"It’s insane and such a big accomplishment because there are so many incredible surfers on the list of Rookie of the Year..."
The surf world was rocked to its very core, overnight, after a sleepy Southern California beach town made famous by Richard Nixon swept Rookie of the Year honors for the 2024 World Surf League Championship Tour season. Griffin Colapinto’s brother Crosby and Sawyer Lindblad each won in their respective, though maybe antiquated, gender category in what should be the teeth of a Brazilian Storm.
In its The World Surf League declared it proudly “recognizes Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and Crosby Colapinto (USA) as the 2024 Rookies of the Year following an outstanding season on the Championship Tour (CT). The San Clemente, California, duo, Colapinto and Lindblad, finished the season as the highest ranked among the 2024 CT Rookie class. At 19-years-old Lindblad capped her year ranked No. 8 in the world. Colapinto at 23-years-old made the Mid-season Cut and finished ranked No. 10. Both join an elite group of Rookie of the Year recipients, including WSL Champions Caitlin Simmers (USA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), and Italo Ferreira (BRA).
Lindblad, ever gracious, stated, “It’s super cool to be Rookie of the Year and join surfers including Carissa and Steph on that list. I had a goal of being Rookie of the Year this year, and I’m so happy I was able to accomplish it. Some challenges I faced this year was having to surf waves like Pipe and Teahupo’o. I’ve never surfed waves like that in my life and it was a really fun challenge and also really intimidating at times. But, I was happy to get past those fears and get some of the best waves of my life.”
Colapinto added, “It’s insane and such a big accomplishment because there are so many incredible surfers on the list of Rookie of the Year and to join that is really special. Being in a rookie class this year that was strong with Cole, Kade, Eli, and Jacob Willcox and getting to be on top is really cool. I think one of the biggest highlights was Portugal, just because the Mid-season Cut was coming up, the pressure was on, and I made it to the Semifinals. Griffin was in the other Semifinal and he made it to the Final. It got really close to us having a man-on-man Final. It didn’t happen, but just the idea of being so close, getting a big result and Griffin winning was really special.”
All very cool but, again, no Brazilians even close to the honors, San Clemente thoroughly whipping the Land of Order and Progress. Do you think there will be a national reckoning, there, in preparation for the upcoming 2024 World Surf League Championship Tour season or do you imagine the surf-mad nation will cross that proverbial bridge when it comes, knowing that both Gabriel Medina and the aforementioned Ferreira are considered title favorites what with Finals Day moving to Cloudbreak.
Filipe Toledo’s journey, unfortunately, finished.
A Racist Idiot.
Way to go !
For sure, idiot.
No bro, I’m just commenting the article. Did you read it?
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of Crosby’s acceptance speech before google translate was used-
“It’s insane. Such big accomplishment. So many incredible surfers on the list of Rookie of the Year and to join that I feel real special. Being rookie class this year that was strong with Cole, Kade, Eli, and Jacob Willcox and getting to be top dog is really cool. I think one of the biggest highlights was Portugal, just because the Mid-season Cut was coming up, the pressure was on, and I made it to the Semifinals. Griffin was in the other Semifinal and he made it to the Final. It got really close to us having a man-on-man Final. It didn’t happen, but just the idea of being so close, getting a big result and Griffin winning was really special.”
Next year, the storm is back in full force.
Ian Gouveia, Samuel Pupo, Toledo, Medina, Yago, Miguel, Medina, Ítalo, Mrod and Alejo.
We don’t need Rookies…
We love the haters.
UM BEIJO NA BUNDA
VAI BRASIL!!!!
hmm Toledo’s finished ??
where do you think that he will fail, against Griff/ethan/Jack etc………Cloudbreak ain’t no Chopes?
That other guy, Medina… also surfs good once in a while…
one of my favourite surfers along with Italo and Pip…originals, not to be confused with rookie’s of the year as this years shows the lack of talent!
Sawyer telling me there’s a chance.
I sawyer mommy and your mommy’s…
Sawyer a total no brainer as top rookie. Will scale to the top of the whole pile one day with decent waves and a fair wind blowing 🏆
Definitely burnt both of them at T-Street when they were groms. I am taking partial credit for building character like that
Thankyou for your service. Please continue for the sake of future generations.
it’s a burden taking so many waves, but someone’s gotta do it. Kids are the future.
So you surf? In California? This is so cool!