The current QS situation, explained - Stab Mag

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

670 Views

The current QS situation, explained

Words by Elliot Struck It’s a headache, really. Who’s in? Who isn’t? Fortheloveofgod, clarity, please! But the thing about the WSL World Qualifying Series is this: Very little is certain until the Triple Crown is entirely wrapped. At this point, the surest qualifications for next year’s World Tour are Jack Freestone, the guy with (in no particular order) the really hot girlfriend and standout part in Cluster, and Caio Ibelli, the guy with (in no particular order) the really hot girlfriend and the 2012 World Junior Champ trophy. The Triple Crown’s first event, The Hawaiian Pro, wrapped two days ago, and the outcome changed things, obviously. It upped the amount of points Q hopefuls will need to make the CT. Since next stop, the Vans World Cup (at unpredictable Sunset!) is a Q10k, results here are a big deal. It’s the last chance. Real quick, here’s the WSL’s structural blueprint: “Only the top 10 surfers on the QS rankings who aren’t already qualified with CT points qualify to make the leap up to the higher-tier Tour. That means the Vans World Cup comes with a lot of pressure for surfers who are close to qualifying.” Heard of Connor O’Leary? You have now. And, the WSL’s state-of-play in the wake of Haleiwa: “The point total for the Championship Tour qualification cutoff increased by 1000 points following the contest at Haleiwa. Filipe Toledo and Jeremy Flores made big moves up the QS rankings, but neither needed the QS points. Currently ranked No. 2 and No. 8 on the Championship Tour respectively, both are guaranteed to keep their elite CT spots without their QS rankings. That opened up two more spots on the QS rankings, leaving the current QS cutoff at No. 11, Australian Connor O’Leary and his 19,300 point total.” Haleiwa finalists made big jumps, too. Winner Wade Carmichael jumped 40 spots (!) to 13th, Dusty Payne stepped up to 17th, and Zeke Lau rose to 19th. But what does all this mean? Well, not a whole lot, because mathematically, every surfer down to Charly Martin, Q number 56, has a shot at moving past the 19,300 point cutoff. But, obviously, some have a better chance than others: Wade Carmichael only needs to make one heat at Sunset to increase his total by 250 points. Conner Coffin and Dusty Payne need to make it to the Quarters. Michael Rodrigues, Stuart Kennedy, Ezekiel Lau and Nate Yeomans must make the Semifinals. If Conner Coffin makes the quarters at Sunset, he could make the World Tour. Current QS Top 10 (excluding Toledo and Flores): Caio Ibelli (BRA) Jack Freestone (AUS) Kolohe Andino (USA) Miguel Pupo (BRA) Alejo Muniz (BRA) Kanoa Igarashi (USA) Alex Ribeiro (BRA) Davey Cathels (AUS) Ryan Callinan (AUS) Connor O’Leary (AUS) And according to the WSL, the most commonly-asked question here is this: How is a tie in the rankings broken? Well… “Results for tied surfers are counted backwards. First their best 4, then 3 and so on. For example – Right now Caio Ibelli has a better four event total than Jack Freestone. He is technically the No. 1 ranked surfer on the QS.” RN, Ryan Callinan is in a rather good spot. All he needs now is a good swing at Sunset.

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Words by Elliot Struck

It’s a headache, really. Who’s in? Who isn’t? Fortheloveofgod, clarity, please! But the thing about the WSL World Qualifying Series is this: Very little is certain until the Triple Crown is entirely wrapped. At this point, the surest qualifications for next year’s World Tour are Jack Freestone, the guy with (in no particular order) the really hot girlfriend and standout part in Cluster, and Caio Ibelli, the guy with (in no particular order) the really hot girlfriend and the 2012 World Junior Champ trophy.

The Triple Crown’s first event, The Hawaiian Pro, wrapped two days ago, and the outcome changed things, obviously. It upped the amount of points Q hopefuls will need to make the CT. Since next stop, the Vans World Cup (at unpredictable Sunset!) is a Q10k, results here are a big deal. It’s the last chance.

Real quick, here’s the WSL’s structural blueprint: “Only the top 10 surfers on the QS rankings who aren’t already qualified with CT points qualify to make the leap up to the higher-tier Tour. That means the Vans World Cup comes with a lot of pressure for surfers who are close to qualifying.”

37afb8cbef840890eda7fda87561ea5e

Heard of Connor O’Leary? You have now.

And, the WSL’s state-of-play in the wake of Haleiwa: “The point total for the Championship Tour qualification cutoff increased by 1000 points following the contest at Haleiwa. Filipe Toledo and Jeremy Flores made big moves up the QS rankings, but neither needed the QS points. Currently ranked No. 2 and No. 8 on the Championship Tour respectively, both are guaranteed to keep their elite CT spots without their QS rankings. That opened up two more spots on the QS rankings, leaving the current QS cutoff at No. 11, Australian Connor O’Leary and his 19,300 point total.”

Haleiwa finalists made big jumps, too. Winner Wade Carmichael jumped 40 spots (!) to 13th, Dusty Payne stepped up to 17th, and Zeke Lau rose to 19th.

But what does all this mean? Well, not a whole lot, because mathematically, every surfer down to Charly Martin, Q number 56, has a shot at moving past the 19,300 point cutoff. But, obviously, some have a better chance than others: Wade Carmichael only needs to make one heat at Sunset to increase his total by 250 points. Conner Coffin and Dusty Payne need to make it to the Quarters. Michael Rodrigues, Stuart Kennedy, Ezekiel Lau and Nate Yeomans must make the Semifinals.

Condor

If Conner Coffin makes the quarters at Sunset, he could make the World Tour.

Current QS Top 10 (excluding Toledo and Flores):

Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Jack Freestone (AUS)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Davey Cathels (AUS)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Connor O’Leary (AUS)

And according to the WSL, the most commonly-asked question here is this: How is a tie in the rankings broken? Well… “Results for tied surfers are counted backwards. First their best 4, then 3 and so on. For example – Right now Caio Ibelli has a better four event total than Jack Freestone. He is technically the No. 1 ranked surfer on the QS.”

R_CAl

RN, Ryan Callinan is in a rather good spot. All he needs now is a good swing at Sunset.

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

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

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025
Advertisement