Crosby Colapinto (pictured) suffering.
Crosby Colapinto (pictured) suffering.

World Surf League Rookie of the Year Crosby Colapinto shatters elbow at Pipeline ahead of season opener

"I didn’t touch any water and straight elbow to reef..."

But what sort of curse has descended upon our World Surf League and who else should be worried? Days after multiple-time champion, and viral sensation, Gabriel Medina tore his pectoralis major, thus being forced to sit out the front half of the season, San Clemente’s Crosby Colapinto has announced he, too, has suffered catastrophic injury one week ahead of the tour opener.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year, who hails from San Clemente, took to Instagram to share:

Welllll… I broke my elbow surfing back door. On the third wave in this clip, I jumped forward off my board after the back spit because I was too deep, fell into the vortex of the lip, the lip ended up going straight to the bottom breaking the flat water, I didn’t touch any water and straight elbow to Reef. So grateful that it was my elbow and not something way worse. What really hurts the most is the timing of it all with the start of the year just a couple weeks away. But I am excited for this challenge that stands in front of me at this moment, And excited to see what comes out of this. “Challenges strengthen you and problems weaken you.” I am going into surgery on Wednesday and will keep everyone updated on how it all goes and the journey of coming back. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and who have sent the love. I will be back soon and this is all part of the journey. I just have to trust it. We are on the spaceship too many!

Medina, Colapinto and likely John John Florence whose coach Ross Williams announced retirement all but finalizing the three-time winner stepping away from the show. The former towhead will likely surf Pipeline, giving surf fans a brief glimpse of what they will miss once the League takes its talents to Abu Dhabi.

Slater gone too, only to surf the tour waves he enjoys courtesy of a magic wildcard.

Does the decimated draw dampen your enthusiasm for competitive professional surfing at its highest level?

Or, will all eyez now be upon the women’s field?

More exciting anyhow, tbh.

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52 Comments
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bob

MAGA comment “Why did Biden do this ?!?!?”

Nikola

Ouch

Dogsnuts

Swellnet comment; He will have to nearly the end of the waiting period to recover.
Xox

ValiantScorn

Dogsnuts comment: He still has his other arm to reach around and stick his finger up his bum…..

Dogsnuts

HA, I really should have. Wow.
Xox

Stick man

We’ll give ya some elbow room…

Happy Camper

speaking of elbows to the reef.
It’s EO time!!!

Gil Gunderson

Luckily his employer has great benefits. Workers compensation, internal rehabilitation team, gradual return to work on light duties, workplace adjustments, employee assist program…

Strider's Gobble Neck

It’s just nice to have evidence that BeachGrit readers can, in fact, now read. A true testament that Chas and Derek have the ability to break barriers and further the lives of others.

Happy Camper

Backdoor Bone Broth

@surfads

I like this game.
Surfing World comment: he should move to Tasmania and join a climate action group
Tracksmag comment: he should move to Ballina and get his lecco apprenticeship
Carvemag comment: he should move to Düsseldorf and become a wave pool snowboarder ja
R/surfing comment: I have no elbows and find his remarks ableist in the extreme

PacificNorthPest

Better headline:

Crosby Colapinto Elbows Dusty Payne in the Face.

Rocks local

only news item I care about today is whether Happy bought the Trump meme coins

Happy Camper

tried but every time I opened my computer I was hit with another Biden pardon alert.

Rocks local

too bad that burst of energy came a few years late… looking forward to scaling mt McKinley after my vacation at the gulf of america…

Happy Camper

may I suggest routing your journey through the U.S. Panamanian Canal.

Rocks local

excellent advice, very efficient of you

Happy Camper

I do it for the people.

Picard Madeoff

Is the surfing just as bad in the Gulf of America as it is in the Gulf of Mexico?

Rocks local

worse!! the damn lineup is flooded with ICE officers!

Picard Madeoff

And so it begins:
https://x.com/RealSaavedra/…

Happy Camper

MGAGA

Picard Madeoff

We will be wildly entertained and likely horrified over the next 4 years. I for one have stocked up on popcorn for the show

SaltyHB

Wash it down with:
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

Picard Madeoff

Rita drinks it!

J H

Pardons for sitting members of Congress is what Defending Democracy™️ is all about.

Occ Topus

😆

Sean Connery

Timbbbbberrrrrrr!!!

ricmatic

Where is that Matt guy that said LA deserved the fires? I was going to let it go but decided against it

The Ghost of The Condor

The end is nigh. Slater going will drive many out from following. If JJF bails, game over for this “league”. Let’s hope the masses also quit and start clearing out our lineups!

justiceminister

The price you pay.

Beef & Beer

Why can’t he get it operated on sooner than Wednesday ?
Kelly would had it done yesterday.

Maybe the long wait on strong painkillers is the cause of his …”spaceship too many”.

mike m
ricmatic

tour needs a big fat cleanse. bring it

PRN

“Spaceship Too Many” must be an OC stoner slang for getting stoned often.

Com Turren

If it is, it’s a Gen-Z thing, because I’ve never once heard that before today.

Occ Topus

True.
Gen Z/millenials will never be accused of intellectual adroitness, particularly those hailing from OC.

SaltyHB

Sad but true.

Mapski

Alan Cleland next man up!

Michael Flatlately

But then arrested on the beach before his first heat and put on a flight back to Mexico.

John Wayne

Probability of Felipe turning up for the opening event just blew out to 100/1

Barnycle

Used to think that I would care less about the tour once slater left. I care a lot less, but it has nothing to do with him.

As long as Ewing, Robinson and Jordy are still there I’ll cast an eye when I can. Also hoping that John does one more year, at least.

Hope that young Cola heals up well so that he can continue his space odyssey.

Also, there should be a Christians-only event where the competitors have to shout “Amen!” at the apex of every turn and at the deepest point of the barrel ……with a lineup of Christian punk-rock bands playing a rocketship benefit concert.

bob

JJF would be a fool to quit now, one more title then he can go to the farm.

Com Turren
Derek Hynd's Missing Fins
Happy Camper

Ground Control to Major Cros
Ground Control to Major Cros
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Cros
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God’s love be with you

Sean Connery

This has Joe Dispenza written all over it.


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