Don’t Believe In Fairytales

The rain was so heavy this morning that you couldn’t see the surfers in the water from the broadcast camera. Much like yesterday, the wind whipped across from the south and the takeoff spot looked evasive at best.

“We couldn’t see anything to line ourselves up,” said Caity Simmers, after her heat. “It was a pretty confusing surf.”

Though the sun arrived and the wind organized itself in the afternoon, the day was still a far cry from the excitement of the opening three days.

In eight women’s heats, only two excellent scores were dropped. 

Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m truly more excited to watch tomorrow’s Garabito Surf City QS Round of 104… but maybe that’s just me

TLDR:

• Miss Teahupo’o beats Caroline Marks, her second World Champ in as many heats
• Caity Simmers wins her heat in the first 25 seconds
• Teahupo’o could save Seth Moniz, Ramzi Boukhiam, or Al Cleland’s seasons
• Last year’s finalists Jack Robinson and Griffin Colapinto are standouts
• Goat falters

The 13-Year Old Wildcard Just Turned 14, And Just Made Finals Day

Kelia Gallina celebrated her 14th birthday yesterday. Today, she surfed what she described as the biggest Teahupo’o of her life. 

Presumably fresh off a night of cartoons, hanging with her puppy, and eating ice cream, Kelia proceeded to strategically dismantle confusing Teahupo’o against a confronting opponent. 

Despite having both an Olympic Gold and a CT trophy from Teahupo’o, Caroline Marks couldn’t manage more than a five point heat total… and lost out to the local teenager.

The most impressive part of Kelia’s heat was the wave she failed to make, a foamy double-up that she backdoored, pumping into the tube with no hands on her backside. As the commentary team noted, shades of Kelly there. 

Caity Simmers, Erin Brooks, Molly Picklum, and Anat Lelior were the other standouts in the women’s round. Erin and Molly will match up in the quarters tomorrow, and Anat will face Kelia.

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Sometimes, It Only Takes 30 Seconds To Win A Heat

On a day where the average women’s heat score total was 4.99 points, a 9 point ride will just about guarantee advancement. The first wave Caity Simmers caught today — and in the contest as a whole — was worth 9.00 exactly. 

Over before it started for Brisa Hennessey. 

Sitting in 6th place with just a semifinal finish at Margs her best result, Caity has had a less than stellar year by her standards. Her heat win percentage before this year was close to 60%. This year? 50%.

Will Tahiti be the inflection point?

Teahupo’o Could Remedy Al Cleland, Seth Moniz, And Ramzi Boukhiam’s Seasons

Before today, Gold Medalist and CT rookie Kauli Vaast had a 62% heat win percentage in Tahiti. 

Al Cleland, his opponent this afternoon, came in with a 60% Chopes heat win percentage. 

Courtesy of some dexterous backhand speed-management, Al flipped those numbers today, advancing to the quarterfinals and jumping from 27th to 21st on the rankings. If he makes one more heat, he’ll jump to 19th. If he wins the event, he’ll go to 15th — well clear of the relegation zone. 

Another big mover this event is Seth Moniz, who followed a pair of excellent opening heats with a win against fellow regular footed Hawaiian Barron Mamiya. Seth jumps from 31st to 29th with his current result. A quarterfinal win would put him in 25th, and an event win would put him around 21st. 

Finally, like Seth, Ramzi Boukhiam has spent this season collecting 33rds and floundering at the bottom of the rankings. After eliminating World #1 (and his best friend) Leo Fioravanti, he convincingly demolished Joao Chianca today with a 14.00 total. 

His ranking change? Up from 33rd to 30th. A win would put him around 22nd. He needs it. 

Robbo Vanquishes Kelly, Griff Goes Excellent Two More Times

“It just never felt like I was in sync,” said Kelly after today’s heat with Jack Robinson. “I think I used up all my magic in the last two heats before that.”

Unfortunately, we agree. Throughout the entire heat, it looked as though Jack’s tube voodoo was eclipsing Kelly’s fabled powers of manifestation. 

From our point of view, the scoring in this heat felt a little off — not sure why Kelly got nearly an 8 for what would’ve been a 5 in other heats. But, the right man left the arena triumphant.

“If they’re giving me a Pipe wildcard, I’ll surf it forever. It should be like the Master, if you win it once you can surf it forever. I gotta start lobbying,” laughed Kelly. “I thought we had some sort of agreement, but we’ll see.”

After this showing, we have a feeling we’ll be seeing him at Ehukai in a few months.

Griff finished out the day with a pair of 8’s to join Jack in the quarters; a repeat of last year’s final. 

Honorable Mentions:

The viewing got significantly better as the day concluded, with five excellent scores in the last four heats. Griff v. Miggy is worth a rewatch.

One of my favorite additions to the WSL broadcast of late has been the ‘Clutch’ stat — depicting heats won by an athlete in the final five minutes. Bella Nichols has five ‘Clutch’ heats this season; two in her last two. 

With 7 ft @14 seconds from 194 degrees and ENE wind all day, tomorrow should be cleaner and about the same size. 

Gamble Ramble:

Hopefully Mikey does better in his QS heat tomorrow than he did on betonline.ag today.

Men’s R3

$10 on Al Cleland at +300 to win $30 WON
$50 on LOB at +200 to win $100 LOST
$50 on Joao at -130 to win $38 LOST
$180 on George at -180 to win $100 WON
$40 on Miguel at +185 to win $74 LOST
$50 on Barron at -140 to win $36 LOST
$10 on Connor at +200 to win $20 LOST
$50 on Jack at -125 to win $40 WON

Women’s R2

$50 on Sawyer at -150 to win $33 LOST
$40 on Nadia at -150 to win $27 WON
$50 on Anat at +145 to win $73 WON
$40 on Kelia at +160 to win $64 WON
$30 on Luana at +105 to win $32 LOST
$20 on Brisa at +200 to win $40 LOST

Day 5 earnings: $34
Event earnings: $535

Men’s QF
$50 on Alan Cleland at -105 to win $48
$20 on EE at +150 to win $30
$20 on George at +185 to win $37
$50 on Robbo at -140 to win $36

Women’s QF
$50 on Kelia at -120 to win $42
$300 on Caity at -300 to win $100

Tahiti winner (picked pre event)
$40 on Kauli at +800 to win $320 LOST
$40 on Italo at +650 to win $260
$10 on Eimeo at +220 to win $220 LOST
$5 on Joao at +6600 to win $330 LOST
$10 on Barrron at +2500 to win $250 LOST
$2 on Seth at +10000 to win $200
$2 on Eli at +10000 to win $200 LOST
$2 on Callum at +20000 to win $200 LOST
$50 on Molly at +550 to win $275
$30 on Erin at +900 to win $270
$50 on Vahine at +500 to win $250 LOST
$5 on Kelia at +6600 to win $330
$5 on Nadia at +5000 to win $250