A Cut So Deep!
Wednesday 25 May 2022 One criticism of events like the Corona Open J-Bay was that the volume of heats diminished the spectacle to surf in cranking waves. But some say that the mid-year cut is unfair, writes Craig Jarvis.
NO CUT BACK: Sally Fitzgibbons is one who may not be too stoked about the cut. Photo WSL
So often, the 12-day event period has so many stops and starts, and it uses up most of the window period. Still, not many spectators can sit around for a full 12 days.
Some bemoaned the round 2 non-elimination round, and some complained that there were just too many surfers in the contest. However, the WSL introduced the mid-year cut this year, and despite it being fairly brutal, it quickly thinned the field out.
By reducing the men's and women's fields from 36 and 18 to 24 and 12, respectively, at the season's midway point this year, events like J-Bay can run within the most optimal swell cycles. In addition, this format also ensures that the stars of the sport meet head to head more frequently.
HUMAN WRIGHT: Owen Wright came so close, but Matt McGillivray snuck in. Photo WSL / Cestari
The entire competition can now be finished off in four days of surfing. That's about as long as a strong winter swell sticks around for in J-Bay. Even better if there is a storm train and we see firing surf for 5 days or more.
Still, with such a fairly drastic cut, there have been casualties. In whittling down the numbers, some top soldiers, like Sally Fitzgibbons, Conner Coffin and Owen Wright, were lost, which is a pity.
But the show goes on, and at the 9th spot on an 11-event schedule, J-Bay has just become one of the most important events on the CT calendar. The waiting period is from 11–21 July. More details can be found on the WSL website - https://www.worldsurfleague.com/
Women's CT: Missed the Cut
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Luana Silva (HAW)
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Molly Picklum (AUS)
India Robinson (AUS)
Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Malia Manuel (HAW)
Caroline Marks (USA)0
Men's CT: Missed the Cut
Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
Conner Coffin (USA)
Joao Chianca (BRA)
Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Lucca Mesinas (PER)
Deivid Silva (BRA)
Owen Wright (AUS)