WSL Cancels Tahiti Pro Following State Of Emergency In French Polynesia

(Thursday, August 12, 2021) The World Surf League today announces the cancellation of the Tahiti Pro, following the French Government's declared state of emergency for French Polynesia due to COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moving French Polynesia into a Level 4 zone and advising people not to travel.

Navigating the Championship Tour through a global pandemic has been an extraordinary challenge for the WSL and our primary concern has always been the health and safety of our Surfers, staff, and local communities.

The WSL will not be replacing the Tahiti event on short notice, given the global health and safety conditions at the moment. The Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver will be the last regular-season event of the 2021 WSL Championship Tour season, determining the WSL Final 5 who will qualify for the World Title-deciding Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles next month.

Surfers were notified last night that there was an increasing possibility of this cancellation following the High Commissioner and President's press conference where the new protocols were announced, including the suspension of all sporting events in Tahiti. Prior to competition starting today, surfers were informed that the event has been cancelled.

The WSL will continue to work with our athletes and partners on safely completing the remainder of the Championship Tour and Challenger Series seasons and we will adapt as needed moving forward.

The WSL appreciates the ongoing support of our surfers, staff, partners, fans and the communities we visit around the world.

Comments

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:21am

Current case numbers and deaths are higher than the initial wave, and increasing exponentially.


bren's picture
bren's picture
bren Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:32am

Am I right Gabby would have won the tour the moment that this was announced if WSL was playing by its old rules?

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:16am

I think so.

stunet's picture
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stunet Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:31am

Yeah, except for the Finals at Trestles they could've had another 2001 moment.

10K for a first place finish, yet Gabs is 13K adjusted points ahead of second place Filipe - who's already been knocked out of Mexico.

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:40am

The WSL would fairly argue this already proves the value of having a finals event.

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 8:39am

yes and no.

If Gabe loses at 3ft Trestles despite such a dominant year then it makes a mockery of the "it takes a tour to make a title".

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 8:46am

Even if it’s pumping hall-of-fame trestles, any result other than a Gabby win is illegitimate.

bren's picture
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bren Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:13am

Wouldn’t want a one set in a heat type situation… which is exactly trestles. The whole thing just seems woefully bad so Dirk can have his moment

david de Figueiredo's picture
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david de Figueiredo Sunday, 15 Aug 2021 at 6:53am

I agree, and could be 12,000 points in front of second place on the day. He got there being consistent all season and on the day of finals, lose to someone below him! I don't understand, sorry

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:59am

I was just saying the WSL could fairly argue, not necessarily rightly argue.
Most comps have a finals series. Fairness is thrown out the window. In the NRL and AFL, sides now play some teams once and some teams twice. That’s not about fairness.

If sports wanted fairness they would all be like the EPL, every team plays every other team home and away and whoever is on top at the end wins, no finals.

With the WSL, the real test will be if the Trestles event drives higher viewer or media interest. They can always change the structure again if it doesn’t work.

freeride76's picture
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freeride76 Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 10:46am

not sure the team sport comparison is valid.

but I take your point.

Island Bay's picture
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Island Bay Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:47am

Case numbers have been dropping last three days. Deaths went 0, 9, 10, 5.

Not quite increasing exponentially, but certainly a significant spike. I'd wait a few weeks to make the 'Exponential' call.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:53am

Fair point. I was looking at the 7 day average for case numbers, which shows an impressive J curve. But, the daily stats are a little diff, and equally important (and deaths are much smaller, and thus more difficult to infer a scale from, due to the inherent noise).

radiationrules's picture
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radiationrules Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 10:02am

Hey Ben,

Fair point agreed - but good on you for putting up real data in a visual way. As visual stories are compelling and easier for most people to digest.
I was talking with a friend in the UK last weekend, the way they analyse their CV19 stats, given that they now have 80% vaccination rates, is by comparing Transmission Rates to Deaths Per Million Rates. The two biggest Transmission Rate spikes in the UK have been August 2020 and then almost a year later in August 2021. The 1st spike was attributed to young people going out over their summer, after being locked down for 6 months. The 2021 spike is because the government opened up the economy, as the 80% vaccination rate allowed them to do so. The quantum of the Transmission Rate spikes, year-on-year are virtually identical. If there's a variation to see, the 2021 Transmission Rate spike is worse than the 2020 one - "exponential" I'd call it. The exciting part is the Deaths Per Million Rate in 2021 is a virtual "non-spike" vs. the 2020 Deaths Per Million Rate - as the 80% vaccination rate acheived over 2020-2021 has meant people don't die at the same rate.
The UK is leading Western Europe in this Vaccinate ~ Recovery rate solution. I'd suggest it's strategically where Australia (and Tahiti) need to be too.

Good on you Ben for starting a sensible, visual dialogue on the efficacy of CV19 solutions on Swellnet, based on real data.

RR

Troppo's picture
Troppo's picture
Troppo Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 11:55am

That's good, positive info RR, thanks for sharing mate.
Hopefully if vaccines mean people can still transmit, but not die or require hospitalisation, then we are moving in the right direction.
Covid could be "just another illness", not the killer that it currently is. And we could get on with living again!!

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 11:57am

Just to clarify, I wasn't being all contrarian. These daily data are indeed noisy and often get adjusted a few days later (I remember that from following Sweden in the early days of Covid), that's why I suggested giving it a little time.

Something is happening, that's for sure!

goofyfoot's picture
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goofyfoot Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:51am

You’d just cancel the season and call this year a write off wouldn’t you?
It’s hardly a legitimate season with everything that’s happened.

Island Bay's picture
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Island Bay Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 6:55am

Felt like a bit of momentum was building through the Aussie leg. But yeah, you're right.

Gra Murdoch's picture
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Gra Murdoch Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:27am

Garn, run a second comp at Barra ya caaarrnts

lostdoggy's picture
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lostdoggy Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:37am

Puerto would maybe be more of a Tahiti replacement though.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:24am

Now we’re talkin

wally's picture
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wally Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:30am

I reckon some of the women will be breathing a big sigh of relief. Possibly some of the blokes too.

shoredump's picture
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shoredump Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 7:45am

JR right on the bubble

evosurfer's picture
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evosurfer Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 8:04am

Thats really disappointing was really looking forward to that event. You have to give WSL some massive credit for trying extremely hard to give the world some type of world contest for the surfing world to enjoy. Maybe WSL should make Trestles a full contest give everyone a chance.
Im still trying to deal with the blatant obvious ripoff of Wade Carmichael who clearly won his heat against Italo no wonder the Brazilians are unbeatable even when they are outsurfed they still win.
The Chinese really have a lot to answer to and its about time the nations of the world unit and take action to make the rats accountable.

Sprout's picture
Sprout's picture
Sprout Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:09am

Errr, thanks dad.

Big old asterisk next to this years "champion".

ryder's picture
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ryder Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:08am

So let me get this right.

If Gab trips over and breaks his toe as he walks down to Trestles and has to withdraw from the event, he will finish 5th for the year even though he is killing it on the ratings?

What other sport in the world treats their athletes with such disdain like this?

This is the most fucked way to crown a World Champion.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:11am

Man, don't get me started on Quidditch.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:19am

Yes. Thank you for that. Funny chunt!

cluetystu's picture
cluetystu's picture
cluetystu Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 10:22am

I don't think he can finish any worse than second given he'll go straight through to the title best of 3 heat decider.
Still doesn't legitimize the championship for me though...

memlasurf's picture
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memlasurf Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 1:02pm

AFL has this set up as opposed to soccer. The finals are a whole new season and no one has come from 8th to win a granny.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:20am

You reckon prior knowledge of this influenced Jeremy Flores’ retirement timing?

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:23am

I really can't see anyone coming from 5th or 4th and taking out the the last event. They will be physically cooked if they made the "final" then have to surf a best of three against a fresh and focussed Gab. Number 2 could cause a upset but my gut is Gab will win it in two.

ryder's picture
ryder's picture
ryder Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:30am

Yeah, but if hypothetically Gab is injured and can't surf, this format makes a mockery of a World Tour.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 4:28pm

Which is why i suspect he wasn't going to Chopes anyway - eg why risk injury.

willywonty's picture
willywonty's picture
willywonty Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 9:35am

Go Morgs!

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 10:40am

Well that decision probably just guaranteed Chopes will get the swell of the year right in the middle of what would have been the waiting period.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 10:47am

it's been pumping

Jono's picture
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Jono Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 11:49am
evosurfer's picture
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evosurfer Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 12:10pm

Chopes is pumping right now.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 5:58pm
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 4:42pm

Maybe do a second comp in Mexico but make everyone surf switchfoot to even it up for the goofies

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 5:21pm

Or just have it at Puerto or Pasquales

Roker's picture
Roker's picture
Roker Friday, 13 Aug 2021 at 5:47pm

Tough break for the Chopes specialists like Owen Wright - especially coming off Mexico where the goofys were at a disadvantage. Is he gonski for next year now? Would be a shame.

bluediamond's picture
bluediamond's picture
bluediamond Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 12:18pm

If you haven't seen Kauli Vaasts wave/wipeout at Chopes from today or yesterday, go check it out. Nuts!!

goofyfoot's picture
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goofyfoot Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 12:30pm

There’s some crazy shit going down there atm.
Kauli’s wave was terrifying!
I don’t get how they walk away from wipeouts like his, Fletchers, Rothmans etc
Bigger it gets the deeper it gets? Must help

bluediamond's picture
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bluediamond Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 12:56pm

Was thinking the same GF. How does someone survive that. And imagine the throughts going through his head as he's getting sucked over. Way too much time to think about what might be about to happen. Crazy! I think you're right. More water must help. To a degree!

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 1:13pm

Yeah it’s nuts.
I’m sure luck must play a part as to where you end up when you come off.
Kinda rolled around mid-water level, spat out the back or pile driven straight to the reef?

bluediamond's picture
bluediamond's picture
bluediamond Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 1:20pm

haha. I think so far luck has been it.. no one has hit the reef full force at that size. Can imagine it would change the way they approached it if someone had.

bluediamond's picture
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bluediamond Saturday, 14 Aug 2021 at 12:57pm

Not the exact place you want to find yourself in on Friday the 13th!

Sprout's picture
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Sprout Sunday, 15 Aug 2021 at 2:21pm



bluediamond's picture
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bluediamond Sunday, 15 Aug 2021 at 8:50pm

Insane!!!

Spuddups's picture
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Spuddups Sunday, 15 Aug 2021 at 3:52pm

They say that Pipe is the wave that all other barreling surf spots are compared to. I reckon this concept needs a rethink. Teahupoo makes Pipe look like kiddies corner.

Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams Monday, 16 Aug 2021 at 9:47am

That is a void 2nd shot

Jono's picture
Jono's picture
Jono Monday, 16 Aug 2021 at 10:02am

Here's a unique angle of Matahi's bomb

Roker's picture
Roker's picture
Roker Wednesday, 18 Aug 2021 at 3:02pm

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