Breaking: The Sunset CT Is Cancelled, Santa Cruz Might Be Too

Today, the WSL announced that its upcoming Hawaiian events at Sunset Beach and Jaws have been canceled. Here’s the offical memo:

As a result of Hawaii’s suspension of all surfing competitions until further notice, the upcoming Championship Tour (CT) event, the Sunset Open — scheduled for January 19 – 28, 2021 — and the Big Wave Jaws Championship Pe’ahi have been canceled. The World Surf League (WSL) has also decided to postpone the CT Santa Cruz Pro, which had been scheduled for February 2 – 12, 2021.

The decision to postpone the Santa Cruz Pro, the last planned event of the US leg of the Championship Tour, is based primarily on the surge of COVID-19 cases in California. The postponement is also heavily influenced by the length of time our athletes have been away from home, and by the complexities of global travel during this pandemic, which would have caused significant logistical challenges for athletes and staff to travel home and return to California for the event.

It is a testament to our surfers, staff, and the local community of Hawaii that we were able to successfully complete both the men’s and women’s opening CT events of the 2021 season, and we would like to thank the communities in both Maui and Oahu for their support. We look forward to safely continuing the 2021 CT season with the Australia leg starting at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in April.

Aaaaand shit. That sucks. Sunset and Steamer Lane aren’t exactly the most thrilling events on Tour, but their existence at least implied that we had a tour. Now we have to wait another four months for Championship Tour surfing to resume, and that’s only if Australia decides to let the WSL in at that time. 

So, what does this mean? 

Well, John Florence and Tyler Wright will wear the proverbial yellow jersey for the next long while. Joe Turpel will have to get a side gig announcing roller derby matches. And we can now shift our focus exclusively upon the Digital Vans Triple Crown.

If you missed yesterday’s leaderboard reveal, Torrey Meister and Zoey McDougall are currently heading their respective divisions. But will it last?

John’s got a near-perfect 29.4/30 at Haleiwa, and rumors abound that he’s holding some banger Sunset clips close to his chest. On the women’s side, Bronte Macaulay has been going ballistic at Sunset and Haleiwa, but she still needs a couple waves at Pipe. Shouldn’t be a problem for the daughter of a West Oz orb excavator.

And wait, what was that? Did someone say Surf100? Well, we’ll just have to see about that. Where’s good in Jan-Feb again….