Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Steve Pike
WE have had a big week in South African surfing.
Perhaps not so much for Jordy Smith, who bowed out of the Billabong Pipeline Masters at the hands of wily veteran Kelly Slater. Smith needed a huge result, like a berth in the finals at a minimum, while new world title holder John John Florence had to finish worse than fifth.
Well that wasn’t going to happen in John John’s backyard. Smith finishes fourth in the rankings, but now has the maturity and confidence to go all the way next year.
Serendipitously, the old ballie Slater also has a hand to play in the fortunes of our man of the moment Michael February.
February has been announced as the first replacement on the WSL Championship Tour (CT), which is basically the “reserve wildcard” by virtue of his 11th place on the Qualifying Series (QS).
This means that should any surfer in the top 34 withdraw from a CT event for any reason, February will be invited to surf. Now, you wouldn’t think it watching him surf, but Slater is getting a tad long in the tooth. He has been awarded the WSL Commissioner’s Wildcard for next year because his foot injury in Jeffreys Bay prevented him from finishing in the top 22 required for the 2018 tour. The 34 comprise this, plus 10 from the QS and two wildcards, normally for injuries if applicable.
Slater is not a fan of Brazil, so that’s definitely one February will be surfing in. And possibly more. Slater’s business interests and age (45 next year) might open the door for more opportunities. On top of that, Australian Mick Fanning is rumoured to be retiring after Bells Beach, which might mean February becomes the first born-and-bred Capetonian, and even more thrilling for surfing development, the first black South African, to surf on the elite professional tour.
Also, remember that the worst finisher at any CT event earns $10 000, which will be a handy contribution to the busy travel schedule February is likely to have next year. Getting into CT events doesn’t advance your cause on the Qualifying Series, so if February is not handed a permanent berth on tour, he will will have to slog it out on the gruelling QS.
However, if Fanning does bail after Bells, we could see the affectionately named MFeb on the tour as early as Margaret River in April.
Being first replacement is huge from a sponsorship and exposure perspective. As Ryan Payne, head of Surfing at Accelerate Sport, says “He should, going on history, get about five starts.”
Mixing in the heady upper echelons of the world’s elite as one of 34 elite surfers is a far cry from the lower rungs of fame and fortune. His sponsors will no doubt up their game. His graceful style will be seen by millions more people.
As Paul Botha, Media Manager of WSL Africa, says, “It’s a really big deal.”
The 2017 surfing season has been historic for other reasons, with Florence (HAW) and Tyler Wright (AUS) both defending maiden-world surfing crowns to become two-time WSL men’s and women’s champions.
The 2018 season looks set to take things even further. The first ever CT event has been earmarked for the wave pool at Surf Ranch, Indonesia replaces Fiji, the women join the men at J-Bay, and Cascais, Portugal, and Trestles, USA have both been dropped from the schedule.
Brazilians dominate the 34 men on tour next year with 11. There are eight Australians, six Americans, four Hawaiians and two Frenchmen. Bringing up the rear are one South African, a Tahitian and a Portuguese ... at the moment!
Interestingly, on the women’s tour, Aussies dominate the 17 surfers. There are six, with only one Brazilian. There are four from the USA, four from Hawaii, one New Zealander and a French woman.
Bianca Buitendag is the fourth replacement surfer behind Macy Callaghan ( AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA) and Dimity Stoyle (AUS).
See you in 2018!
Today 4’ leftovers may actually jack a bit open coast and the winds are bumpy W at first, puffing SW then S but light to moderate. Muizenberg is in the middle of a little summer purple patch, with fun 2’ waves early. Tomorrow, solid 4- 6’ surf pours thro. Moderate WSW blows and it might be cross offshore and fun in Muizenberg with 2’ or 3’ sets.