It does make it weird- but no way we would have Barron Mamiya the best Pipe guy on Tour without his wildcards.
No way in hell is Barron getting through the CS slop-fest.
Would be highly unlikely JJF would qualify through the Changa.
Seems completely arbitrary though, that Morgs is prevented from competing in the Aussie Treble.
Why should his achievements not count?
let's crowdfund to fly morgs, julian and tucker wooding and his drone to wherever is mackingest next week.
I'd say Morgs and JW would have said "thanks but no thanks" to the wildcards so they can stay at home for an extra week and focus on preparing for the Newy CS comp. Getting back on the CT is a bigger opportunity than the potential for a few heats at Margs.
Can i just say, how amazing is Willow Hardy. Hardy by name, Hardy by nature.
WA thoroughbred.
Go Chippo! Alot of flak on these pages writing him off.... that he wouldn't have given two shits about, nor read, but typically, as soon as the swell bumped up to a size the naysayers would never dare contemplate paddling out in, he charged and took out world number 1 Italo. haha. Classic WA style.
you tell ‘em sr.
ha. Well i didn't need to. As per usual they let their surfing do the talking.
But happy to rub it in as a sideline nuffy!
surfin v survival
2nd time lucky?, cautious? or wsl trying to make it "super interesting"...?.... https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cautious
WSL commentators OMG...italo ; wsl judges 6....< surfers ffs....($?)!!!
local Willcox 8.3....
Is Oz ex convict cast boganism warping white racist con$bloomer society...maaaayte ?
(Discussion below in Aug 2021..,., dairz'ya)
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/theconversationhour/the-conversa…
The Blindness of One-Eyed Bogan Henry Lawson
"They judge not and they are not judged—’tis their philosophy—"
(There’s something wrong with every ship that sails upon the sea).
—The Ballad of the Rouseabout.
full text below
https://www.telelib.com/authors/L/LawsonHenry/prose/sendroundthehat/one…
"Now this is the creed from the Book of the Bush—
Should be simple and plain to a dunce:
“If a man’s in a hole you must pass round the hat—
Were he jail-bird or gentleman once.”
Reference & deference
https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0607411h.html