WSL Announces All 7 Wildcards/Injury Replacements For Sunset Beach

With the perilously forecasted Billabong Pro Pipeline behind us, we look now slightly up the beach — towards the first right-hander of many on the 2023 CT.

Sunset Beach.

Kelly Slater’s kryptonite, touted by many as one of the worlds most absurdly difficult waves to surf well. It’s warbly, unforgiving, and generally large.

With Ramzi Boukhiam, Jadson Andre, Johanne Defay, and Sophie McCulloch still out due to injury, the WSL has announced their replacements, plus two men’s and one women’s wildcard.

For the men’s IR, season-long injury replacement Carlos Muñoz will replace Ramzi, while Eli Hanneman will replace Jadson — by virtue of being the highest ranked Hawaiian regional QS surfer.

For the women, season-long injury replacement Teresa Bonvalot fills Johanne’s spot, and Luana Silva fills Sophie’s.

As for wildcards, the WSL invited Zoe McDougall and Keanu Asing — respectively the highest and second highest ranked Hawaiian Challenger Series surfers.

Finally, the biggest name of the bunch, Kai Lenny was invited presumably because he’s Kai Lenny. The multi-talented madman received a wildcard to last year’s Sunset event, but withdrew due to injury. Undoubtedly, this is a clout grab from the WSL, in hopes of garnering a degree of exposure from Kai’s 1.1 mil insta followers — many of which are likely outside of the WSL’s usual reach.

It’s a fair play, especially considering Kai can actually shortboard (though we rarely get to see it).

Oh and Kai is one of the few professional surfers who still rocks a Hurley sticker.

Is there a rule against 14 foot SUPs in a CT event?

Full Sunset preview soon come.