All Set for Supers
Wednesday 18 May 2022 Winter returns to normal in 2022 as J-Bay local hero Matthew McGillivray joins countryman Jordy Smith at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay for the Corona Open J-Bay from 12 to 21 July 2022.
HOME TOWN HERO: Matt is poised for a strong result at his local break. Photo WSL / Saguibo
McGillivray requalified for the 2023 Championship Tour after his impressive performance at the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia. It was the final stop before the Mid-season Cut which saw the men’s field reduced to 22 and McGillivray secured the last available spot when he defeated Samuel Pupo (BRA) in the Quarterfinals. Veteran competitor Owen Wright (AUS) 'I can’t believe I made the cut and I’m going to J-Bay!'missed the cut-off as a result and will focus his attention on the Challenger Series (CS) to requalify for the World Tour.
“It’s been really stressful coming into Margaret River. I thought I was going to have a better start to the year at these events. I really had to put my head down and work hard, I was struggling to get the results. Bells Beach was a shocker for me, so I tried to not think too much about it and take my mind off the results and focus on the process. Everything came together and I can’t believe I made the cut and I’m going to J-Bay!” said McGillivray. Joining McGillivray, two-time event winner Jordy Smith (ZAF) also made the cut and will be one of the favourites to win at Jeffreys Bay.
WILDCARD: Caroline Marks gets the wildcard for the rest of 2022. Photo WSL / Sloane
In the Women’s draw, Caroline Marks (USA) has been awarded the 2022 WSL season wildcard, which gives her entry into CT events following the Mid-season Cut and entry into the first half of the 2023 CT season. The men's 2022 WSL season wildcard was awarded to Gabriel Medina (BRA). Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA) have been awarded the 2023 WSL season wildcards, which give entry to all competitions in the first half of the 2023 CT season.
As the WSL season wildcard for the remaining CT competitions following the cut, Marks' points will be eligible for the WSL Final 5 rankings, where the Top 5 surfers on the men's and women's CT will compete in the Rip Curl WSL Finals to compete for the 2022 World Title. The same rules will apply to Medina's competition eligibility as the men's 2022 WSL season wildcard.
As the 2023 WSL season wildcards, Fitzgibbons and Dora will also be the first replacements for the remaining events in the 2022 CT season. Points earned by Fitzgibbons and Dora as the replacements for any CT events in 2022 will count as rankings' points.
Watch the Corona Open J-Bay LIVE on www.worldsurfleague.com from 12 - 21 July 2022.