5 More People Just Qualified For The 2022 CT - Stab Mag
104 Views
Say hello to Peru's first male CTer. Photo: WSL

5 More People Just Qualified For The 2022 CT

The Haleiwa Challenger sees 8/12 spots sealed for next season.

news // Dec 5, 2021
Words by Ethan Davis
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Ezekiel Lau, Connor O’Leary, Jake Marshall, Imaikalani Devault, Callum Robson, Liam O’Brien, Nat Young, and Lucca Mesinas will be on the CT next year. 

Four spots remain: Samuel Pupo, Joao Chianca, Jackson Baker, and Carlos Munoz currently hold onto them. Depending on the performances of Jacob Willcox, Billy Stairmand, and Ian Gentil — who are still in the draw but will need big results to move into the top 12 — they too will be joining the big leagues next year. 

But quickly, let’s give some kudos to our new qualifiers. 

Nat Young and Connor O’Leary are both CT vets that will ring a bell. 

Nat Young’s requalification story has been one of heartbreak and incredible mental fortitude. Eight years ago Nat joined the tour, seven years ago Nat was awarded Rookie of the Year, five years ago Nat fell off the tour. During his three years on tour, Nat lost his dad, while his mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer. 

Nat told Stab earlier this year that his situation at home made competitive surfing challenging. “Surfing was not the most important thing at the time,” said Nat, who, in between contests, was playing caretaker, and shuffling his mum around to operations and appointments. Not a situation any person, let alone an elite athlete, would find conducive to their performances on surfing’s biggest stage. 

After being in remission for a few years, Nat’s mother Rosie was diagnosed with brain cancer and metastasis in her lungs, stage four, leaving her unable to talk, and hooked up to oxygen tanks. Rosie passed earlier this year shortly before the birth of Nat’s first child. 

“Having a kid a month after my Mom passed away was tough. Everyone talks about how having a kid is the best day of your life — and it is amazing. It’s the most incredible experience ever. But it was also one of the most challenging experiences of my life, not being able to call my Mom and Dad and tell them they had a new granddaughter,” said Nat.

No words really. At thirty years old, Santa Cruz’s hometown hero is back on tour. What an unrelatable state of grief and adversity to have overcome. Nat, congratulations. Stuff of heroes. 

Next up, Connor O’Leary. Connor O is right back where he belongs after failing to make the cut earlier this year. It’s hard to say why that guy fell off tour in the first place — he’s built like a brickhouse, has one of the sharpest backhands in the world, and a skitz air game to boot. Not to mention, Connor’s Insta is fucken hilarious. From his kickout game, to his footy sessions in France, Connor has spearheaded the Australia CS contingent’s dream run, and he’s been instrumental to the culture of camaraderie that has been so successful for the Aussies’ most successful qualification year in recent memory. 

Jake Marshall suffered a heavy sticker denuding since he was touted as Encinitas’s next big hope as a grom. He came super close to qualifying in 2019, and even planned a qualification party, albeit prematurely, before being stung by Morgan Cibilic’s thunderous Hawaiian performance that edged him out at the last moment. Now Jake can safely flip the bird at all his skeptics, and is rightfully entitled to a qualification party sans cancellation. 

Zeke Lau, #1 ultimate surfer, #1 CS qualifier. Guy could be threatening a top-5 finish on tour next year. Frankly, he looks unbeatable. Hungry, high-percentage, and fucken scary to be in a heat with. Zeke has proven his point — he ain’t no reality TV fraudster planted on tour illegitimately. He’s probably the only qualifier from this season who could conceivably be in the mix on WSL Final’s day. 

Now, the Aussies. Callum Robson (aka Caltex), the Mad-Hueys-sponoed, jacked-as-fuck, son-of-a-prawner, is an understated powerhouse who can also stick a lofty punt. Cal has quads the size of tree trunks, can obliterate a section with flair, and throws three times as much spray on his turns than anyone else doing the equivalent. Backing him to take some heads next year. 

Liam O’Brien, LOB. LOB is built from a different cloth. LOB scored an OP1 in his final year of high school. What does that mean? It means he was in the top 0.01% of academic achievers in the state. LOB is no joke a fucking savant whose school peers had no idea he even surfed. Good Will Hunting mofo. LOB’s style is incredible, he’s already crushed it on a CT (third in Rottnest this year), and is poised to ruffle even more feathers next year with his clinical accountancy and 190 IQ. Beware the quiet LOB, he’s a killer. 

A few months back, we hosted Imaikalani Devault at Stab High Central America. He didn’t land the biggest air of the trip, but his surfing had a certain magnetism that made all the competitors stop and stare. Albee Layer said Imai was his favorite surfer.

As a kid, Imai always had incredible style and technique, but he lacked the power and speed to stand out amongst his peers (like John John and Zeke Lau). Recently he filled out his frame, and everything started to click. Imai’s turns got bigger, his air got higher, and his confidence skyrocketed. This qualification is not just the ultimate validation of Imai’s ability, but a nod that competitive surfing is heading in the right direction.

Finally, Lucas Mesinas, Peru’s first male CT surfer. Guy has a backhand that don’t quit (surely you remember that clip on @stab’s Insty a year or so back), he’s smoother than a cream cheese spread, and he seems to compete with an air of nonchalance. He could be a silent killer next year.

Tomorrow we’ll likely see the event come to a close, and the last 4 men’s spots and 3 women’s spots will be filled. So, who ya got?

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Meet The ‘Other’ Leandro: Yago’s World-Title Winning Weapon

Leandro Dora laid the foundation. Leandro da Silva helped make a champion.

Oct 26, 2025

“You’re Lucky If You Get Packet Noodles Out There. Everyone Got Sick. But It Was Worth It.”

Kai Hing makes his Afends debut with 'Bakso 900.'

Oct 26, 2025

Stab Interview: Jeremy Flores & The Brain Tumor That Nearly Took Everything

“I forgot everything. How to read, how to write. I even forgot the names of…

Oct 25, 2025

Here’s How You Can Digitally Watch Thomas Campbell’s New Film

Yi-Wo is officially available on the internet.

Oct 25, 2025

EAST With Mikey February, Episode One

Nine shapers tested at 10 different waves in Australia, with an appearance from an 11x…

Oct 23, 2025

Can Surfers Win The Zicatela Sand War? 

Sebastian Williams explains how the world’s heaviest beachbreak got buried alive, and the demolition party…

Oct 23, 2025

Breaking: Gabriel Medina Is Not Going To Be A Daddy

The baby photo was just the bait...

Oct 22, 2025

Noah Beschen And Eimeo Czermak Revive Surfing’s Most Perilous Angle

Two men and one heavy camera underneath the same lip, thanks to Swatch.

Oct 22, 2025

Watch: Quiksilver’s ‘WASHED’

Shot everywhere. Starring everyone. Their latest film abandons narrative for ridiculous surfing.

Oct 22, 2025

Rebuttal: We Are The Parasites Devouring Surfing

But it's okay, we can fix it.

Oct 22, 2025

Episode One Shaper Reveal — EAST With Mikey February

Nine surfboards and a whole lotta spray paint.

Oct 22, 2025

SEOTY: Ned Hart’s Bone Chilling Entry, ‘FROSTBITE’

Extremely shallow, supremely heavy.

Oct 20, 2025

The Case Against Surf Forecasting

Stab supports No Check November.

Oct 19, 2025

How Oscar Langburne Was Handed The Keys To The Galaxy

On pissing next to Mike Tyson, dining with Nick Cave and his new Rip Curl…

Oct 19, 2025

Saquarema Pro: The CT Road Shrinks, Some Already Walk Through the Gates

Sammy Pupo + Yolanda Hopkins victorious in Saqtown.

Oct 19, 2025

Welcome To The ‘Top Chef’ of Surfboard Shaping

Eight men face off at the 2025 Boardroom Show — Eric Arakawa deems Dan Mann…

Oct 17, 2025

Watch: ‘Feels Like Yesterday’ Starring The Colapinto Bros, Cole Houshmand & San Clemente’s Electric Youth

A Film of the Year contender by Jacob Vanderwork.

Oct 17, 2025

Shane Borland Crowned World’s Best Surf/Skate Crossbreed At Keris Cup

+ Sky Brown dislocates her shoulder, still packs proper Padang tube.

Oct 16, 2025
Advertisement