PLENTY OF REASON TO HOPE FOR WSL SUCCESS
JUST two years out from the sports Olympic debut, Australian surfers go into the 2018 world tour season boasting the top three women in world surfing and a group of men with the potential to win crowns.
The three clear favourites after the 2017 season are all Australian.
Tyler Wright, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons filled the top three spots with Wright winning her second world title at the Mau Pro.
Australia, the US and Brazil are in positions of power the men’s ranks, snaring the majority of spots on the championships tour.
Australia’s surfers are a mix of new and old talent, including former world champion Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning for the opening two rounds, Julian Wilson, Matt Wilkinson, Owen Wright and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Connor O’Leary.
John John Florence goes in as the defending champion after wining his second world crown in 2017. Brazilian Felipe Toleda is also being tipped for a big year in 2018.
Tyler Wright and John John Florence have to be the favourites for 2018 after winning the last two years.
But in the women’s race there is a lot of backing for Gilmore to match the extraordinary record of Layne Beachley in winning seven world crowns.
Last season also showed Sally Fitzgibbons has the arsenal to finally win her maiden world crown with the biggest threats to the Australians likely to come from multiple world champ Carissa Moore and the hungry Courtney Conlogue.
Watch out for Phillip Island’s Nikki Van Dijk who broke through for her first WSL world tour win in 2017.
In the men’s competition many believes this could be the year for Julian Wilson.