QS rankings after Portugal

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Form Guide

The third last 10,000 of the QS season, the Billabong Pro Ericeira, was completed over the weekend. In the final, Sam Pupo, younger brother of ex-CTer Miguel Pupo bested Stu Kennedy - another ex-CTer.

With just two 10,000 contests to go, both of them in Hawaii, a number of patterns are starting to emerge amongst this year’s CT qualifiers, as are the requisite points for all the CT aspirants.

After Ericeira, 6 of the top 10 QS surfers are from Brazil, including the top 4 places.

In contrast, Australia has just one surfer in the top 10, that being Connor O’Leary who made the Quarter Finals and jumped 5 places, as does the US with Jake Marshall. Portugal (Frederico Morais) and France (Jorgann Couzinet) make up the rest.

Without a good result at Ericeira (came 25th, knocked out in a Rd 3 heat containing 4 Aussies), Matt Banting’s mid-level consistency saw him slip five places down the rankings and outside the top 10.

Banting more than anyone requires a great result in Hawaii, as he’s already counting five solid mid-level results. For instance, a Rd 5 finish in Hawaii would see him place 9th and win 3,700 points - however he’d be throwing out his fifth result, 2,200, and only accrue 1,500. That would take him to 18,250 points putting him right on the edge of requalifying.

A Quarter Final finish (5,200 points) or better will assure him of 2020 qualification. Either results - Rd 5 or Quarters - would be Banting’s highest ever Hawaiian finish. To date his best is a 17th place, or Rd 4 - that was at the Vans World Cup in 2014.

Above Banting in 8th place is ex-CTer Connor O’Leary who jumped 5 places with his 5th place finish in Ericeira. O’Leary requires at least a Rd 5 finish to cement his place next year.

With a Rd 2 exit (73rd place, 550 points), Jack Robinson slid another five places down the ladder. In the last week he’s fallen seven places. Jack’s proven himself at Hawaii, he’s won both the Sunset Pro and Volcom Pipe Pro, however both those comps are early season events. Can he do the same when it’s qualification on the line?

Other Australians in striking distance are Liam O’Brien who leapt almost 50 places with his second place at the US Open and has backed it up with a 17th at Galicia, Stu Kennedy who jumped 35 places, up to 15th, with his 2nd place at Ericeira, and Angourie’s Morgan Cibilic who’s caught fire in the second half of the QS season and sits in 16th.

Also over the weekend Mitch Parkinson won the Sri Lanka Pro at Arugam Bay beating Oney Anwar. Parkinson scored 19.17, including a Perfect 10, in the final. He climbed 208 places, now sitting at 104th making him ineligible for the Hawaiian events.

Comments

northeasterly's picture
northeasterly's picture
northeasterly Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 10:20am

Don't know why I care but I'm hoping Matt Banting gets on tour next year. His surfing seems like top 10 WCT level.

shoogsyboy's picture
shoogsyboy's picture
shoogsyboy Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 3:59pm

Why doesn't Jacob Wilcox, the semi finalist , get any mention in this blurb?? He climbed a lot of places too and got robbed on points by the judging.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 4:39pm

that doesn't seem right that Mitch Parko won a QS and can't surf in Hawaii.

eel's picture
eel's picture
eel Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 5:07pm

There are about 57 QS events this year. The Sri Lanka comp was only a 3000. There has to be a cutoff somewhere. If you aren't ranked in the top 100 you don't deserve to get a shot in hawaii

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Thursday, 3 Oct 2019 at 1:27pm

Really?
You want to tell that to the local surfers who can not afford to travel else where for the other contests, that they are not allowed to surf the ones in their own backyard ?
Really its the format that was designed to support sponsored riders that is the problem.
What about when former ct tour contest winners cannot even enter qs contest?
Sounds fair right, not really.

Bring back the trials events!

kekak's picture
kekak's picture
kekak Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 5:02pm

Stu, you forgot that Hawaiian events are all 4 man heats, therefore, from a few quick calcs, most or all Aussie surfers from Liam O’Brien #13 to Jacob Willcox #23 and Tancred #24 need to make both semis (=5th and =7th) to requal. Reaching the quarters (=9th) only guarantees max 3800 pts, which should/might be ok for Banting. But there will quite a few Hawaiians’ wanting to upset the apple
The cutoff is down to #12 on the QS should Silva and Dora double qualify. Another exciting close to another year.

wbat's picture
wbat's picture
wbat Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 5:25pm

That's true but there are six Aussies sitting in 10th to 20th. So well placed to strike.

QS is really interesting almost more so than the CT.

I could see the day when Margaret River becomes a QS or challenger series event.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Monday, 30 Sep 2019 at 8:47pm

So Sri Lanka Pro (Day 5) Sweet sandy point!...Enjoy...
Final (MP pair) YouTube counter [3:29:20] + [3:31:55]

Meccabowl Industries's picture
Meccabowl Industries's picture
Meccabowl Industries Wednesday, 2 Oct 2019 at 10:49pm

Top 30 qs:
10 aussies
7 brazos
5 French
4 yanks

Aussies are starting to build

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Thursday, 3 Oct 2019 at 6:44am

Like it, long game, by the mid-late 20s we may well be dominating again.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Thursday, 3 Oct 2019 at 6:22am

The top ten is more revealing. The Brazzos are dominating. I wonder if there's another country somewhere which will eventually provide us with the next wave of surfers climbing the ranks. Mexico perhaps? Maybe Senegal? It'd be good to see.

Here's a thought though: Imagine if the Chinese really got into surfing. Something to think about while you're chewing on your Nutragrain.

Kevchecksurf's picture
Kevchecksurf's picture
Kevchecksurf Thursday, 3 Oct 2019 at 6:36am

Is there good surf in China?

Also, if a surfer is struggling to make the top 12 in the QS then what are the chances of them making a significant impact on the CT?

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Thursday, 3 Oct 2019 at 1:37pm

It really depends on their strategy, talent, tenacity, motivation, wealth, peer group, confidence .

Also helps if look at every other surfer on tour as a loser.

Cause if your on the ct , your there to win world fucking titles.

I don't think a lot of surfers think that way though, to much coaching, head noise and worrying about what the other people are doing.....

Realisticly what do you think gabby sees when he looks at his opponents?
I'll tell you what , fucking losers!

hamishbro's picture
hamishbro's picture
hamishbro Friday, 4 Oct 2019 at 5:48am

The Brazilian Storm... now a bona fide Hurricane. Local evidence for this - the number of blow in Brazzavilles at your local point break. Snapper every day of the week. Oh well, Aussies have been there done that.