Robbo finally qualifies, plus the QS top ten
On his fifth full tilt at the Qualifying Series, Jack Robinson has finished inside the top ten and qualified for the 2020 Championship Tour.
"I thought it would've happened by now, but sometimes time owns it," said Robbo from the stage after winning the World Cup at Sunset.
Robbo won the World Cup final easily with 19.07 points, leaving the other three surfers in combination. He won every heat he surfed in the competition.
With the completion of the World Cup, the 2020 Qualifying Series comes to a close. The top ten are as follows:
Both Ethan Ewing and Connor O'Leary have requalified. Each surfer first qualified for the 2017 Championship Tour, with Ewing getting bumped after that first year, and O'Leary winning Rookie of the Year, but then underperforming in 2018 and getting relegated.
At present, Morgan Cibilic has qualified at 11th spot owing to Deivid Silva's position on the CT. However, Silva is sitting at 21st with just a 1,000 point buffer going into the Pipe Masters (the top 22 of the CT requalify).
If Silva retains his top 22 placing on the CT, then Cibilic is in, and if not then he'll use his QS qualifying spot and Cibilic is out.
Also, Yago Dora is a QS qualifier, and is sitting at 25th on the CT, less than 1,000 points outside the cutoff. If he gets a result at Pipe then he will jump into the top 22 and relinquish his QS qualification, meaning Cibilic is in.
Comments
Dissappointing for Matt Banting, consistent season but he flies out of Hawaii with the same points he flew in on.
Came 21st on 16,750.
Jacob Wilcox, the invisible aussie did pretty well today too. Came 3rd in the semis- shame he didnt make it into the final with Jack, then he might get mentioned by journalists too. What does he have to do to get some recognition Stunet? did he steal your girl or something??
Stole my girl?
That'd be two shockers in a day for young Jacob.
My girl is 40 years old.
Your girl mightn't be much to write home about but making it to the semis at sunset sure is. Next year will be yours Jacob.
If I had to choose a Sunset semi over love, i'd take the girl.
(warts and all)
zenagain - after all, when everything is stripped away, love is all there is...
So If Deivid holds on to his WCT ranking and Yago also squeaks in via the WCT with a result at Pipe, does that mean both Morgan and Stu make the cut?
Tough ask, but yeah.
Pray for small Pipe, eh?
Yago was a quarter finalist at pipe last year, should give him a bit of confidence going into this one.
Who do we need to pressure at Surfing Australia to get Bede sent over to coach Deivid and Yago at Pipe? Surely if they're concerned about Australian's getting opportunities that would be money well spent right now!
Never Stu, never...
Seeing Ethan and Robo qualify today made my day, the potential that both boys have on the CT is enthralling, cannot wait for next year
Surely they are both in the Pipe Trials Now?
Ethan is in main event I think because he’s leading triple crown
Will the trails be Broadcast?
They haven't in the past.
We'll try and find out the case this year.
Last year, I think it was anyway, I was having a schooner at the pub and the trials were on foxtel.
Stu if u find out will you post on this thread or main page?
Jack, Ethan, Connor. Excellent news. Is it time to feel confident about Aus CT surfing again?
Funny, looking down the Top Ten, only two of them - Robbo and Macca the Saffa - are true rookies. All the rest are requalifying.
Not sure what that means...
A lot of cannon fodder for the top guys.
If held in the beach break comp masquerading as the WCT. Need to piss all beach breaks off and just have solid, awe inspiring waves of consequence, otherwise it will be the air comp. How good was it to see those big walls and Ethan and Robbo were just a joy to watch. Not too many zillas in the finals wonder why?
Can't agree more. Proper waves. Proper size boards. Real turns. Minimal claims.
So who do you reckon will pick up Morgan?
Isn't he sponsored by Rippy?
Check the vid he just put on his insta..... Holy Faaark !
Holy doggie door!
Morgs gets a shot at the Pipe Masters with an entry into the trials by winning the Triple Crown Rookie of the Year:
"Morgan Cibillic, who missed out on official qualification by just two heats today, was awarded the Triple Crown Rookie of the Year Award. “I am so stoked to get this award,” Morgan said. “That was my major goal coming over here to Hawaii and I am so stoked to achieve it.” This award could mean that Morgan may receive entry into the Pipe Master Trials, giving the Australian a shot at competing in the final event of the 2019 WSL Championship Tour season."
Don't they get to keep their ct scores if they are a wildcard?
Doesn't it then accumulate towards as total.
If so its not over yet !
What if he makes into into the pipe masters via the trials and then comes up against one of the two CT guys who he needs to progress to qualify. What does he do ? No point beating a guy who progression could put you on the tour.....
Stu Kennedy?
Now Robbo's got to move to the Gold Coast (or Noosa) to practice in weak-arse little waves.
Without doubt for the weakarse waves on the WCT. Both Portugal and GC should have been called off and places remain the same and the tub should never be on the list. Bells was awful but at least at size it was a challenge.
Bells was fucking awesome.
Agreed. The Friday (?) when it was carnage was something else. Finals day was sick.
There's the odd year when it's a bit uninspiring but there's been a decent run of big and challenging days.
Fair call I only really saw the carnage day and it was survival at sea. A lot of fun watching them get smashed and poor Italo nearly drowning. Nobody would have gone out if it wasn't for the contest.
gunna be a real mystery bag on Tour I reckon, Robbo, that is.
Intriguing, multi-accented pressers, total tube mastery at hollow waves and a real unknown at the turn waves.
How will he look at 3ft Snapper? 4ft Bells?
You could easily imagine a Tour where he was World Champion, not sure how he will go on this one.
Remember those ungainly double and triple-pump bottom turns he was doing at small Margs this year?
Gonna have to lose those.
thats what I mean as a mystery bag.
how do you reckon he will look at 3ft Snapper Stu?
I literally have no idea.
Doesnt have the speed and spark of Toledo or Italo, and nor does he have the kegs to lay rail like Wade or Jordy.
I'm thinking Kolohe but with a penchant for heavy water.
Good forecasts will see him pack results at half the stops, and at the other half he'll have to work real hard.
Also, he made a horrible tactical blunder against Kauli Vaast in the semis at the Chopes Trials this year. If that's a sign of his strategic nous he's gonna get eaten alive.
Verdict: work to do.
I think you're right.
Snapper will be crucial for him.
It'll be an insanely hyped rookie debut and if he fails early the loss of confidence will be hard to overcome.
Inversely if he smashes it....say a Final at pumping Kirra, he could crush the Aussie leg.
depends if snappers crap or barreling ? If it's barreling he can hold it with the best and has serious man turns, Kirra he would be a favourite.
Same at Bells if its clean and bigger , wave choice might hurt him , but he does well at Haleiwa....so his man turns will benefit him there...
Yes more man turns. I have yet to see a zilla with those beautiful turns Ethan and Robbo were doing at Sunset. It was such a joy to watch; timing, grace, power, poise positioning have missed that sort of surfing except to Jordy.
Wes Dantas wasn't pretty but he was the most powerful out there that I could see.
He was the fattest as well. Bit of blub on that boy for an 'Athlete'.
Brutus maybe you could shape him a couple of winners for goldy /bells.
Hint hint !
"work to do"......... yes but it's in him to do it.
I reckon he's got a level head and is pretty determined to continue improving.
There is a quantum jump from QS to CT. Look at Ethan Ewing on his first tilt at the CT. Jack Robinson, maybe not a threat to the title - has he got an air game? My call would be a similar level to Wade Carmichael. But in heavy waves, a different proposition. I look on with interest.
He's got an air game, watch his videos. His downfall is small surf
That was all time by Jack Robbo! So if Slater retired like he said he would...stu Kennedy has a chance?
Was so stoked to see Jack and Ethan prove their worth today. Very impressive under immense pressure. Both will be a threat on the tour next year especially Ethan at snapper,bells and jbay. Can't wait to see him teach some of the field how to do a turn....
Bringing back a bit of style to the tour.
Very interesting times for Aussie surfing. Throw Mikey, Owen and Julian into the mix too.
didn't stu need a finals birth? got 3rd in the semis. owwwie
"Life's pretty straight without twisties ! "
What percentage of the Australian surfers graduating to the WCT next year were products of the Surfing Australia high performance centre ?
Robbo is the only true rookie, and I'm pretty sure he didn't.
Ewing may have.
None!
Your taxes at work.
Sonny Boy Williams has been training there...wtf is that all about ?
Surely it’s time for Ace to hang up the rashie. Great surfer but still pretty boring at the same time.
I dig watching Ace surf.
Fluid , complete turns with just enough nasty on his backhand to still be relevant.
Yep....nasty.
Agree re Ace being boring to watch, would have said the same about Parko and Fanning on their final tour year ....
Best style on the Tour. No one comes even close....
Ethan Bloody Ewing. What a revelation. Here's hoping for a Ry-Callinan-second-go-around storyline.
I don't know where else to include it so I may as well post it here:
Chris Cote describing Jack Robbo's relaxed mindset between heats as being like "a Prius that switches off when you stop at the traffic lights" was pure sportscalling genius.
Yes Dennis Cometti would be proud of that one.
Both Cote and Williams came out with some great unique and original descriptions with humour and wit during the whole contest. Ross's comment regarding Robbo reading the line up like the Matrix was a good one from memory. Kaipo and Pancho not so much, but at least Kaipo and Pancho are still 10x better than anyone except Peter Mel on the WCT commentry team. Ross also called out Cardoso for being a pussy not in so many words at the Teahpoo event I recall (which was 100% valid call) and also was politically correct when he saw Cardoso struggling and big sunset and said "he's struggling out there and has to do well at pipe to requalify". Cardoso makes me sick just watching him wasting a spot on the CT that someone else who won't shrink from a 6ft barrel could made better use of. The main WCT WSL commentry just doesn't seem authentic and they say what they think the sponsors and executives want them to say instead of just talking useful and interesting topics.
That's better than calling Nat Young a cobra because of the way he coils off the bottom and strikes at the lip...
...of a 12 year old
Great results for the boys today, can someone do the sums for me to see where silva or dory need to place to see morgan qualified
Are there any rumours out there as to who in top 22 of ct might retire before start of 2020 year?
Epic days viewing.
I think I enjoy watching this contest and the qualifying scenarios more than the CT. So good to see Jack Robbo come through under pressure. As was discussed above, it will be interesting to see how he compares in small waves...it's like his rail game doesn't even kick in until it's 8 ft. If they get solid Kirra, North point/Box and that right in Brazil he might be in the mix come Chopes and GLand.
Good to see the Saffa make it too.
Hopefully it's bombing G-land and it'll be like a softer, playful version of Tombstones for him. Another issue is that even if they do get solid Kirra, North Point/Box - then that will possibly only be for a day or two, and each comp usuallly has a day or two of marginal conditions that the winners have to grind through.
So stoked. Jack was in a league of his own. Top 10 and rookie of the year next year for sure. Just what we needed.
Plenty of aussie qualifiers for 2020 so good to see.
I was flawed Shen I tuned into the world junior quarters and there was one Aussie...
Just rewatched some of the heats. What an amazing comp. Better than anything the CT dished out I reckon. Raw, so many waves, 4 man heats. Was epic. Would be amazing to see Sunset as a CT event - Hawaii deserves two.
On another note. How fridges good were Ethan Ewing's turns? I don't think I've seen anyone do that since Fanning or Parko. I know Jack dominated but Ethan's turns were unrivalled in my opinion.
Van's triple crown is the greatest surf show ever...year after year it never disappoints.
Oz Basherz salute Jack's wild surfing!
Agree with crew, that was one helluva show...thanx again swellnet *****
Well done Jack!
Tough gig getting judged.
Good to see someone who completely lives and breathes surfing rewarded for the talent, dedication and love.
Now go big!
Robbo can grovel, don’t worry bout that.
Epic couple contests for the Aussie surfers, EE and Robbo ripping at sunset
Surely Billabong will find a spot for him to surf Pipe, he’s right there in 3rd spot for the triple crown.
Big bad arse swell incoming for Friday the 13th. Get ready for the (warranted) hype
I assume Stu can look forward to plenty of injury replacements.
Few comments here about people in the top 22 CT possibly retiring. In that case, I assume that whoever just falls outside the CT top 22 gets the bump up rather than whoever falls just outside the top 10 on the QS. Am I wrong?
Yep, surfers who've already qualified - i.e on the CT - get the nod over potential QS qualifiers.
The other thing, however, is that there are again three legit contenders for the two injury wildcards: Leo Fioravanti, Mikey Wright, and ADS, so one of them might get the extra place, similar to how Caio was first alternative this year.
A bad arse Friday 13th swell! No doubt WSL will go nuts with that!
The Sunset comp was good to watch the WCT guys up against the WQS guys. Can appreciate the step up in skills they have.
you reckon?
I thought Sunset v. much levelled that playing field. Cody Young and Gatien Delahaye pushed Slater into last place for eg.
I think 3ft Snapper is a much severer test of skills.
Anyone know why Medina pulled out of Sunset? Kelly's comment was gold "I'll give him 10%"
Not sure why Gaby bailed, but I rode my bike down to Pipe during the Sunset semi's and watched him and Owen paddle into monster drifts and heavy backdoor pits. Def not an injury thing. And Owen looked ready to conquer,
Meanwhile with that VERY north swell direction with a touch of east in it they reckon, down the beach near pipe and Ehukai beach park there were 8ft kirra style barrels going down? Is there any footage of the guys get stuck in?
I've surfed the north shore briefly in a very north smallish swell and it was pretty much like a sand bottom barreling point. Would love to see it at size.
Anyone seen the latest news? Zeke protesting the result from Sunset.............
Fark just read that !!!
jacko the board ditcher
I don't think anything will come of it but it was piss poor form from Jack. First to paddle towards Zeke (he had plenty of chance to paddle around rather than towards him) and secondly to ditch his board. The precedent now means you can paddle towards a surfer riding a wave and then ditch the board if he is coming towards you and you won't incur an interference.
Hmm lets hope it disappears
Never underestimate the Power of grumpy old Blackshorts and the DaHui
Seeing as Jack got chaired up the beach by Tai VanDike and that other meathead Kaimana Henry I don’t think Jacks got too much to be worried about
Stoked to see Jack on tour and congrats to Jacob Willcox for doing so well in Hawaii. Well done lads.
Hey Pete, I just want you to know I'm a huge fan of your work. You're a true artist.
+1
Haha. Thanks.
Thank you for your kind words Zenagain. It's really nice of you.