Most likely to succeed.
But oh how this has been a year-plus of firsts for our professional surfing. First cancelled season due pandemic, first World Surf League CEO to contract the disease and shut down any glimmer of hope, first women’s Championship Tour finisher to be held at Pipeline and first digital version of Van’s much-anticipated yearly Triple Crown of Surfing.
You know, well, that I look forward to the Triple Crown each and every year, almost valuing it as highly as a CT win. To be able to surf Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipeline exquisitely is the grandest art and its no wonder its victors are treated like queens.
But this year, pandemic, ELo, and no actual events save Pipeline and so the power’s that be crafted an exciting new format wherein surfers submitted footage of their best two individual waves from Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipeline for a total of six waves which also led to another first: the inclusion of women.
The champions were announced last night…
…though in case you are not in a watching mood.
Overall VTCS Male Winner: John Florence
Overall VTCS Female Winner: Carissa Moore
Haleiwa Male Winner: John Florence
Haleiwa Female Winner: Carissa Moore
Sunset Male Winner: John Florence
Sunset Female Winner: Bronte Macaulay
Pipe Male Winner: John Florence
Pipe Female Winner: Moana Jones Wong
Fan Voting Male Winner: Jack Robinson
Fan Voting Female Winner: Tatiana Weston-Webb
John John Florence sweeping the actual waves doesn’t surprise but does it that he didn’t take the fan’s heart along with them, ceding that warm space to Jack Robinson? What about Carissa only winning Haleiwa along with the overall?
Were you aware of Tatiana Weston-Webb’s general popularity?
Back to John John vs. Jack, though, this is the battle that will rage for the next decade. The one for which we will pay our upcoming $9.99 World Surf League subscription.
Sorry, Gabe.
And Pip.
