Steph Gilmore To Complete WSL COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

The WSL announced today that Stephanie Gilmore has entered the league’s COVID protocols ahead of the 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline. This means most likely she has tested positive on a RAT or PCR test and will need to isolate. Based on the league’s protocols and Hawaiian public health measures, Steph is expected to be cleared for competition by Monday, January 31, 2022. 

UPDATE (7 pm PST): a source close to Gilmore has said that the 7x World Champ is pulling out of the event.

WSL COVID policy guidelines stipulate all surfers must:

• Complete COVID-19 testing prior to arrival in the US and Hawaii.
• Vaccinated and non-vaccinated event attendees must present a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR -72hrs, or Antigen -48hrs) to check in to the event, or recovery documentation, or return a negative Antigen test result to check in to the event.
• Masks and physical distancing are strictly enforced.
• Minimal personnel at the event site.

Two things:

1.) There could be a thinner than normal crowd attending the Banzai event given the lingering spicy cough, making the heavy sound of Banzai lips smacking the reef all the more stark. Cool.

2.) Hopefully our surfers have been fist-bumping and not high-fiving, given fist bumps spread 1/20th of the amount of microbes a high-five does. Ergo, vastly superior.

Pound it, sista.