Aussie surf queen Sally Fitzgibbons to be axed by “scimitar of doom” at Margaret River

After Margaret River, the Scimitar of Doom is retired, cast aside like last night’s prom dress.

We have arrived at Margaret River, home of vibrant sunsets, succulent vineyards, many sharks, and the dreaded cut. No, I do not work for the tourism board, why do you ask? The Scimitar of Doom hangs suspended over the the world’s top women and only ten surfers will continue to this season’s remaining events.

It is so thrilling and full of suspense. I can’t even wait to see who will survive.

This edition of Margaret River is the very last time we get to experience the cut. After this season, the Scimitar of Doom is retired, cast aside like last night’s prom dress. Instead, we get a little paring knife-type deal for a pair of events late in the season.

I’m not even sure why this plan exists but someone thought it was a good idea. So, here we are.

I was all excited to bring you a ranking of who is going to make the cut and all of that. The end of careers! The beginning of new ones!

It turns out that on the women’s side, the cut is… not that consequential. I had imagined that the expansion of the women’s Tour for 2026 would simply qualify more people through the Challenger Series. I have thought so many wrong things in my life, and not just about surfing, but we’re just going to focus on the surfing wrong things here.

How does the women’s cut actually work this year? The top fourteen women currently on Tour are automatically qualified for the expanded Tour in 2026. Seven new surfers, meanwhile, will join the Tour from the Challengers, and I do hope they’re interesting. Please be interesting new surfers on Tour. Please give me this one nice thing. Three wildcards will round out the draw.

With the Tour’s expansion, the Scimitar of Doom just got a lot less, well, doomy. Lakey, Vahine, Bella, and Brisa are currently below the cut and will still be back on Tour next year. Currently, the only woman likely to get sent to the Challengers is Sal, unless she makes a solid run up the rankings. I guess that’s possible! Anything is possible.

Four surfers are totally safe from the Scimitar of Doom. The Fabulous Four includes Gabriela, who currently leads the rankings, Caity, Molly, and Isabella and they have all punched their tickets for the second half of the season. Molly and Caity can get shacked at the Box and chill. There are worse ways to spend a couple of weeks.

Let’s look real quick at the rest. More Scimitars of Doom means a girl is more likely to miss the cut. Watch out! The Five Scimitars of the Apocalypse are coming for you!

Sally Fitzgibbons. She’s currently last in the rankings and below the cut-cut — the actual go to the Challengers Series cut — and even a second-place finish on the Gold Coast didn’t change that reality. Sal obviously loves competing and I’d expect her to keep doing it as long as she possibly can. But she isn’t making the cut here. Don’t make me eat these words. Five Scimitars of Doom.

Vahine Fierro. After a string of early-round exits, Vahine managed to make the semis at Burleigh Head, but those early exits have hurt her. Her backhand on open-face rights lacks the snap and verve of women like Sawyer Linblad and Erin Brooks. To make the cut, it’ll take a miracle at the River. Five Scimitars.

Lakey Peterson. In the hope of reviving her career, Lakey changed all kinds of things at once this year: her coach, her boards, her turns. She’s currently sitting just below the cut line and so far, she’s has only twice made it out of round 3. Margaret River suits her, especially if there’s size, but she hasn’t really made a convincing case for herself. Surprise me, girl. Five Scimitars.

Bella Kenworthy. In her rookie season, Bella’s made three quarterfinals, which is a good start to her Tour career. I think she has more to give than she’s shown so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing her back next year. On paper Margaret River is a good match for her strong-legged style, but she went out in round 3 on the Gold Coast which was not a super auspicious start to the treble. More experience should improve her consistency. Four Scimitars.

Brisa Hennessy. Typically one of the most reliable women on Tour, Brisa’s had a few shockers, including two second-round exits. She’s also had two quarterfinal finishes and made the semis at Bells. Which Brisa will show up to Margaret River? Got me! Do I look like one of those oracle things that can answer hard questions and stuff? Four Scimitars.

Sawyer Lindlbad. Last year, Sawyer went on a tear at Margaret River and finished second to Gabriela in one of her best finishes of the year. Sawyer’s improved over last year with three trips to the quarters so far. She’s perched precariously above the line right now, just ahead of Lakey, Vahine, and Bella, and I like her chances to stay there. Two Scimitars.

Luana Silva. Girl’s been singing the round 3 blues all season, but a second at Bells and a quarterfinal finish on the Gold Coast have revived Luana’s season. She has the skills, and her confidence should be high right now. Luana also managed to make the cut last year under similar circumstances. Two Scimitars.

Erin Brooks. A semifinal finish at Burleigh Head has boosted Erin’s chances of staying on Tour and punching her way into the top five. But she still has work to do, because she’s still closer to the cut than she is to the top five. On the Gold Coast, Erin rightly won the Big Important Heat against Steph Gilmore. I think she’ll make it through at Margaret River, but it’s something of a surprise that it’s even a question. Two Scimitars.

Bettylou Sakura Johnson. A big win on the Gold Coast pushed Bettylou seven spots up the rankings, and outside of a shocker, she looks secure. Her early season didn’t really come together at all as she sat stuck in round 3 for three straight events. Two quarters and a win later, and the future looks so much brighter. One Scimitar.

Caroline Marks. Currently tied on points with Bettylou, Caroline has a knack for sitting just outside the top five before pouncing. She’s still bringing the same, consistent surfing that won her a world title in 2023. (Yes, I actually got it right this time. One world title!) I’m not sure how much longer Caroline can keep playing the same tune, though, and it’s only a matter of time before Erin and Sawyer steal her lunch money. She’s safe, but only for now. One Scimitar.

Tyler Wright. It would take a shocker for Tyler to fall below the cut line, and it’s unlikely to happen at Margaret River. I’d love to push Tyler’s layback below the cut, but I do not think that this is how any of this works. If she makes the cut, her layback does, too, which is unfortunate for my eyes. Tyler currently sits fifth in the rankings, but Bettylou and Caroline are both close on points. One Scimitar.