WOMEN MAKING WAVES
Sally calls for tour change
Sally Fitzgibbons says it is inevitable the number of women on the world surfing tour will be lifted to match the men and the female ranks have the depth of talent to warrant it.
The Australian is fresh from missing the World Surf League mid-season cut after finishing 13th in the rankings following the Margaret River Pro.
She is in Queensland competing at the Gold Coast Pro, a second-tier Challenger Series event, in a bid to requalify for the top tier.
The men’s Championship Tour has 35 men that is reduced to 22 at the midseason cut, while the women start at 18 and go to 10.
There are 80 spots on the men’s Challenger Series and 10 qualify for the
CT, while 48 women compete in the second tier for five CT spots.
“It’s inevitable (the female fields are increased),” Fitzgibbons (pictured) said. “It has to change. The level of surfing is insane and to have 10 people for the back half of the year is a wild thing to think about.
“I don’t write the rules, I just see the talent and I think it is an awesome show.
“I love being part of it. It’s not just because I didn’t make the cut. I’m just stating facts.
“I want to watch some of those heats go down and watch more of the women.
“It’s also important because you are talking about the livelihoods for some of the young kids coming through now.
“If there isn’t a viable spot on the tour for them it is a grind on the Challenger Series.
“You might just be making a tiny bit and ... they are running off their parents’ budgets and not much sponsorship.
“I would love to see that change and the first step is to action it now for the future.”
Surfing Australia’s national high-performance director Kate Wilcomes backed Fitzgibbons’ push.
“There have been some great advancements for women in surfing but there is a way to go,” Wilcomes said.
“We could be pushing for more women on tour. The level is there. Hopefully the WSL has a long-term plan to increase the numbers for women.
“I guess they have to also consider the waiting periods and if you have more surfers on tour then you need to work out how that works logistically and the costs around it.
“Everyone would agree there is enough talent in female surfing to do it.”
A WSL spokesperson said the governing body was working towards an equal number of men and women on tour.
“The WSL is committed to equality and the progression of women’s surfing,” the spokesman said.
“The WSL instituted equal prizemoney in 2019 and has hosted equal venues on the Championship Tour and Challenger Series since 2022, but there is still more work to be done.”
Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester celebrated their promotion to the Premier League in style with a 3-0 win at Preston North End that secured the Championship title.
Enzo Maresca’s men needed victory at Deepdale to guarantee beating Ipswich Town to top spot with a game to spare and did so with ease, thanks in large part to their 37-year-old captain.
Vardy was one of the heroes of Leicester’s memorable Premier League triumph in 2016 and part of the side that also lifted the club’s first FA Cup just three years ago.
He played a central role in another night to savour for
As news emerged Jake Fraser McGurk could miss the T20 World Cup squad, he was rolled by Mitchell Starc in India but not before swatting him for 10 runs in two balls.
Fraser-McGurk has been pushed by most pundits to bolt into the Australian squad for the tournament that begins in just over a month on the back of three stunning innings for the Delhi Capitals where he’s being coached by Ricky Ponting.
But it’s been reported the 22-year-old dynamo won’t make the final 15, with selectors opting to stick with most of the squad that failed the Foxes’ travelling fans as he took his tally for the season to 20 goals.
Vardy opened the scoring when his mis-hit effort found the far corner on 36 minutes to defend their title in Australia in 2022.
That squad included Starc, who has battled in the IPL having been signed for a record $4.43m by the Kolkata Knight Riders, making him the competition’s most expensive ever player.
Given the chance to take down the veteran speedster, Fraser-McGurk, opening for Delhi again after his blistering 27-ball innings of 84 in the previous game, scrambled singles off his first two balls from Starc.
But then he unleashed, smashing Starc for six over wide long-on and four before smashing into an unguarded net after Wout Faes’ shot came back off the post.
Kasey McAteer set the seal on the title party when he headed in Abdul Fatawu’s cross 23 minutes from time.
Leicester desperately needed to return to the riches of the Premier League at the first attempt with the club running up huge losses.
They were charged in March by the Premier League for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) relating to their last three years in the top flight.
If found guilty, Leicester could start life back in the top flight with a points deduction. though backward point.
Fraser-McGurk, who goes all out attacking more than any other player in the competition, mis-hit Starc to deep square leg where Venkatest Iyer took the catch, his ending innings with 12 runs off seven balls.
Starc has taken seven wickets at 47.14 at an economy rate of 11.78 in this iteration of the IPL.
Having never played a T20 for his country, and despite an increased push from plenty, including Ponting, to “fast track” him into the team, Fraser-McGurk is set to miss the squad along with Steve Smith.