2021 CS

belly's picture
belly started the topic in Friday, 8 Oct 2021 at 8:36pm

Thought I'd get something going.
Been following pretty closely.
4 events to qualify for the 22 CT's.
Aussie girls in general seem to be struggling.
A few coming through in the men, Liam O'Brien at the US open, and a heap in the mix at Ericeira.
Old Nat Young and Zeke Lau giving it a nudge across both events so far.
Right now bombing sets and fog hold.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Friday, 8 Oct 2021 at 8:36pm

.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Monday, 11 Oct 2021 at 8:14am

Any chance of SN doing a short forecast piece for the upcoming France event?

Haven't had a study of the rankings since the weekend, I think Macy is the only Aussie girl lurking near the top for re-qual, maybe Molly Picklum but maybe also a year or so off challenging for the top.
A few in the mix for the men though which is exciting, Jordan Lawler and Liam O'Brien in particular. Connor and Wade are way down the bottom and would need a lot to go right to re qualify.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 11 Oct 2021 at 8:32am

Ericeira was a great time to watch into the evening, besides that fog delay. Jackson Baker did incredible as well, very similar to Merewether/Bells I thought and if he didn't fall on those waves in the final I reckon we had the win!

Will have a scope of the forecast Belly.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Monday, 11 Oct 2021 at 8:51am

Great thanks Craig.

Yeah I crashed on Sat night, the break between the womens (quarters I think) and the start of the men semi's with that (rather slow) expression session killed me. But in total consumed a lot of the event due to the friendly time zones and obviously France will be similiar, looking forward to it!

Nat and Zeke look locks to be back on tour next year. Many years in between CT for Nat (some sort of record?) so will be interesting to see how he goes.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 11 Oct 2021 at 9:26am

Yeah I went to bed earlyish Saturday night and got up pre-dawn Sunday and watched the replay of the final. I nearly stayed up but that delay would have killed me if I had.

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Tuesday, 12 Oct 2021 at 7:41pm

Enjoyable contest, except for the overscoring of Zeke heat after heat.
With the rankings, it says they're including the best result from last years QS as well as the 4 comps this year? So Matt Banting is still rated 15th despite not surfing an event yet (injured). Callum Robson also doing well

Vic Local's picture
Vic Local's picture
Vic Local Tuesday, 12 Oct 2021 at 9:35pm

I really don't understand the reasons the WSL added the third tier.
It pretty much makes the QS a non-event, and just adds to the cost base of the WSL. This so looks like the failed Rugby Australia tier in between club rugby and super rugby. They were bleeding money to empty stadiums.
The QS is now a glorified club comp where the top performers take home a bit of cash. Very few people will give a fuck about the results unless a mate is surfing.
The WSL couldn't run a bath.

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Saturday, 16 Oct 2021 at 6:14pm

France has started, women in the water now. Knee high shorebreak

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Saturday, 16 Oct 2021 at 8:05pm

I gave it about 90 seconds. Tiny. Hopefully more swell on the way.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Saturday, 16 Oct 2021 at 9:24pm

Tough conditions when every round is elimination, even if you have 2/4 chance of progressing.

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 5:02am

Travis called it, fun 2 foot and we are on.

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 11:18am

It's meant to be even smaller for the next 2 days. Maybe waist high for an RC surfer (remember the little RC Tom Carroll toys)

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 1:33pm

The Jeremy Flores expression session....was beyond embarrassing as far as surfing goes.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 5:37pm

Hopefully some swell to come..
22 CT wildcards announced, Andino and Lakey for injuries and Owen and Malia for oh so close / long service. Balance will be from these events.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 7:28pm

Not sure why Owen got a wild card.

with the retirements he had qualified, hadn't he?

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 at 7:59pm

Just checked he missed out by 2 spots (finished 25th, 3 retirements)

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Monday, 18 Oct 2021 at 9:25am

I went looking for a written forecast on the desktop as the WSL phone app was not giving me much joy. The Forecast link on the WSL site directs you to the MSW automated model - sheesh.
SN's is here: https://www.swellnet.com/reports/france/aquitaine/hossegor/forecast
Surely 4 events to determine the 2022 CT placements would justify a written forecast from WSL's forecast 'partner'.

Anyway, looking like a tough event based on the automated models. Tiny again tonight, some sort of cleanish (cross shore?) swell Tues / Weds, a storm swell Thur / Fri and the weekend looks decent with offshore winds. Waiting period ends Sunday so it's looking like survival surfing for the key mid-event heats.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Tuesday, 19 Oct 2021 at 8:16pm

Double banking.

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 10:30am

This comp's actually been alright the last 2 days. Last night started onshore then cleaned right up, day before started flat but picked up quickly. Aussies doing a bit better too this time. Bit confusing with the double-banking though

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 10:36am

I watched an hour last night in the onshore.

Typical QS, one turn to a close-out reo.

slog, turned off.

At least there was plenty of action with the double bank.

Made me realise what I enjoy about pro surfing.

A: wave quality. In good waves, I'll watch just to see good waves being ridden.
B: Match-ups. Love to watch the elite go head to head. Would set an alarm or stay up to watch the best of the best.

Take those out of the equation and it does not hold my interest for long.

gragagan's picture
gragagan's picture
gragagan Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 10:41am

It did get better though, glassed off with the sun out. But yeah still an ordinary beach break when you think about it.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 12:52pm

Any update on the forecast? Running again tonight our time?

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 1:21pm

Won't run tonight, looks big and onshore, pumping as it eases over the coming days.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Thursday, 21 Oct 2021 at 2:03pm

Good stuff. Thanks Craig.

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Saturday, 23 Oct 2021 at 5:50pm

Waves looking ok in France. Settling in for a good few hours of competition.