Can't win for losing.
If one thing has been made abundantly clear over these past seven years, it is that the World Surf League can’t win for losing. Since taking over the Association of Surfing Professionals in 2015 and branding itself “since 1976,” billionaire Dirk Ziff has preceded over a running comedy that would make Jerry Lewis jealous. From hirings to firings, unboxing videos to Ultimate Surfers, there have been many, many laughs directed Santa Monica’s way.
Well, it appeared as if the breakout success of Apple Television’s new “Make or Break” was all set to change the narrative, with mainstream media paying very much attention all leading up to the “mid-year cut.”
Oh how august publications like The Guardian and Yahoo! Sports bit straight into that juicy narrative, wailing and gnashing teeth on behalf of a grieving public when surf darling Sally Fitzgibbons was brutally guillotined, dreams dashed etc.
Saint Sally became an icon for the oppressed everywhere and the World Surf League could have buoyed war widows in Ukraine to down-in-the-dumps Johnny Depp fans by showing mercy and allowing Fitzgibbons to come back to the warm embrace of the Championship Tour but no.
The “rest of the season” wildcard has just been handed to almost-forgotten phenomenon Caroline Marks, though Saint Sally gets it for the beginning of next year right in time for nobody to care.
Caroline Marks (USA) has been awarded the women’s 2022 WSL season wildcard, which gives her entry into Championship Tour (CT) events following the Mid-season Cut and entry into the first half of the 2023 CT season. The men’s 2022 WSL season wildcard was awarded to Gabriel Medina (BRA). Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA) have been awarded the 2023 WSL season wildcards, which give entry to all competitions in the first half of the 2023 CT season.
As the WSL season wildcard for the remaining CT competitions following the cut, Marks’ points will be eligible for the WSL Final 5 rankings, where the Top 5 surfers on the men’s and women’s CT will compete in the Rip Curl WSL Finals to compete for the 2022 World Title. The same rules will apply to Medina’s competition eligibility as the men’s 2022 WSL season wildcard.
It goes on to say that Marks “withdrew from competition following the Billabong Pro Pipeline for medical reasons” but nothing more, the League perpetually enjoying much mystery.
Very big congratulations to her, in any case, but also to the WSL for continuing to fumble, bumble, stumble.
Laughs for days!
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Well said and I agree. It is good to see her back because she is a dynamic surfer and great for women’s professional surfing.
The overall abysmal writing aside, how is this funny, in any context?
“Saint Sally became an icon for the oppressed everywhere and the World Surf League could have buoyed war widows in Ukraine…”
Give the wildcard to Malia! Or at least a couple. Or one?
What is the big deal? Apart from Sally, these are all CT surfers that were out on injury/mental health issues, they healed up and are ready to come back. Why shouldn’t they get the wildcard??
Ya, how best to deal with BG’s misogyny seems like a learning process for me. You’re profile name plays off the BG tribal norm of making fun of peoples physical attributes in their profile names. When that trope is focused on a woman it opens the door to interpretations of misogyny. Especially considering women are more commonly judged by their physical attributes than men (feel free to throw out a “mansplaining” accusation right now! Obviously you know this stuff. I’m partly just typing this out to process it myself). Regardless, it seems like a lot of people in society feel that making fun of peoples physical attributes isn’t fun or funny. I agree.
WSL = 🤡
They organize all the events, make the rules themselves, broadcast on their own “channel”. There’s no checks and balances. In politics you’d call this a dictatorship with.
She’s in, dude!
Is Marks the revamped version of sophia mulanovich?
Duh jen , if sponsors cant guarantee security for their primary athelete then whats the point of supporting the WSL , come on its all black n white surely your not that naive to the buisness that is pro surfing , its a advertising vehical created back in the day to promote product secure tax right downs and cost free junkets for the inner circle.
Jeez open your eyes mate.
I hate to say i told ya so , but i did …the sport is corrupt.
The WSL is a business. Like the UFC they can pick and choose who they want, but can’t control the outcomes.
No but vested interests can.
Businesses make moneys
haha, that’s pretty funny when a “League” says sweet fuck all about their own athletes but it’s fine for a reality show to spill the beans.
true that. does it apply to Medina and Marks?
Well, with all of this said, the universe sure has a way of balancing itself out, doesn’t it?
Why have a QS series if their rankings don’t insure a place in the CT?
The WSL has turned professional Surfing into reality TV. I suggest you follow them around, see whose sleeping with whom, show them gossiping about each other, then hold the event, and following each event the surfers meet. The meeting should take place at night around a fire and giant Tiki statues. The surfers then vote to eliminate 3 of the contestants per event.
On the final event, viewers call in to vote, just like American idol and the winner isn’t referred to as world champion but instead, this year’s surfer idol.
Next suggestion, a new surf league is formed, winners not selected by sponsors that fund events. At this point professional surfers are simply billboards for sponsors who fund the WSL. The surfers don’t dare to honestly comment about the judging in fear of suspension. Surfing started as a free spirited sport. The WSL has turned it into something that makes professional golf seem more free-spirited in comparison. In addition, the top 5, winner takes all diminishes the achievements of the previous 9 contests, makes how well they surf one event, held in gutless waves the metric for who the best surfer in the world is. The final contest at Trestles only measures how well 5 surfers surf waves 10 year old children and 60 year old senior citizens could surf. The winner is not a world champion they are a champion of surfing Trestles, no more,no less.
How dare you question His Toothy Eminence, the Pope of VALs ?!?! He once worked for Oprah!!!
Lol
Malia and Owen both got gifted wildcards into 2022 as they didn’t make the cut in 2021. They have both had their chances
BREAKING NEWS: Sophie Goldschmidt is doing her best to further WRECK the US Ski Team after her efforts at WSL!
Is Beth there, putting her bindings on backwards?
LOL! Fins or bindings the skill is the skill as Surfline Man surely relates!
Hahahaha
Say’s the person making fun of a woman’s looks in their profile name
Carolyn’s style is almost as fucked as Tati’s.
So Sally is safely on the CT for next year, no need for her to do anymore CS comps
No, however she had to do one. They are all required to surf at least one CS event.