I have waited long enough for the WSL to move on from their wave machine experiment and get back to the core business of managing the world tour. There is still no heat draw or mention of wildcards (as of publishing), so I’ll offer what I have for now. I’ll try to update in time, … Read more
I don’t know why I’m bothering with this; the WSL is neglecting this event like an unattractive third child until the Founders Cup has spewed forth its final, mushy left. There’s not much to go by as yet… Update: we have a draw and most of the wildcard details. Also, the KS wave pool has … Read more
As a proud Australian surfer, even I have to admit that 3 events is a lot for one country. No other country gets more than one (except the USA, which has one event in a pool that is hours from the coast and one event in Hawaii, whose surfers generally don’t identify as American). … Read more
We have included the data for Jay Davies, Jack Robinson, Yadin Nicol and Jacob Wilcox in case they are added to the draw via a trials win. All of our our ‘career’ average heat score and win % statistics are taken from 2013-2018 WSL contest seasons. They do not reflect the entire careers of surfers … Read more
Well, the seeding isn’t much more settled after a tumultuous Bells contest. Let’s dust off our #cheersmick hangovers and cast an eye over the final event of the Australian leg: Jeremy Flores – OUT (officially) Flores has recently become a father for the first time, with his longtime partner and French model Hinarani de … Read more
Contest Wash-Up Julian who? The Gold Coast seems like a lifetime ago. Maybe time went so slowly because the first few rounds were so pedestrian. I was growing weary of the 2-hits-out-the-back, 3-cutbacks-through-the-trough, safety-tag-the-end-section Bells bowl monotony. Nobody seemed inspired enough to take the contest by the balls. It was almost as if everyone … Read more
Mick Fanning. That’s almost the beginning and end of the preview for this event. Whoever wins it will be one of the few who can ignore the distraction of Mick’s retirement, whoever knocks him out of the contest will be the eternal villain, and if Mick takes the whole thing out, Torquay will be bedlam. … Read more
We have included the data for both Mason Ho and Jacob Wilcox in case they are added to the draw. All of our our ‘career’ average heat score and win % statistics are taken from 2013-2018 WSL contest seasons. They do not reflect the entire careers of surfers who have been on tour longer than … Read more
The seeding is all over the place after some of the upsets at the Gold Coast. Let’s look at the R1 possibilities for yet another historic Bells contest: Kelly Slater – OUT 30% of WSL fantasy teams had the GOAT in their team. Despite the warnings we gave. Kelly has given plenty of notice to … Read more
A lot has changed in the 12 months since I last wrote this contest preview: we have a CEO (hello Sophie; I know you’re reading); contests in wave pools have become a thing; the WSL is planning to forgo a Pipe showdown in order to run a boat-trip grand final; and Willian Cardoso qualified to … Read more