Stab Magazine | Here Are All Of The Relevant Storylines For Finals Day At Pipe

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

203 Views

Here Are All Of The Relevant Storylines For Finals Day At Pipe

Gotta get down on Tuesday. 

news // Dec 17, 2019
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

On Tuesday, we will likely see the 2019 World Champion crowned. 

Italo Ferreira and Gabriel Medina are the most likely victors, with Kolohe holding onto a (generous) 5% chance of winning his first CT event and subsequently the World Title. With their losses last Wednesday, Jordy and Filipe are out. 

Also on the line are the Triple Crown, Olympic bids, and requalification slots for both the Championship Tour and Qualifying Series.

It’s a big day for professional surfing. 

Below, the WSL has broken down the relevance of each coming heat and the surfers participating in them:

Screen Shot 2019 12 15 at 1.38.11 PM

Ht 1: @italoferreira needs to advance to avoid been overtaken (and therefore, lose the World Title) by Gabriel Medina. For @peterson_crisanto, at this stage he is tied 20th with Conner Coffin, not completely safe on the CT.

Ht 2: @julian_wilson needs a win to guarantee his Olympic Qualification spot. @yagodora is currently the 23rd position on the CT Rankings. A victory would help his CT qualification and Morgan Cibilic’s access via the QS.

Ht 3: @Jackfreestone must win his heat hoping that Julian loses to take the Olympic spot from Julian. Jack can also take the TC Lead from Ethan Ewing with a 1st place at Pipe.

Ht 4: To qualify for the Olympics, @kellyslater must win Pipe with John John Florence getting a 5th or worse or get a 2nd and hope that JJF finishes 9th: Slater would also need a 3rd or better to take the Triple Crown lead from Ethan Ewing.

Ht 5: @gabrielmedina must win to keep his World Title hopes alive, as long as he finishes Pipe one position ahead of Italo. 

Ht 6: If @john_john_florence finishes 3rd or better, he gets the Olympic spot; If he gets a 5th, Kelly must get 2nd or worse; if JJF finishes 9th Kelly must finish 3rd or below.

Ht 7: @jesse_mendes needs a 3rd or better to have any hopes to qualify via the CT.

Ht 8: @koloheandino must win Pipe and hope that both Italo & Gabriel lose in the next Round of 16 (9th place), his only chance to win the World Title. If either Ferreira or Medina advance to the next Round, Kolohe is out of the World Title Race. @bourezmichel can take the Triple Crown lead from Ethan Ewing with a 3rd or better at Pipe.

 

Screen Shot 2019 12 15 at 1.45.04 PM

We know who Newcastle’s rooting for.

 

What’s there to take from all of this?

  • John needs to beat Gabby if Italo wants to have any chance of winning the Title
  • if Kelly can defeat Seth, he’s a shoo-in for the Triple Crown
  • no Australian wants Jesse Mendes to succeed

It’s also worth noting that a north swell has covered the Pipeline reef with a thick layer of sand, which will make the left clampy and inconsistent on Tuesday. 

No matter the outcome, you can read about it all here. 

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

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025
Advertisement