World Surf League 2016: Women to watch, events, rankings and world title race guide
TOP guns of women’s world surfing. The latest news, events, rankings, calendar and how to follow. ULTIMATE Guide to the 2016 season.
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A PAIR of Americans earned the mantle of top guns in women’s surfing in 2015 but it’s something an assortment of fired-up Aussie surfers are determined to change in 2016.
In what is shaping as an epic season of surfing for the world’s best women surfers, six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore has returned to the fray after almost an entire year out with injury.
Hawaiian world champion Carissa Moore has aspirations to defend her world crown while last year’s runner up Courtney Conlogue is still stinging from her close defeat for the world No. 1 ranking.
AUSSIE SURFER: I consider myself burnt out at 18
Aussie duo Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright are also expected to step it up a notch in 2016 with a host of young stars more than capable of upsetting any of the big names on their day.
We look at who are the major rivals to Hawaiian Carissa Moore defending the world title this year, who are Australia’s emerging stars and who are the women most likely to battle for the 2016 world crown.
What: World Surf League which was formerly known as the ASP World Tour.
How it works: Surfers compete in 10 events across the season. Surfers accrue points at each event with eight results counting onwards their cumulative score which determines the world rankings and the world championship race.
Live coverage: Fox
TV coverage: Fox
THE LATEST NEWS
ROUND FOUR OI RIO PRO
Tyler Wright made it back-to-back titles by taking out the Rio Pro and in the process reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking.
Wright defeated compatriot Sally Fitzgibbons who fell one hurdle short of claiming her first title of the season for the second event in a row.
Wright’s main world title contender Courtney Conlogue exited in the semi-final in an agonising 14.10-14.00 loss to Sally Fitzgibbons which could prove crucial in the overall race for the yellow jersey.
In the men’s, American John John Florence produced a near perfect heat (18.97) to defeat Aussie rookie Jack Freestone and claim the Rio Pro crown.
World title leader Matt Wilkinson — who has won two events this year — was knocked out in the second round.
ROUND THREE DRUG AWARE MARGARET RIVER PRO
Tyler Wright was back to her brilliant best in the final event of the Australian leg of the world surfing tour.
Wright defeated American Courtney Conlogue in the final for the second time this season to claim the major honours.
WILSON READY TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
However Conlogue still holds the No. 1 ranking heading into the fourth round of the world tour in Rio in may.
Australian Julian Wilson made his first final but fell just short of claiming the men’s trophy.
This honour went to Hawaiian injury replacement Sebastian Zietz.
ROUND TWO RIP CURL PRO
Boy was it close. But in the end it was American Courtney Conlogue who got to ring the famous bell trophy for the first time.
Her narrow win over Sally Fitzgibbons came at the end of a day of upsets where both reigning world champion Carissa Moore and six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore failed to achieve their dream of winning historic fourth Bells trophies.
BELLS BEACH: Conlogue wins, Sally Fitz second
GOOFY WIN: Wilko surfs off with title
The event highlighted the determination of Fitzgibbons to win a maiden world title this year with the Aussie surfer laid low with a virus in the lead-up.
Conlogue’s result in Victoria secured her the world No. 1 mantle.
ROUND ONE: ROXY PRO
Tyler Wright said publicly she has her eye on the 2016 world crown of surfing and she showed she means business with her victory in the opening event of the year, the Roxy Pro
WRIGHT: A moment I will never forget
Wright took down two world champions in Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore en-route to her victory and the world No. 1 ranking.
THE FIELD
Australian surfers dominate the 2016 World Surf league start list with six qualifying for the world tour along with five from Hawaii, three from mainland US and one each from South Africa, Barbados, and France.
EPIC VIDEO: On wave, seven barrels.
TRANSFORMATION: Sally Fitzgibbons bid for glory
FANNING: I don't really want to be that famous
THE AUSSIES
The Australian surfers on the WSL are Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright, Nikki Van Dijk, Keely Andrew, Laura Enever and six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, awarded a wildcard after a 2015 season of injury discontent.
HOW TO BECOME A WORLD CHAMPION
Surfers are ranked according to their results during a season. The surfer with the top ranking at the season end is declared the world champion
RANKINGS
Entering 2016 and based on the results at the end of 2015 these are the rankings. The top 10 from last year automatically qualify for this year’s tour. The remainder are determined by accrued points from various events.
WORLD RANKINGS
Rankings at the end of 2015
1 Carissa Moore (HAW)
2 Courtney Conlogue (USA)
3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
4 Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
5 Tyler Wright (AUS)
6 Lakey Peterson (USA)
7 Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
8 Johanne Defay (FRA)
9 Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
10 Malia Manuel (HAW)
11 Sage Erickson (USA)
12 Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
13 Keely Andrew (AUS)
14 Alessa Quizon (HAW)
15 Coco Ho (HAW)
16 Laura Enever (AUS)
WSL Wildcard: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
VANISHING ACT: Mikey Wright disappears
COURAGE: Heartbroken Mick Fanning’s resilience
TOP GUN
Hawaiian Carissa Moore is the only woman who has been able to take a world title off Australian Stephanie Gilmore in recent times and now boasts three.
She went into the season with the world title and No. 1 ranking — along with top early season form.
Powerful and confident in the water, she will be a major contender for the world crown again.
I don’t feel old at all. I just feel like I am in a good place because I am happy with the way I feel
THE SIX TIME WORLD CHAMPION
She’s back. Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore returned to the water after a 2015 season to forget.
The Aussie star injured her leg in the third event of the season and it was a wipe-out from there.
But now she’s back and many are forecasting a seventh world tile is on the cards for the Snapper Rocks local who admits she is one of the most competitive people around.
“I feel really good and I feel confident in my surfing again,’’ said the 28-year-old Gilmore ahead of the World Tour opener.
“I don’t feel old at all. I just feel like I am in a good place because I am happy with the way I feel.’’
What I know is the board and the body feel good
THE AUSSIE FORCE
You can almost smell the determination of Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright this year.
Both have been multiple runners-up and both have this year clearly stated that enough is enough. The world title is their goal.
Fitzgibbons was the top ranked Aussie at the end of 2015 and says she has never been fitter, stronger or more confident ahead of a season.
“What I know is the board and the body feel good,” she said.
Wright, for the first time since exploding into the world scene as a precocious 14-year-old World Tour event winner, says she has put the world crown on her hit-list for 2016.
Both surfers have the talent to win the world title. And both have the grit and determination to knock even their most formidable to opponents off.
OTHER CONTENDERS
American Courtney Conlogue came so close to winning her first world crown last year it was almost painful to watch. But in the end Moore came through to snare her third. The experience of being so close will benefit Conlogue this season as she chases a maiden wold crown.
You have to lean to loose in surfing but it’s good to also learn how to win
DARK HORSES:
Phillip Island surfer Nikki Van Dijk is a former Rookie of the Year who at 21 has set herself he goal of a breakthrough win on the WSL this season.
In March she won the Australian Open of surfing by beating fellow ESL surfer Malia Manuel.
“You have to lean to loose in surfing but it’s good to also learn how to win,” she said.
South African Bianca Butendag showed flashes of pure brilliance in 2015 and much is expected of her this season.
She finished fourth overall on the world tour but was a major force to be reckoned with.
If she can string some results together — watch out.
YOUNG GUNS
Australian 21-year-old surfer Keely Andrew, who has deferred a university degree in sport psychology to pursue a dream, is determined to make a mark in her first year on the women’s world tour.
And few doubt she will with the youngster oozing a dangerous blend of style and enthusiasm.
2016 Samsung Galaxy Women’s Championship Tour
Roxy Pro Gold Coast — March 10-21, 2016
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach — March 24-April 5, 2016
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro — April 8-19, 2016
Rio Women’s Pro — May 10-21, 2016
Fiji Women’s Pro — May 29-June 3, 2016
Vans US Open of Surfing — July 25 — 31, 2016
Trestles Women’s Pro — September 7-18, 2016
Cascais Women’s Pro — September 24-Oct 2, 2016
Roxy Pro France — October 4-15, 2016
Maui Women’s Pro — November 22-December 6, 2016.
LIST OF WORLD SURFING CHAMPIONS
2015 Adriano de Souza (BRA) Carissa Moore (HAW).
2014 Gabriel Medina (BRA) Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2013 Mick Fanning Carissa Moore (HAW)
2012 Joel Parkinson (AUS) Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2011 Kelly Slater (USA) Carissa Moore (HAW)
2010 Kelly Slater (USA) Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2009 Mick Fanning (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2008 Kelly Slater (USA) Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2007 Mick Fanning (AUS) Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2006 Kelly Slater (USA) Layne Beachley (AUS)
2005 Kelly Slater (USA) Chelsea Georgeson (AUS).
2004 Andy Irons (HAW) Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
2003 Andy Irons (HAW) Layne Beachley (AUS)
2002 Andy Irons (HAW) Layne Beachley [5] (AUS)
2001 C. J. Hobgood (USA) Layne Beachley [4]
2000 Sunny Garcia (HAW) Layne Beachley [3] (AUS)
1999 Mark Occhilupo (AUS) Layne Beachley [2] (AUS)
1998 Kelly Slater [6] (USA) Layne Beachley (AUS)
1997 Kelly Slater [5] (USA Lisa Andersen[4] (USA)
1996 Kelly Slater [4] (USA) Lisa Andersen[3] (USA)
1995 Kelly Slater [3] (USA) Lisa Andersen [2] (USA)
1994 Kelly Slater [2] (USA) Lisa Andersen (USA)
1993 Derek Ho (HAW) Pauline Menczer (AUS)
1992 Kelly Slater (USA) Wendy Botha [4] (AUS)
1991 Damien Hardman [2] (AUS) Wendy Botha [3] (AUS)
1990 Tom Curren [3] (USA) Pam Burridge (AUS)
1989 Martin Potter (UK) Wendy Botha [2] (AUS)
1988 Barton Lynch (AUS) Freida Zamba [4] (USA)
1987/88 Damien Hardman (AUS) Wendy Botha (RSA
1986/87 Tom Curren [2] (USA) Freida Zamba [3] (USA)
1985/86 Tom Curren (USA) Freida Zamba [2] (USA)
1984/85 Tom Carroll[2] (AUS Freida Zamba (USA)
1983/84 Tom Carroll (AUS) Kim Mearig (USA)
IPS World Circuit
1982 Mark Richards [5] (AUS) Debbie Beacham (USA)
1981 Mark Richards [4] (AUS) Margo Oberg[3] (HAW)
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