A lowdown, dirty shame.
One of the most exciting World Surf League storylines coming out of Pipeline was the rise of the Hawaiian wildcard. Moana Jones Wong thrilled with a dominant performance at Pipeline, clearing the women’s field and hoisting the cup at the end of it all. Barron Mamiya took his invitation into the very next event, the Billabong Pro Sunset Beach, and shattered the men’s side, breaking 11x World Champion Kelly Slater’s heart on the way.
Mamiya heads into Portugal number one in the world with another wildcard in his pocket. Jones Wong is number three, just behind Brisa Hennessy and Malia Manuel, but with no wildcard given, her title hopes left to wither on the World Surf League vine.
A well-placed source rumored that Jones Wong had flown to California at the end of the Hawaii leg hoping that her showing, and place on the rankings, would allow her to fight on but the draw has been released and her name nowhere on it.
A great travesty, no?
I am aware that wildcards are given at the pleasure of the headlining sponsor but come on now, Santa Monica certainly has a say and/or other wildcards to give.
Not having the current Pro Pipeline in Portuguese waters really feels like an absolute miss.
Those seem to really be piling up for the WSL lately, no?
I agree with the decision. 1st place and 3rd place is a huge difference. CT privilege should be protected unless you are the yellow jacket #1 ranked.
Solid point.
If I understand you(and that’s a big If), have a tour comprised of Killer Dana, Oil Piers, Stanleys and POP Pier, etc…
A beach ball on a tee..and you still wiff. It’s a subjective activity, not a sport. This proves it I think.
What is really unfair is that no Portuguese female surfers were given a wildcard.
She’s what WSL once referred to as a Pipe Specialist. She’s the only girl that really surfs pipe. It doesn’t mean she’s a great surfer overall. From here on out she would finish last guaranteed. I agree. She shouldn’t be given a wildcard.
I think Tia’s surfing is more suited to warm water locals. WSL viewership would most likely agree.
I hope Moana takes her prize money and goes and parks herself at G Land dropping edits on the regular. Or maybe she should even go straight to Bells. Her surfing at Sunset was better than her results
Storm in a bra cup? Maybe but where is the justice and equality that WSL have been championing forever and a day it seems. The sometimes Supertubos would have been her cup of tea probably. If a bit on the chilly side for the island girl. At the end of the day though the Baron gets his but Wong not hers. Mamamiya.
She been in the right place
But it must have been the Wong time.
*Wright
When can we discuss the topic of Wild Cards, Chas?
Laura Enever should of got a wildcard at Pipe not a microphone…
WSL – redeem yourselves with giving her a Teahupoo wildcard
The wildcard is going to a longboarder with the biggest Insta following. Joel happy now.
Chas it seems you don’t understand how sponsor wildcards work.
I mention that, in the story. The fact that the current number three don’t get a shot is a major problem for all of it.
Not that long ago wildcards didnt even get points for their placings. Adam Robertson came second at bells as a wildcard. Not even listed on the rankings. Rip curl didnt even give him a wildcard to their comp in Portugal the same year.
Unfuckingbelievable
BG should start a gofundme to help “persuade” JMD to get her to Portugal and Oz.
I’d happily donate, even a little extra if we can get Moana to do the dirty with Jesse M in-front of Tati at a mates place near bells.
BG gets exclusive rights to the story as well. As long as you use the headline –
“In what might some may see as a Wong act, Tati gets cucked at Jan Juc”
If the women are surfing at the ‘Portugese Pipeline’ this year it would’ve been entirely appropriate to invite her, being the current Pipeline Pro champ…
Previous QS results.
237th
349th
159th
75th
109th
She’s had her 15 minutes of fame, give the wildcard to a local gal
I almost vomited in my mouth thinking this. But I agree with the WSL. Moana is a great pipeline surfer but that’s about it. The wild card in any event needs to be a plausible victor.
Victress
LOL
She surfed well at Sunset to my eye.
Except…… what if she’s come into her own? She fails at Portugal and loses first round then I’m with you. But what if she’s something?
Use her 80k Pipe prize money and do the QS.
Plenty of “pipe” surfers who can’t translate that elsewhere and if her previous QS results were better it wouldn’t be a issue.
She translated it to Sunset where she out surfed WSl superstar Carissa for the second time.
She won the QS at Pipe earlier this year – before that she hadn’t competed in like 7 years. She said why would I want to surf in shitty beach breaks when I can stay home and get barreled? Now that Challenger series is in good waves and women are surfing Pipe, Chopes and G Land I think she’s committed.
Why? Because if you want to get on tour you have to leave the comfort of home and surf whatever is on offer.
She’ll have a better seeding with the Pipe result so the ball is in her court.
Portugal has tubes. Invite the tube rider.
Forecast is garbage she’s glad she didn’t waste the time and money go to Indo and fuggetaboutit
yeah looks like great waves for the longboard tour