Pro surfing finds it feet – tour overhaul on the horizon

Controversial final format dumped with Australia one of the big winners in major shake-up of World Surf Tour.

Big wave surfers such as Jack Robinson will have an advantage next season with the tour scheduled to finish at Pipeline Picture: Ed Sloane / World Surf League

Yes, yes, yes. The World Surf League is clearing its throat and preparing to announce three major changes to the tour. Every innovation is a winner.

Firstly, one-day shootouts for the world championships are to be scrapped.

The made-for-TV, all-or-nothing WSL Finals were worth a shot but the traditional year-long format is infinitely superior.

It’ll be back from next year on a 12-event schedule starting with an Australian triple-header at majestic Bells Beach, the fun park of Snapper Rocks and the deep-and-meaningful nook called Margaret River. Yes, yes, yes.

This year’s world No. 1s will still be decided by a one-day showdown at Fiji’s Cloudbreak … which just so happens to be the most beautiful wave on the planet.

Secondly, the title race will return to being decided at the Pipe Masters. Such a yes. It hasn’t felt right to start in Hawaii.

The Pipe Masters is the Pipe Masters, and every Pipe Masters is a good Pipe Masters, but it should always be what it has always been, the joint where world champions are crowned.

A past bummer has been runaway No.1s claiming the crown before the tour reaches Oahu’s North Shore.

From next year, Pipe will be worth 15,000 rankings points, compared to 10,000 everywhere else, virtually guaranteeing the race will still be alive and frothing in Hawaii in December.

“Pipeline has always held a special place in surfing history and our fans have made it clear they want to see our sport’s most critical moments unfold there,” WSL chief executive Ryan Crosby said.

“We’re thrilled to return the final event of the year … to this iconic playground.”

Thirdly, in a move overshadowed by the return of Pipe and year-long rankings battles, non-elimination heats shall be ditched. Nearly the biggest yes of all.

Surfing has always given first-round losers another chance, but in this world of cutthroat, sudden-death sport, which lives and breathes as entertainment because every contest matters, the first days at WSL events have always felt a bit soft. It hasn’t really mattered who wins and loses.

The reasoning has been understood.

Surfers are competing on the most unpredictable arena in the world, the ocean, where you might bob around like a cork and get no waves and lose your first heat before you’ve had a chance to let rip.

Now? Too bad. From next year, first-round losers will be swimming with the fishies, packing their bags and going home.

Yes, yes, yes.

“These changes represent a new era for the WSL,” Crosby said ahead of Saturday’s scheduled start to the Gold Coast Pro at Burleigh Heads.

“By bringing the finale back to the North Shore and strategically innovating the format, we’re celebrating surfing’s legacy and creating the ideal stage for the sport’s most unforgettable moments.”