The WSL just dropped a nuke on the Barra webcast.

“I’m here to announce that the WSL is canceling the upcoming Tahiti Pro,” Commissioner Jessi Miley Dyer said to an audience of 11,955 on Youtube, and likely another 10-15 million across the WSL’s various streaming platforms (Tik Tok, Twitch, etc.)

Jessi went on to explain that the French government had placed French Polynesia under a state of emergency due to covid 19, and that the WSL were told they could not enter the country.

“We’re very disappointed,” she continued.

Feeling aside, this announcement gives new importance to the current CT event in Mexico, as it will officially decide which surfers make it to the WSL finals (top 5 in men’s and women’s) and which surfers requalify for the 2022 Tour (top 20 for men and top 9 for the women). Keep in mind, surfers will keep only 5 of their 7 event scores in their official total.

According to Jessi, the surfers were informed of this news yesterday, and we can’t imagine the stress it would have conjured in them. Out of nowhere, your career is on the line.

Here is a look at the current top-5 cut off for the men

Given the current situation, it’s safe to say Medina, Italo, and Filipe will make the WSL Finals. Morgan Cibilic is 90% in, and Conner Coffin/Yago Dora are both well-positioned to take Griffin’s number 5 spot.

On the women’s side…

Carissa, Johanne, and Tati are a lock for the top-5. Steph and Saly should also squeak through, so long as Isabella doesn’t do something crazy.

As for requalification…

This is where things get interesting. Jadson Andre, Deivid Silva, and Jack Robinson are all fighting for their lives. Quarters will be the minimum requirement for their requalification.

Jeremy Flores is retiring, so he doesn’t really care what happens. Similarly, Kelly will get an injury wildcard next year, so he’s not especially pressed to make the top-20. Though it would be better for his 2022 seed to requalify naturally.

Owen Wright is likely to fall off tour, which must sting very badly as he was practically a lock for a quarter in Tahiti; Leo will probably hold his spot for 2022; and Julian Wilson now looks like a genius, as he’ll likely requalify despite his absence.

For the women, Courtney Conlogue and Isabella Nichols are praying that Malia Manuel gets stopped in the quarters. Other than that, there are no potential changes to the current requalifying line.

The WSL still intends to run all four of their Challenger Series events in 2021, which will determine the next crop of CTers.

Drama!