CT Surfers Run Rampant At The Pipe Challenger

After a barrage of endless 9-point-rides yesterday, today’s meteorological offering was lackluster. 

Just four excellent waves ridden all day, and a whole lot of waiting around. Most heats were made with a 10-point total. With 75% of the Challenger Series hopping flights yesterday, the beach was notably quieter.

Standouts in the early rounds included Bettylou Sakura Johnson, Isabella Nichols, Gabriela Bryan, Molly Picklum, Erin Brooks, and Caity Simmers. 

So yeah, all CT surfers. 

The only non CT surfer to get an 8-point wave all day was Tya Zebrowski, who has already secured her spot on next years CT. Israeli national Anat Lelior was the only non-CTer in the final. 

Featuring Molly, Erin, Anat, and Gabriela, the final was held in certifiably windblown garbage. Courtesy of her precise power, Gabriela Bryan took home the trophy, and the CT absorbed the lions share of the Challenger points on offer. 

Rather than dive into a critical analysis of the groveling, lets talk rankings.

There was very little movement above the qualification cutline on the womens side today. In fact, none of the top five surfers shifted a spot. Alyssa Spencer, however, jumped from 11th to 6th — a leap which bodes very well for her return to the CT.

Three of the women in the top seven have spent a season on the CT before — Nadia, Sally, and Alyssa. Five of the top seven are from Europe, which is remarkable when you consider the fact that there is not a single European surfer currently on the CT. 

Annette Gonzalez Extabarri is the name you probably recognize the least of the bunch.

Alyssa, Francisca Veselko, and Tya Zebrowski all made the semifinals today. 

Just 600 points below the cutline sits 19-year old Brazilian Laura Raupp, and just below her sits todays finalist and biggest points benefactor Anat Lelior. 

Last year, the seventh place woman on the CS finished with an average of 3,435 points per event. With seven events this year, that should translate to around 24,045 points — meaning everyone below Francisca should be on edge headed into Newcastle.

Realistically, anyone as low as Ewe Wong (who jumped from 19th to 15th today) could still make tour with an event win.