Pressure y’think from the WSL or a sort of malaise at the idea of spending two weeks before Christmas riding empty Pipe?
Surf fans delivered new thunderbolt as John John Florence and Kelly Slater withdraw from upcoming Vans Pipe Masters, one day after bedevilled contest lost world champs Toledo, Medina, Ferreira and Gilmore!
After suffering a horror blow to its lineup of invitees, losing current world champ Filipe Toledo, greatest female surfer of all time Stephanie Gilmore, three-time champ Gabriel Medina and 2019 world champ Italo Ferreira, the Vans Pipe Masters will now proceed without John John Florence and Kelly Slater.
The Vans Pipe Masters, which will pivot away from only scoring barrels and apply an equal weight to turns and aerials, is an invite-only event which runs from December 8 to 20 and is not to be confused with the WSL’s Billabong Pro Pipe, which’ll open the 2023 Championship Tour on January 29.
Medina, Toledo and Ferreira have all cited injuries for not taking their invitations, while Gilmore, eight times world champion, pulled due to a “scheduling conflict”.
Today’s bombshell, no John John Florence, the two-time world champ, four-time winner of the Volcom Pipe Pro and 2021 Pipeline Master, nor Kelly Slater, eleven times world champ, seven times Pipe Master and winner of this year’s Billabong Pipe Pro.
Helluva lot of WSL drawcards suddenly pulling out of the event.
Pressure y’think from above or a sort of malaise at the idea of spending two weeks before Christmas riding empty Pipe?
Also out is Jackie Robinson, former Volcom Pipe Pro champ, due to appendicitis.
The invite-list now is,
Men
Seth Moniz, Barron Mamiya, Griffin Colapinto, Mikey Wright, Yago Dora, Billy Kemper, Koa Smith, Mason Ho, Nathan Florence, Ivan Florence, Shayden Pacarro, Eli Hanneman, Makana Pang, Koa Rothman, Eli Olson, Jamie O’Brien, Matt Meola, Noah Beschen, Imaikalani deVualt, Jackson Bunch, Kala Grace, Kaulana Apo, Tosh Tudor, Eimeo Czermak, Kauli Vaast, Balaram Stack, Nic Von Rupp, Joao Chianca, Al Cleland Jr, Crosby Colapinto, Riaru Ito, Rio Wada, Eithan Osborne, Josh Moniz, Shane Sykes, Craig Anderson, Mikey February, Harry Bryant, Noa Deane, and Rasta Rob
Women
Carissa Moore, Moana Jones-Wong, Coco Ho, Zoe McDougall, Betty Lou Sakura Johnson, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Pua DeSoto, Bethany Hamilton, Aelan Vaast, Caity Simmers, Sierra Kerr, Tyler Wright, Bella Nalu, Vahine Fierro, Maluhia Kinimaka, Luana Silva, Sophie Bell, and Laura Enever, Gabriela Bryan, Molly Picklum.
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Oh man. You were trolling me all along. Boy, is my face red.
the forecasts look terrible unfortunately for them, probably the reason why they retire from the contest…
Too bad Ben Gravy is injured, he’d be getting the call up for sure.
Did the surfers catch onto the fact the WSL is a joke and have been rigging scores since Mick Fanning won 3 world titles when he really only won one in an honest setting. 🤔
To be fair to mick the shark cost him a title.
Those two jet set. They etched.
Let’s see what top shelf “womans ” we deserve the same respect as the “sausages” out at pipe actually front up.
You can click on my name there, Crabby, and go through all of my old posts. You won’t find one where I call you racist, insinuate you’re racist, or probably even bring up race to you. I’ll be here waiting for you to eat your words. Ciao.
Haha, you sound racist as fuck xox
SURE it wasn’t a rage post. You love being the contrarian? Hahah. You read what I said wrong. I’ve never called YOU racist fella. Sorry to disappoint.
I shouldn’t have spoken his name though. I feel bad spirits may have been awakened.
Wait, you were a Stab junkie 5 years ago too?
I thought you told me he was da Hoo?
Not me, but I remember that guy!
Caveira? Caivera? Cavvy anyway. Yeah, indeed.
It was surprising how long it did actually last though. The comment section was pretty out-of-step with their audience.
He would to one of the bros. The journalist’s conundrum.
She was out at V-land the other day making Sierra Kerr look like a grom. Unreal how good she is.
Is John going to pretend not to be home? Like a miserable prick on Halloween, hiding in my… I mean his hallway with all the windows shut.
I went through and did an un-block over there recently, not that it really matters. Had no idea how many guys he’d black-listed. It was a who’s who of who cares whos.
There are an increasing # of great surfers coming up with a wide variety of platforms available. The woozle better get their shit together or they’ll be irrelevant in five years. Kelly is too old now to save them.
Pro surfing was doomed as soon as kelly went bald.
Its ok mate, you’re not the only brown skinned bi sexual who can’t read.
Maybe one of the “surf journalists” on this site can do a bit a surf journalism?
Wouldn’t an actual journalist plicck up the phone and ask the WSL whats going on?
Yes, as a starting point.
it may be WSL calling me: SPAM RISK…”you may be qualified to receive…for landscaping, weather-proofing, press 9 to discontinue.”
I really genuinely want to know what happened with Padang Padang. I was on the couch with COVID that day, perfect timezone, watching Commonwealth Games Badminton. Couldn’t find anything worthy to watch. Found out that evening via a comment here that Padang Padang had run. Now, my finger’s not exactly on the pulse, but it had been fingering all around the content sphere that day. Didn’t see a single alert. The Badminton was surprisingly good, by the way. Great commentary. Very posh lady saying outrageously out-of-date things to a young recently retired player, who I could almost hear blushing.
Probably more cocks at Padang,though.