Lifelong surf mates fight for same semi-final spot
THEY have known each other their whole lives, surfed side-by-side thousands of times but never have the stakes been so high for Morgan Cibilic and Ryan Callinan.
In an unfortunate clash at the World Surf League Newcastle Cup event at Merewether, NSW, the last two Aussies in the men’s competition have been drawn against each other in the quarter-finals.
The good mates have been the standout performers at the event – the first of four back-to-back championship tour surfing tournaments in Australia.
The Merewether locals produced big wins to book their spots in the quarter-finals expected to be fought out this weekend.
On a day Australian Olympic team member Julian Wilson was knocked out by Brazilian Adriano DeSouza, Callinan defeated fellow Aussie and Tokyo-bound Owen Wright to secure his quarters spot while Cibilic beat Central Coast surfer Wade Carmichael in another all-Aussie affair.
In the other quarters, Brazilians Gabriel Medina and de Souza will battle in one, Italo Ferreira and Deivid Silva in another while American Conner Coffin will compete against Brazilian Filipe Toledo.
TRIPLE world champion Mick Fanning has a new surfing goal which will see him ride out of retirement for a special appearance at the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic.
In a shock announcement at the Newcastle Cup, Fanning revealed he would pull on the competition rashie as a wildcard in the Sydney event from April 16.
It will be his first world tour appearance since he exited at the 2018 Bells Beach classic.
“I don’t think I’ll feel bad,” the 39-year-old told the World Surf League.
“The amount of wildcards that ruined my dreams over the years, they didn’t feel bad.”