2022 and 2023 Wildcards Announced
Overnight, the Woz announced the CT wildcards up to mid-2023.
The number of wildcards and criteria for earning them has changed over the years, but as it currently stands each Men's event in the first half of the year has four wildcards: two WSL wildcards (chosen by the Woz) and two event wildcards (ostensibly chosen by the sponsor, or a Trials system).
For the Women there are two wildcards before the cut: one WSL wildcard, and one event wildcard.
After the cut, both the Men and Women have two wildcards per event: one season wildcard (running to the mid-year cut next season, and chosen by the WSL), and one event wildcard.
Make sense...?
Gabs and Sal (Dunbar/WSL)
Over the years, wildcard allocation has been a contentious issue, usually around surfers injured in competition unable to gain a wildcard and return. In 2001, Rob Machado broke his hand but was denied a wildcard for 2001 partly due to Kelly Slater's return to competition, while more recently Ace Buchan was denied a wildcard onto this year's tour despite missing events last year through injury, the slot instead going to Owen Wright who placed 25th on the CT last year after contesting every event.
Before we get to the current wildcard announcements we need to take stock of injuries on the Men's side.
Yago Dora has been out with a foot injury suffered late last year.
Liam O'Brien broke his leg at Backdoor the day before the Pipe comp began.
Carlos Munoz tore his shoulder in competition at Pipe.
Also, Gabriel Medina took time out for mental health reasons, presumably done with the knowledge he'd be granted one of a season wildcard, which as a past World Champ he's entitled to.
To be sure, Medina received the season wildcard and will resume competition at Grajagan. For the Women, Caroline Marks received the season wildcard. Both surfers have guaranteed starts until next year's cut.
That leaves one entry open for the event wildcard in each remaining contest. Of the five contests only one has a surf sponsor who will put up their own wildcard. The other wildcards will be decided by Trials or WSL alchemy.
Back to the three injured surfers...
Overnight, the Woz announced that Yago Dora would be rewarded with the 2023 season wildcard, providing entry for the first five events of that year. On the Women's side, Sally Fitzgibbons will receive the 2023 season wildcard.
Both Dora and Fitzgibbon will also be first replacement should any slots open in the draw for the remaining CTs of 2022.
Frustratingly, the press release made no mention of what will happen to Carlos Munoz and Liam O'Brien - who both qualified legitimately but were injured competing and training. It appears neither will finish a single CT. In fact, O'Brien didn't get a chance to surf a single heat.
Unlike the Men, who had many injured and surfers and few wildcards, the Women had a wildcard slot and no-one out injured. Despite finishing 15th, five spots out of the cut line, Sally Fitzgibbons will again continue her CT career, presumably on a loyalty and legacy justification - three-time runner up, fourteen years on tour.
Comments
Im not sure about giving next year Wildcards to Surfers who dont make the Mid Year Cut.
Kind of defeats the purpose ?
Happy for Sally, but she's getting on, same as Owen.
Sport is brutal by nature.
The Men had too many injuries for the number of wildcards, the Women had the opposite problem: no injuries but one wildcard.
So who should get it?
The justification appears to be that Sal deserves it for sustained effort, however I think Malia Manuel who's been on the CT for ten years and missed the cut by 65 points (out of 17,830 points) might feel like she should be in the conversation.
Neither of them should. Why get rewarded if you keep loosing. Give it to someone fresh.
Generation M
Everyone gets a prize and No one loses
Shouldn't the wildcard go to whoever is leading or next in line on the Challenger series?
Sally Fitz - should not have been granted a wildcard. She lost..... all year.
The men i can deal with however i would have loved to see Liam O'Brien given a spot seeming he broke his leg the morning of pipe and he fucking rips.
Agree Burls
Sal 9,9,9,5
Molly & India 9,5,9,5
Malia 9,3,5,5
oh wow, thats bad.
Not sure I agree with the decisions (this year and in the past), but you're never going to please everyone in these situations. Real shame for the rookies.
sals sponsors pay for the ads on the Aussie leg. Thats it thats all. Zero legitimate reason.
Just scrap wildcards altogether. The men's second half doesn't need any extra surfers. By all means add more to the women's side but based on their ranking after the first five events.
If a Gabby wants back on tour he should be able to easily win a couple of CS events and be back on in 2023. If Sally can't win or come second in a couple of CS events then she really isn't going to make it on the the CT. Time on tour should not mean anything - you have to keep performing to stay on and perform to get back on.
I just do not understand why you would announce the wild cards now for next year.....leaves you no room to move if something happens between now and then. After watching Sally a few times live this week it is clear the standard has moved along substantially with the younger generation. Time to move on and give it to one of the young up and comers. She was a great competitor for a long time but the world has moved on and she just does not look like she is going to be competitive at the top end of the draw for much longer. Time to pass the batten on. If she competes in the CS and makes it then I see no issue with her as she has earn't her place. Just do not give it to her now. Wait until the CS is over before deciding.
So Malia Manuel missed out did she? She’s just on the CS?
Sally Fitz , too big to fail? after all the money and effort from Surfing Australia pushing SF since she was a kid and a couple runner ups and no medal in olympics ... Could be time to back some of new kids . Sally makes enough from endorsements ( she would sell durries with a shit eating grin if they offered to pay her enough) .
Save the wildcards for someone that needs one.
Giving wildcards to people that just didn't qualify seems weird, I don't remember that being a thing.
Should've had a three-way surf-off next year between Munoz, Dora and O'Brien, like they did with Leo and Mikey. Way more fair and interesting.
SF is neither interesting or funny and her best surfing is benind her now.
I thought Medina was keen to go out with a bang and bar the tour like a rock star.. What happens if he decides he’s not keen to compete again?
Followed Owen since he was a grom and unlucky not to win a World Title. Certainly had the ability.
But, cant help but feel for him at present. Narrowly missing out on requalifying for Gland and Tahiti where he would have excelled the bigger it got ! But now has to surf 3 ft Snapper and 2 - 3 ft Manly. Its a bit like an old boxer who thinks he can match it with the new young guns coming through. Think Jeff Horn.
At the moment he is on the ropes and copping a hiding, if not physically, definitely mentally.
The towel is ready. So many great memories of this legend of Australian surfing.
He is doing his best. But he knows.
Thank you O.