Mikey Wright, Rainbow Bay - video
Now that Dane Reynolds has split with Quiksilver it's safe to say we've seen the last of him as a wildcard at Snapper and also at the Quik Pro France. And on that score we may have seen the last of him as a wildcard fullstop, lest the WSL extend their generosity in the unbadged Fiji or J'Bay pros.
Yet the void at the top of the Quik tree may soon be filled, especially if Mikey Wright keeps on performing the way he has been. A slew of great clips and cameos has seen the younger Wright thrust into the limelight. So what are the odds Quik will buff young Mikey with a wildcard to this year's Snapper Pro?
Pretty damn good I'd say...
Drone footage from yesterday's swell at Snapper.
Comments
Pity we don't have a front on view.
Comment has nothing to do with Mikey, he surfs alright.
Why don't they reward the top QS surfers with wildcards? Isn't that logical? Instead, they choose randoms directly, or invite randoms to a mini-comp where the winner makes the main comp. Why not dangle the carrot in front of the QS surfers so they don't stop showing up once they've qualified. 1st or 8th on the QS doesn't really matter... maybe a little prize money.
Actually, we know why they do it. They choose surf-celebrities to try to generate viewers, or choose sponsored surfers so they can talk about the sponsor. The purpose of WSL is to generate profits for their investors, not act in the interest of creating a strong sport. The wildcard system is bad for surfing overall.
If we want to see Journeyman pro's battle it out we already have the back half of the WCT for inspiration.
I agrea but would take it further and say that the Wildcard should be worked out on ay qs points/ local to the event system.
In the late 80s/early 90s - can't remember the exact date - Coca Cola ran a competition to win a wildcard at the Coke Classic. Fella who won was an ordinary bloke from Bundaberg and he brought a big bucket of prawns down to Sydney to share with everyone at the comp.
Wouldn't mind seeing more wildcards like him.
What about Nicky Wood winning an entry into the Burleigh QS one year.
Yeewwww.
Got to love a bit of low key Aussie surfing royalty.
Had a quick smile and exchange of pleasantries with a former Pipe master/ Aussie Champion / Japan LSD smuggler / Prince of France / goofy legend at Kempsey NAB the other day.
Rip it up Pagey.
The whole wild card thing is a bit weird. They never for instance would bring Redfern league team just for 1 round in the NRL. Its a comp for the elite not the guys that take as seriously as there wallet /sponser allows.
I assume Shearer has dropped dead from an Aneurysm after viewing this.
No point having a qs surfer as a wildcard the points don't mean shit to them making the tour. Let mikey in I say