Lemonade out of lemons!
“When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is a fine aphorism, one that inspires and delights in times of trouble, one that the World Surf League has just utilized by revealing next year’s “landmark fully-integrated 2022 Championship Tour” in order to paper over the now-more-than-likely cancellation of the upcoming Barra de la Cruz event.
As you know, Covid has ravaged the state of Oaxaca and images of smiling professional surfers traipsing in for play play fun time will likely not make a positive impression on locked down locals. Also, the WSL does not have the best track record as it relates to its patented “abundance of caution™” as CEO Erik Logan contracted the respiratory illness at the beginning of the year, in Hawaii, even with much daily testing, promises of safety procedures etc.
But on to the lemonade, and per Santa Monica’s press release:
The 2022 WSL CT will include 10 regular-season events in seven countries, starting in January at the world-famous Pipeline in Hawai’i, for the first-ever men’s and women’s joint event at that legendary break. The CT will return to G-Land, Indonesia, which is back on the CT for the first time in 24 years for the men and for the first time ever for the women, and conclude in August at the infamous Teahupo’o in Tahiti before the second-annual Rip Curl WSL Finals in September, where the WSL Final 5 men’s and women’s surfers will face off for the undisputed World Title.
“The WSL exists to steward and celebrate the world’s best surfing and this redesigned Tours and Competition framework is historic in many ways, serving as the core engine of our business,” said WSL CEO Erik Logan. In collaborating with our surfers and partners on delivering events like the Billabong Pro Pipeline, the MEO Portugal Pro, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the Quiksilver Pro G-Land, the Oi Rio Pro, the Margaret River Pro and others, we’re thrilled to announce one of the most exciting WSL Championship Tour calendars in history for next season and set the framework for the sport for years to come.
2022 WSL Championship Tour Schedule*
Pipeline, Hawai’i – January 29 – February 10
Sunset, Hawai’i – February 11 – 23
Peniche, Portugal – March 3 – 13
Bells Beach, Australia – April 10 – 20
Margaret River, Western Australia – April 24 – May 4
Mid-Season Cut – 36-man and 18-woman fields reduced to 24-man and 12-woman fields.
G-Land, Indonesia – May 28 – June 6
Trestles, USA – June 15 – 22
Saquarema, Brazil – June 27 – July 4
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa – July 9 – 18
Teahupo’o, Tahiti – August 11 – 21
WSL Final 5 determined to battle for the undisputed men’s and women’s World Titles.
Rip Curl WSL Finals, location TBA – September 7 – 18
How do you feel about that?
Refreshing and delish?
Lightly bitter?
You could go South to Mundacca with half the known universe , or north of the Gironde to a few islands , and there are few sly spots about an hour from my old digs , but fickle and wind and tide reliant and F’in COLD , from November to April
French Beachbreaks are usually better with 10 to 11 second period at most unless , the Sand Gods come together to produce something special .
And then if you move to France , 14 second period swells , (unless you surf like Andy Irons or have a jet ski ) tragically , create the world’s most beautiful closeouts ……
Any inside word on that sort of activity across the parks?
It ain’t perfect LGR ….it’s Surfing , I suppose that’s why we love it and hate it and see room for progress ….Just not always in the same way and rarely if ever with the WSL’s Santa Monica Bureaucracy and supreme leader ZIFFY ?
Pro surfing is quickly morphing into gay porn
NO pool!!! yeeeees!!!!
You do have a sense of humor…
I’m a fan of the speed climbing ladies! Surfing? Who’s talking about surfing lol
finals at noronha you heard here first…
*read
Read
Fuck, as much as we all bag the Wozz, they have come up with a good start.
Just blow that fucking pool up and we shall never speak of it again.
The Hunter region of NSW has just gone into full lockdown as of 5pm this evening…
Haha
Bugger …. CB , we inherited a slightly used trampoline , and in the middle of a harsh German Winter , I encouraged ( FORCED WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE ) the kids to go out in the snow and rain and jump on the bloody trampoline for 1/2 hour in the morning and longer in the afternoon …… just so I could cope with HOME SCHOOL .
Good luck and may I highly recommend 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles … it takes a while but becomes addictive and when lockdown is finished and spring is sprung , just put in the box and lock em up till next time
Cheers. All good.
Just like that and the snapper pro is no more? Qld government and goldy council not willing pay the several million for it anymore?
Probably a good thing for the locals.
The mayor hates surfers, still wants to ruin Straddie with cruise ships.
Hates surfers but loves a billionaire!
Reading more into I’d say the Coolum woozle wave pool isn’t going to be built by the requested taxpayer funds
Wondering if the finals might be at Hossegor…
I think everyone knows pro surfing would pretty much dead in the water by now–without everyone’s favorite billionaire and his wife, throwing money at it.
Yeah I love the idea of the 3rd & 4th surf off. Basically just means we get to see the best guys face off more frequently.
Finally a positive article from chas. Youve been so negative about everything lately. Ive been a bit down in the dumps too. Might b a midlife crisis. Maybe i need a Porsche
Or an e-foil
This really does look like a few steps in the right direction.
I like that the first-half is stacked with heavy water events. So to make it to the 2nd half of the tour you’re going to have to be more than a one-trick-pony aerialist. Great locations, though probably a couple that will still be dubious by their scheduled time next year.
Reduced field is great – hopefully they can eventually make it permanent, though sounds like it goes back up to 36 again at the start of the following year at this stage. The overlapping CT/CS is not as good as the previous simplified split-season, but at least they’ve done it for the right reasons (ie to allow prime season windows at both the CT and CS locations).
Only thing left to do is ditch this stupid finals idea. Finish the year at an A++ location with heavier points weighting to increase the likelihood of a title showdown there.
And after watching the Olympics, I think they should bring in a semi-finalists surf off for 3rd and 4th position. It would mean we get to see the top-tier guys surf head-to-head more often, plus would offer a little more variation in the points tally.
They need to add more lefts too. So unbalanced.
just the thumb left to ditch…
WSL strategy summed up:
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Just think of the boardroom analogies used in that pitch! 🤢 🤮
Sacred Blue. There goes my favourite event.