I don't think I've ever been more keen for Mick to win the world tittle with those brazzos nipping on his heals, luckily for him if its a split design at some time the judges will give him the nod as will be a big win for the WSL if he wins a world tittle after the J-bay shark thing and the associated positive media that will go with it.

I always get a little confused with these title race scenarios - surely there are other permutations? 

Take the second one for example.. If Mick finished 9th, Medina won, De Souza came 5th and Toledo 9th, who would win the world title? Toledo? OK, but how about if Toledo came 13th? Would Medina or de Souza win?

Or maybe I'm unnecessarily confusing myself.

as a wise man once said, "if" is the biggest word in the dictionary....

at time of jeffreys bay shark thing I said I hope the 1000 points both mick and Julian were "denied" might come back at them. Surely each should have been given 9000 points not 8000!

Owen. It might be a long shot, but with no pressure on him, and if it's really big Pipe...

Go Mick and go Owen! As Long as a Australian wins it That's what we all want. Mick is the deserving after the shark incident. that would have thrown anyone off track, but No Mick has come through in flying colours. If Owen manages to win it. Won't there be celebrations between Culburra and Cudmirrah where he surfs when he gets the chance.

Anyone know why there is only CT (or whatever they're called these days) event in Hawaii (re: Toledo and < 6' comment).....surely the best in the world should surf at least two events in Hawaii? Its not like they're overly busy for the next month....

Yep, Sunset needs a contest. Preferably BIG sunset. We want to see plenty of man -turns.

The Vans Triple Crown is surfed by majority of the CT dudes.

Yes the less than 6' Toledo is interesting. Looking back on Andy Irons as a world champ with the recent footage floating around, Toledo is miles off. The world champ needs to be someone who can charge big, heavy waves and win, not a trickster small wave demon. Would not have much cred amongst the surfing fraternity if he only wins in junky beachies.

Toledo's got a huge ? on him when it comes to waves of consequence and winning Portugal gave him an unfair advantage IMO, and the waves were shite.
How good was Jack Robinson's surfing at Sunset! Only 17, one to watch.
Hopefully its a decent size at Pipe and may the best man win.

Faark under-estimate Filipe at your peril. Got to quarters last year, and was taken down by a pipe specialist in 2013 who took down Kieran Pierow the defending champ. ADS spent all last winter focusing on pipe and has improved there with finals in Dahui Shootout. He also misses out on getting seeded against the trials winner so he's looking pretty...yellow doesn't suit him.

Stu if you take the two current worst results ie Filipe 2 x 25ths and Fannings 2 x 13ths I have Toledo ahead 49200 to 48150 that's a lead of 1050. Even though Micks in yellow he has no advantage over Filipe.

Here's my predictions
Toledo 9th
Fanning 5th
ADS 5th
Medina 2nd
John John 1st

Fanning wins title by 150 points over Toledo and 1750 over Medina. I'm off ADS he will choke.

Wonder if you can get a multi on that....probably Kelly will come along and rain on everyones parade.

Fair enough Mick however beyond comp, Andy, Slater, Mick, Joel, etc. are seriously great surfers. Medina isn't there yet (needs to win on some long winding difficult to cope with walls) however he did win in big lefts last year. From what I can see of Toledo (and his posted vids) he just can't charge and really draw man turns into big unruly waves , which the others mentioned above can and I would even include Adriano in that. The guy has worked his arse off and looks the goods in solid surf, though left handers aren't his strong suit. Despite the flak Dane attracts he is one who really can and hence gets a stack of cred. However, as you said, if he can slot a few at classic, clean Pipe look out. I like your predictions except for Medina who I think might get taken out by a specialist earlier than the finals.

Memla he won't draw a pipe specialist that will be Fanning and De Souza in round 1 as there are only 2 trials winners. The only way he can draw them is if he loses round 1 and Medina is the highest ranked surfer in round 2 and will take on the lowest rank. Obviously depends who it is too eg Dane if he gets a wildcard would rate higher than Jamie O'Brien (based on WSL rankings)

I want to see an Aussie win, not out of some national pride, it's just that I can't get hooked on the surfing of the brazzos.

Medina can find a barrel and get out as well as anyone, but has a stance that veers towards poo-man and has a style that I just find ugly. Have it in the back of my mind that he hasn't always charged the biggest waves at pipe and teahupo, but has selected well. I don't want to see that winning the title, I want to see a charger.

Others have covered Felipe's shortcomings, which I tend to agree with, and Adriano I probably like the best of the 3 but don't like him much.

Want to see Owen win, I think his surfing in powerful barrelling waves has set the benchmark, and a perfect score in big cloudbreak final is the best surfing that has happened this year.

Mick won't hold back, nor will Julian, who cemented his reputation with some gnarly work in last year's pipe, he's not just an aerial showman. One of them would have been further up the ranks if not for a certain SA shark, so deserve a little luck in this one.

Why isn't Italo in with a chance if he's above Julian on the leader's board?