Sally Fitzgibbons And Alan Cleland Win US Open
In 2022, Sally Fitz jumped back onto the Championship Tour (CT) courtesy of a season wildcard, only to fall off tour again this year. Rather than retire, however, the 33-year old hit the Challenger Series (CS) and overnight recorded her best result of the year - a first-place finish at the US Open.
The win rockets her into a commanding lead on the CS, more than 2,500 points ahead of second place with two more contests to go. Of the four CS comps surfed, her worst is a fifth-placed finish, while she's had two third-place finishes.
With six events on the CS tour, the best four results will count, meaning Sal is almost certain to qualify for the 2025 CT.
Sal beat Bella Kenworthy in the Final. The Californian is sitting second on the rankings, less than 100 points ahead of Isabella Nichols.
Equal third were Nadia Erostarbe, who jumped into the Top 5 for the first time this year, and Bronte Macaulay who'll need at least one big result from the final two events to make up the 4,000 deficit between her and fifth place.
In the men it was a battle of the backmarkers with the Final featuring 51st-placed Al Cleland vs 36th-placed Marco Mignot. Cleland won, jumping 42 places to ninth on the leaderboard with Mignot behind him in tenth. Jackson Bunch and Jarvis Earle finished equal third.
Of note is Mikey McDonagh who won the first contest of the CS Season at Snapper Rocks but is yet to get another good result. McDonagh finished 25th at the US Open, lost three more places, and is currently eighth. Also, Jordy Lawler who won at Narrabeen, finished 73rd at the US Open, lost five places and is now eleventh.
Both surfers will need to fire at Ericeira and Saquarema to assure a place inside the ten.
Comments
Like last yr absolute joke that a challenger series contest is held in 2 ft mush closeouts at Huntington!
And then some of the top 10 won’t get out of 1 heat at CT level
The points are way skewed
Win one event and almost certain of qualification although Mikey needs to get his skates on
And in 2025 not one challenger will be held in aust
As for our Sal good luck to her but her level of surfing is still a little old compared to some of the female chargers on tour
Gone snapper and narra
Narra is gone?
Mikey shitting the bed? Hope he's not the first person to win a challenger comp and not make the CT.
Sal nearly guaranteed to be back again.
Barry crocker, hasn't made a dime since snapper.
Where the fighting spirit gone?
Brazilian push is interesting: Miggy, Ian Gouveia, Alejo, M-Rod are not the kinds of recycled talent the CS would've planned to get back to the Dream Tour. Unsurprising given the cons they qualify in, is it?
What a sad thought. Nek minute Jaddy's back
Actually, there's not one surfer in the men's top ten I'm excited to see on the CT. Maybe GP at a stretch
Gwyneth Paltrow is a man?!!
Al Cleland for me. Can charge in the biggest waves and win at a (the?) dogshit beachy. He would be a good role model for all the central American kids that rip in the same way as Rio is for the indos.
I personally used to surf with a kid in El Salvador that ripped just as hard as any super grom in Australia, doing full rotations, trying backflips , getting barrels easily, but you won't see him as a pro. He'll be giving horse rides or selling shit on the beach for a couple of bucks a day. Al Cleland would be a great role model for all those kids.
My fave # heart emoji
Miggy, Ian Gouveia, Alejo, M-Rod , get rid of these recycled hacks !!!
Ian gouveia has been ripping though
He,s got Wiggolys issue . a miilion versions of the same backhand reo ..ho hum
Harsh
the Pupo Bros i'd be happy to see back, great styles the both of them. the other lot... no thank you, sir. terrible business.
cant stand them with their over the top claiming for everything. though they do surf well.
Come on there's more than those 2
Pretty happy at Frederick being slotted in 67
Actually @ yodai
A hurricane sprung up producing very contestable waves for Thursday, friday, even Saturday.
If they could have moved the comp to Newport it would have been firing.
Alas Huntington hop it is.
Watched a few waves ,watched one of Georgie's heats..... classic commentary of Matty chon..., kaipos and surf nerd Salazar.
Two Surfers from Mexico in the final
(Yet one surfs under the french flag. )
History almost made today.
Lanky
I didn’t watch that much as the waves I saw were rubbish rd
The WSL site calling it 4 to 6 ft so I turned out at end of lackey heat vs Isabella and there both sitting in near flat conditions next to the pier about 20m from the shore .so maybe there were big lulls!!
Lot of warhorses in the top 10.
Morgs and Chippo need some big results from here- probably a win or semi finish.
It's funny, cause I did a little research Georgie pocketed 3500 for his result surely he won't even break even when you factor overall costs into the events you pretty much have to final to break even.
How do the kids afford it nowdays without any sponsor dollars
They should call it the purgatory tour.
Surfing has always been a sport of privilege. Now just more so than ever.
Always fun huh? You wouldn't think so
# harto Los gringos!
After every surf I recommend 5 minutes of self flagellation, followed by 20 'Black Lives Matter' and 20 'White Privilege'.
Your virtue will be beaming for all to see and admire.
Harvey Norman lifestyle ads incoming…..
And a new shed
To put the new Land Rover in.
Think she’s moved to Chinese prestige GWM.
ah, that's right, thanks.
Screw that.
Sorry Sal. Cancel that new shed order.
When GWM came on board, she started flogging their Haval, I put my polite view on her Insta about supporting these chinese car makers, and was promptly unfriended by her or her mgr. So much for free speech thanks Sal.
So when China goes into Taiwan and they will as Xi has promised over and over, Aussies under ANZUS will have to get involved .. then don’t be surprised when their govt remotely turn off all their crud cars here and abroad. Don’t believe ? … this just out ;
https://www.drive.com.au/news/chinese-electric-car-invasion-prompts-secu...
Sallys such a competitive beast and a fantastic role model......good on her....
i can feel a shaka comin on ...
since when did surfing need " role models " ???? get back on your mid length and play tennis
i recon a mal would be better to play tennis on, more stable eh ...you up the front me down the back ....might be a new sport ......
stop defusing my anger
@ simba, many , many shakas atm ....
It's gross that they hold an important event there. That being said, from memory Ethan got his first crack at the CT after a good result in ankle sized waves there.
Smell the roses, thats likely the Olympic venue.
What makes you think they’d pick that over trestles?
"roses really smell like poo poo poo"
Noooooooooooooooop say it isn’t so
Thanx Stu for Comp review & clearing up that best 4 / 6
Mostly as your notes read that down to #7 still in the hunt with 2 big wins.
So Sally has still gotta put out...Top CS Chix...are all pushin'!
One way or another Sally keeps shining as fav Goldie Surfer.
No other surfer has a better Qld Comp record.
Was reported in this comp that Sally bossed 45 QF results Back 2 Back.
Gonna be a while before other surfers better her Olympics / WSG / CT / CS results.
Note Sally is burning off 9 Olympians in CS.
Clearly the best Cross Comp Surfer...totally wiped the World clean as current WSG champ.
No luck in that...tbb felt her comp ethic from a world away & backed her ahead of every heat win.
Sally has brilliant Comp smarts at pacing herself thru heats & thru the draw
Booth were calling Sally the fittest on tour as well!
Oz would want her on any Team at anytime now or years to come.
Goldie crew love her because she delivers #1 show every time...gromz go mad!
Reckon any competitor dreds pulling Sally in the draw...be like are you serious!
Clearly not the most rad surfer but most competitive surfer by far...
Be 2 points up all heat & ya turn to see Sally combo 4 Power Turns on WOTD....OMG!
Why these mere mortals bother showing up...Salute Supa Grom Sally!
Recapping that Sally is on the IOC Board + Official Team Oz Supporter.
We'll see Sally star in many Olympics alongside other best Oz Athletes.
Surfing is stoked to have her Competitive Spirit pushing surfing to soar new heights!
Qldurrz know for sure & likewise share that Sally is #1 Supporter of 2032 Olympic surfing.
Ain't no one else driving 2032...that's why she's Qld's fav' Surfer...results are on the Board...Real Deal!
No! yer right tbb was never a fanatic but when Sally is leading from the front...
We Qldurz are obliged to follow...tbb is cool with that & salutes our Neighbours for sharing Supa Sally!
Us disabled Qld Surfers also love Robo Sally...
&t=5stbb has surfed 1 wave in 5 years even less able right here & now... see a doctor this week just to walk!
Honestly...tbb can't walk to even continue as Town's pickerupperer...now dreaming to pick up rubbish!
Walking for Just for 2-5mins would put a smile on tbb's face...sure...while hiding immense pain!
If Sally can slot tbb into an ai wave...Ok with that also...tbb has little choice in the matter!
Can see that Sally is ticking all tbb's boxes...nuthin' Sally can do bugz tbb...why fight it...
Double thumbs up! Love her fighting spirit...lends tbb hope!
https://www.facebook.com/WSL/videos/there-are-no-limits-when-youre-sally...
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8675842/wollongong-tech-compan...
https://www.evenness.app/events
https://www.instagram.com/sally_fitz/reel/C7GBVq4pg5s/
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1169820010959650&vanity=WSL
I know there's some Sal haters out there, and at least some who like to pay her out for the shameless corporate plugs and shakas, but I'll bet not one of you doesn't want to see her at Cloudy
Maybe 5-10 years ago.
Plenty who will charge it now.
Much rather see the new crew- Sierra Kerr, Erin Brooks etc etc.
Sal has failed to make the cut 3 years in a row.
Surely that is enough.
Really wanna see that...can bring that up on the Big Screen
Titled as the greatest mismatch of this and any Century.
Old Walking Frame Sal took it easy while runnin' rings around God'z chosen Grom Erin
Round of 16 ht 4 : Pensioner Sally [15:00] vs Godz Latest greatest Whizz Fizz Grom Erin [9.80]
Yeah! Not fair on Ol' knock knees Sally to have to hack thru Erin's custom made Micro Grom slop!
Look Away Gromz...Oh the Humanity!
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/533621/lexus-us-open-of-surfing-pr...
Ditto dat!!!
I dont see any reason why she should stop. She is clearly one of the top surfers on the CS with consistently good results. And she’s accepted the cut from tour and re qualification with good grace each year. The women’s cut leaves just 10 of them on tour which seems more like the problem for me. And they only bring in 5 new women each year. It’s brutal
And the women’s CS is so much more consistent than the men’s. The top 20 women are very consistent to last year, and the top 10 are all very similar level. Would love to see the women’s field increase to 24 and 16 post cut.
100%
Um not exactly - she got a freebie the first time she was cut and then got cut anyway the second and third years
Sally’s just a classic little Aussie sheila, the singing budgie of Australian surfing. Go Sal !
Shameful that the challenger series hasn't an event in Hawaii, or at least a finish there. Oi Oi Sally...
Starkie : "We accept yer Challenge to cram 120,000 cans of $20 Hard Fizz into a Backdoor Barrel!"
Fish Dick : "Law says we gotta mix in Traditional Pineapple Flavours to Lockdown N Shore beaches!"
It's such a Bitch that Life throws up such a Peachy Beach...
WSL : "Tell us about it...
...the amount of drama ya put up with just to evacuate a beach to snag Airbnb Wave of the Month!"
Sally is a fighter. She should quit surfing and take up boxing
2024 [Olympics did run a Factcheck on Sally]
https://olympics.com/en/news/australia-sally-fitzgibbons-world-surfing-g...
tbb was also easily led to believe that maybe Sally is not as Sharp...no harm in checking!
In fact tbb set out to prove himself wrong as he only half bought into it...
If all say she's not up to it then none care if tbb runs a cross check to see where Sally fits in...
Mostly coz she'll likely be competing in CT next season...
Here's wot that check reveals...few fans will be shocked but this reality check will surprise many!
Sally either beat or out ranks 19/24 Olympians in 2024 WSG / CT / CS
Sally has never surfed against remaining 5 /24 QS / Jr ranked > lesser placed Olympians
Sally recently defeated or Currently ranks ahead of ALL 24 Listed 2024 Olympians...(No Surprise!)
By default ranks above any / all CS surfers beneath & has recently defeated all CT Olympic surfers...no brainer!
This is who Sally Beat + Ranks above...in 2024 (Jan-July) 6 months lead up to Olympics!
Gold US (Caroline 2x )
Silver Brazil (Tatiana 2x )
Bronze France (Joanne)
4th CRC (Brisa )
Equal 5th (Carissa/Luana/Nadia/Tyler )
Equal 9th (Anat/Sarah/Taina/Vahine/Yolanda/Caitlin in 2023 WA (2024 did not meet!)
[ Never surfed against > (QS) Matsuda (QS) Yang ]
Equal 17th (Molly/Saffi/Camilla/Sol/Teresa)
[ Never surfed against > (QS) Candelaria (Jr) Janire (Jr) Sanoa ]
On top of that Sally just easily defeated Hot Canadian Goof Teahupoo Fav CS Erin
Any other Olympian of any sex / sport wanna have a crack at Sally...Thought Not!
Sally has beaten them all in 2024
Every right to claim equal fav to win Gold > based on 2024 CT/CS/WSG Comp Results/Rank
Experts questioned her cred : Sally smashed all Olympians in last 6 months...No expert ever checked!
Lay off Sal' unless ya got Fake Covid Comp Data to exempt yer call that Sal' is not Worthy...
Top 2024 Comp results verify Sally was over Qualified to win 2021/2024 Olympics!
Every right to have a crack after Humiliating these poor scoring Olympians
Avg Olympic Women's Comp scores : 8.5 / 20 ( Joanne 12.66 > Tatiana 10:33 > Caroline 10:50 Gold
Avg WSG Sally's Comp scores : 11.59 / 20 ( Joanne 12:00 > Tatiana 12:24 > Sally 13:10 Gold
No matter how many varied cross checks ya run...Sally is the clear #1 Tournament seed Surfer!
No contest! Sally is 3 points better World Comp surfer in Heats / Final than 2024 Olympians!
Best Finals Day Surfer in the World!
Sally alone would Ramp 2024 Olympic Medal Scores + Sally defeated Silver/Gold 2x in 2024 (Easy!)
Interesting how it all checks out...Sally would have won Gold on the Day...All say Aye!
Reckon without doubt each Olympic Medalist would dred pulling Sal for National Pride Medal...OMG!
WSG was held on Gnarly Left draining Reef to assimilate Teahupoo Reef injuries!
Yes! That's why ISA chose this Slab Reef Break.
Many received nasty Reef injuries on WSG shallow Left Reef...treated for such
(Olympic Med' trial Comp > Athletes were prompted to treat various odd ills & they did!)
National Surfers World Tournament medals (Final Premium cross check!)
Oz Sally : WSG Gold 4 / Bronze 1 + Olympics 4th place (#1 Seed just beat 2024 Olympic Medalists)
Recap : Also recently beat Gold Medalist 2x / Plus outscored all Medalists easily! No competition!
Peru Sofia : WSG Gold 2 / Silver 1 / Bronze 2 + Olympics 9th Place
France Joanne : WSG Silver 1 / Bronze 2 + Olympics Bronze
Brazil Tatiana : WSG Gold 1 / Silver 1 + Olympics Silver
(Various) : WSG Surfers x3 mix Medals.
Host Olympic Nations seeded both m/w Medals Japan 2 France 2 + Brazil 3 / US 2 / Oz 2 / SA1
Interesting Check isn't it...things are never as they seem...Sally is still the one to beat...Pros all know it!
Sally dominates Largest ever most challenging Tournaments ...the ultimate Grom Comp Stomper!
Gets more stoked as the Tournament counts down...excitement builds & Sally is locked in for Finals!
All the Olympians pull out one by one & make excuses for ailments & hide their shame!
Any other surfer that good to back themselves into a tournament final with Sally...all are wannabes!
Same goes for any doubting Sally...the Queen Bee...she's got all their numbers & that's plain to see!
Tennis Ace Sophie : Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3.
Reason 1. (Equal Pay!)
Locks in less Women to earn vastly higher performance fees than men thru every comp but one!
Surfing against less Competitors in less heats for higher performance fees with more recovery days.
Also saves a fuckin' fortune on Teams of Beauty therapists on Business Class with VIP Accom.
Higher performance fees covers higher risk injury insurance to toe tip Dream Tour waves of consequence!
Code Red further restricts toe dipping in Pipe / Teahupoo verifies WSL care about Sisters wellbeing!
Chix do Pipe { POSTCARD} wins Grom chix much higher appearance fees than all WSL Beach Bullies.
Reason 2 ( The cut )
The cut ramps up even higher appearance fees for Chix to lock in expensive exotic Surf Hangs.
Need to pay for extra Resource Depleting immersion tanks & desert Island Insta links & Dry Cleaning
Reason 3 ( Finals Day Equal Sex Triumph )
Breakthru Momentous Milestone Event.
For just one day each year WSL Chix forgo higher VIP fees to sweat it out in a mixed gender VIP sauna...Brutal it is!
The brave chix come back down to Earth...to grovel equally with lesser paid mere mortal Pool Toy Boyz ...but Why?
Finals Day showcases mandatory Same Stage = # Competitors = $ Prize money for = # Heats surfed!
Without Finals Day ...WSL would have to stoke up = Accom / Flights / Teams for each day of CT Tour.
Finals Day is the Equality Evolution shortcut...{ All hail WSL Surf Godz for a Day top deck head sticker }
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/483101/road-to-the-rip-curl-wsl-fi...
For the record : WSL Chix Scores drop each year since = Pay Farce
Chix earn more appearance Money than men to surf less on more holidays and ideally now perform Less Trix!
WSL Judges Call : Nice work if ya can rort it...Union inquiry well overdue! Shh!
It's been a while since we've seen any exciting new talent on the mens side. I love the way Ethan surfs and Robbo charges , but where's the changing of the guard that defines previous decades? The Brazilian storm was 10 years ago , Cooly kids 20 yrs, Andy v Slater 20 yrs, the Momentum Generation another 5-10 yrs before that. I look back to Bustin Down the Doors , Potter blasting his way through, the prodigy Curren with Carrol and Occy making statements, it all seems a bit vanilla now with no new ultra talents that make you sit up and watch. The women of the other hand seem to have some sublime talent on the way up.
"here no money, no money here."
Unless there is an advance in surfboard design, I wonder if men’s surfing has reached close to a peak of what humans can do on a sub-XXL sized ocean wave.
Good question.
Judging surfing in crud waves gives everyone a chance to rise to the top and then settle at the bottom.
Pump, wiggle, spray, photo, horray!
https://www.krudbeer.com/our-story
Waves provide limitless surfing oportunities..........................; judging a 35m heat is strickly Ltd.
13 years ago.... "soak up the moment"
"A place of love.....", wines & mines.
& slabs
Is the pony club ruining the racehorses?
eg.
hey crew, off topic. but ive broken my wrist coming off my skatey and am out of action for 6 weeks. im chasing a book " MP untold" im up on the sunny coast but would also pay for postage. let us know if you can help out, can buy or rent from you.
The MP book is in your local SC library
https://sunshinecoast.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/OPAC/BIBWRKENQ/...
....or Qld MP
https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p69721/html/ch01.xhtml?re...
Love seeing Sally Win...Yew!!