No definitive path for Games surfers
GOLD Coast surfing guru Andrew McKinnon says the sport's landmark OlympicGames qualification agreement is set to toss up more questions than answers.
The International Surfing Association and World Surf League yesterday announced qualification principles for surfing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
In a bid to ensure the participation of the world’s best from the WSL Championship Tour (CT) as well as promoting universal opportunities for surfers around the world, it was decided up to 18 of the 40 places at the Games will be reserved for CT competitors (10 men and eight women).
The remaining 22 places will be determined at the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, and a single slot (each for men and women) for the host nation Japan.
In a twist that could prove telling, rules for Olympic participation will require surfers to make themselves available for national teams to compete in the ISA World Surfing Games in 2019 and 2020.
The final decision on the complete process is subject to the approval of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its meeting in February.
While celebrating the sport’s looming Games debut, McKinnon, who writes his Surf Scene column in the Bulletin every Wednesday, admits the selection process could leave some blue-chip stars stranded on the beach.
“(It) throws up more questions than answers,” he said.
“Perhaps by February’s IOC meeting, in terms of the number of countries and participants, it will be a little clearer.
“I understand there are only 16 countries competing and a country like Australia has only two representatives, one male, one female.
“So if Stephanie Gilmore was the world champion in 2019, she would be No.1 cab off the rank.
“However, where it gets complicated is that every competitor has to compete in the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.
“A World Tour professional and a WCT athlete like Steph might not be able to do all those comps, so selection would be based on who’s next (in the rankings) and that could very well suit an up and comer like Piper Harrison who is competing in next year’s WISA Junior Championship.
“By 2020 Piper would be 19 and could be going for gold for the Gold Coast.”
WSL chief executive Sophie Goldschmidt says the Games offers a “massive opportunity”.
“It is essential for surfing to showcase its best possible surfing through this opportunity and that requires the world’s best surfers from the Championship Tour to participate,” he said.