Who Made The Cut, Who Got Sliced
Much maligned, this is the last year we'll see the mid-season cut in its current form.
From next year, surfers below the cut-line will be shunted off tour for two events then back on for the last event, the Pipe Masters.
Will that new format be a success...? We'll wait and see.
Despite the cut, all the women, bar one, will return next year as the women's field expands to 24 surfers per event (a top 14 plus 10 from the Challenger Series). Which means the 4 surfers that are cut: Sawyer Lindblad, Vahine Fierro, Bella Kenworthy, Brisa Hennessy, effectively get an extended holiday. They miss the end of this year's tour, but rejoin the expanded tour next year.
Kapiche..?
At left, women surfers who survived the cut; centre, surfers who missed the cut but will return next year; and at right, the surfers relegated to the CS
On the men's side, it's hard not to feel sympathy for Ramzi Boukhiam who, after ten years of trying, made the CT in 2023 only to get injured before the first event. He missed the 2024 injury wildcard (it went to Miguel Pupo instead) but was fortunate to both get the replacement wildcard and have enough starts through 2024 to make the 2025 season.
Ramzi (WSL/Heff)
As we know, Ramzi was recently injured at Bells Beach yet three-time World Champ Gabriel Medina, who tore his pectoral muscle before the season began, will receive next year's injury wildcard. It hasn't been announced but Ramzi is a strong contender to get the replacement wildcard. All he has to do then is poke the voodoo dolls.
At left, surfers who made the cut; and at right, those relegated to the CS.
Comments
Still not a fan of the Mid year cut.
Its should be an end of year thing, but maybe reduce the Total Number of Surfers eligible for CT.
Not sure about increasing the women's numbers as the men's numbers already need to be reduced.
A lot of guys there who have zero chance of being a title contender. Cull the field and make each heat more exciting with better quality surfers. Most elimination rounds are very boring, unless a high seed finds themselves there!
So, the best surfers are made to surf the worst two events while the also-rans have a rest before Pipe?
I'm gonna miss the cut.
Whats annoying about the cut is that the events preceding it (with the exception of Pipe) have been run in pretty bad waves, then after the cut you have Jbay, chopes and cloudbreak which are all premier venues for sorting who the best surfers are on tour.
And looking at who's been cut, a bunch of those guys would excel in those venues rather than crappy 2ft onshore beachies
I think they have had plenty of chances,
low energy ,injuries aside ,everyone on tour should be there to be gunning for a world title, otherwise what's the point of being there alejo made the cut .......there's plenty of far more talented surfers below the cut line .... not sure what happened ,
maybe...... just maybe alejo wanted it more ? congrats to those above and Alejo !
Jack Robbo not in the list?
Where is Leonardo Fioravanti?
Certainly well inside The Cut parameters -