Mexican Wave

MEXICAN WAVE: The right hand sandbar is a super fun ramp for tricks. Photo WSL / Heff

The seventh stop of the WSL Championship Tour kicked off at Barra de la Cruz at Oaxaca yesterday with the men’s and women’s seeding round 1. Former WSL Champions Ferreira, Slater, and Medina, who has already booked a spot in the final 5, advanced to the Round of 32. In the women's Olympians Defay, Weston-Webb, and Fitzgibbons are in a fight for a spot in the WSL Final 5.

Out of the five women sitting at the top of the WSL Leaderboard, three can clinch a spot at the WSL Final 5 while in Mexico. Current World #3, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) took the first heat win. If she wins this event, she will lock in her place at the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Johanne Defay (FRA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), finished their heats in second place and advanced straight to the Round of 16.

Both surfers will clinch a spot in the WSL Final 5 if they make it to the finals in Mexico. Four-time WSL Champion and Olympic gold medalist, Carissa Moore (HAW) has already clinched her spot and is surfing in Mexico with the hopes of keeping her #1 position in the rankings in order to get the best seeding position for the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

For South Africa, Jordy Smith is still injured, while Matthew McGillivray narrowly lost to Adrian Buchan (AUS) and Conner Coffin, and must surf Round 2 to continue in the event. A mere 0,49 of a point separted the three scores of 11.83, 11.77 and 11.34.

TRADEMARK HACK: Matthew McGillivray must survive a Round 2 elimination heat. Photo WSL / Heff

The day started with Olympians Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Kolohe Andino (USA) taking on 11-time WSL Champion, Kelly Slater (USA). Coming back on the CT after recovering from an injury and focusing on the Olympics, Andino took the win after changing the number on his jersey to 24 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. Slater finished second in the first heat of the day and also advanced straight to the Andino took the win after changing the number on his jersey to 24 in honor of the late Kobe BryantRound of 32. Currently #6 on the WSL Leaderboard, Igarashi finished in third place and will battle trials winner Diego Cadena (MEX) and Peterson Crisanto (BRA) on Heat 1 of the Elimination Round.

The fight for a spot on the WSL Final 5 is in full swing at the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. The defending World Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Italo Ferreira (BRA) along with fellow Brazilian and two-time WSL Champion, Gabriel Medina, both finished their Seeding Round matchups in second place, advancing to the Round of 32. While Medina has already secured a spot on the WSL Final 5, Ferreira, who is currently #2 in the rankings, has yet to secure a place at the Finals.

For Ferreira to clinch a WSL Final 5 spot in Mexico, he needs to make it to the final heat of the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. Number 3 in the world Filipe Toledo (BRA) won his heat over Jeremy Flores (FRA) and wildcard Jhony Corzo (MEX), and needs to finish at least third in this event to clinch his spot in the Finals. Rookie of the year and currently #4 on the WSL Leaderboard, Morgan Cibilic (AUS) started strong by winning Heat 3 against Deivid Silva (BRA) and Olympian wildcard Rio Waida (IDN) and advancing straight through the Round of 32. He has only two events left to earn enough points and secure his place in the Rip Curl WSL Finals, in September.

BULLET TRAIN: The ballie is still at it but was also relegated to Round 2. Photo WSL / Diz

During the first day of competition, and after winning Heat 8 of the Seeding Round surfing against his brother Owen Wright (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA), Mikey Wright (AUS) announced he will be taking a break from the Championship Tour after the event in Mexico.

“This is going to be my last event on the Championship Tour,” said Wright. “I'm going back to free surfing, chasing swells, and making videos. I qualified for the CT very quickly and didn’t even have time to really think if I want to be here. So I’m really excited for the next few months, I’ll show people what I can do and have fun.”

Watch LIVE on www.WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL App

The event window for the Corona Open Mexico pres. by Quiksilver opens August 10 and holds a competition window through August 19. The Corona Open Mexico pres. by Quiksilver is proudly supported by our partners Corona, Quiksilver, Jeep, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Expedia, and DraftKings.

UP CLOSE: Bronte Macaulay hammers one off the top to advance to the last 16. Photo WSL / Heff

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Seeding Round 1
HEAT 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.60 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 11.00, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.77
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.00 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 11.73, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.43
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.00 DEF. Rio Waida (IDN) 9.70, Deivid Silva (BRA) 8.27
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.46 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.33, Jhony Corzo (MEX) 6.87
HEAT 5: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 14.13 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.93, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 13.03
HEAT 6: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.13, Diego Cadena (MEX) 7.90
HEAT 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.77, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 11.34
HEAT 8: Mikey Wright (AUS) 12.73 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 11.80, Yago Dora (BRA) 10.76
HEAT 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.77 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 12.77, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 8.87
HEAT 10: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.17 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.13, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 9.50
HEAT 11: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.16 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 12.40, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.06
HEAT 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.43 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.37, Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.46

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Seeding Round 1
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.27 DEF. Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.90, Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.96
HEAT 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.93 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.00, Shelby Detmers (MEX) 7.43
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.96 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 12.60, Regina Pioli (MEX) 5.07
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.24 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.24, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.30
HEAT 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.07 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 12.60, Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.94
HEAT 6: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.03 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.97, Sage Erickson (USA) 11.53

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) vs. Diego Cadena (MEX)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Jhony Corzo (MEX)
HEAT 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
HEAT 4: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Regina Pioli (MEX)
HEAT 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Shelby Detmers (MEX)

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