WSL Waives Requirement For CT Surfers To Compete In Multiple CS Events

This season CT surfers were required to surf in multiple (at least two) CS events as part of their contract with the WSL. 

In the petition sent to the WSL signed by 29/51 CT surfers asking for the mid-year cut-off format to be reconsidered and disregarded, this stipulation was raised as a key concern. “Now, having the CT Surfers obliged to compete also in CS events, is resulting in “event congestion” for many athletes, who have to compete in back-to-back CT and CS events potentially adversely affecting their preparation for remaining CT events.”

Today, the WSL notified CT surfers who made the cutline that they will now only need to surf in one CS event for the rest of this season. 

Per their email, “We are now waiving the requirement that you compete in more than one CS event this year. We are now only requiring one CS event this year, and it must be one of the first 7 events. In other words, Haleiwa does not count to meet this requirement, as this event has a reduced field. You may choose to compete in a CS event in your region or out of your region.”

Snapper currently has 39 surfers who began this season on the CT. Almost half of them will be on tour for the latter half of the season. When this event finishes those in attendance will have no obligation to surf CS events for the rest of this year, though they may enter as many as they wish. 

This is a good thing for several reasons. 

1. The WSL’s been pretty hellbent on growing their audience with format changes, and this demonstrates compromise. 
2. “Event congestion” in the service of making ‘events more engaging’ (which is why The WSL has done this) would be frustrating and comes with a price tag/stress/commitment.
3. Any budding CTer would be bummed to be seeded against a JJF, Italo, Filipe in the round of 96/64, and this makes it less probable they get booted by the big dogs before they’ve had a chance to get the ball rolling.

Stab commenter, SwampDad put it nicely on our post just yesterday.

Nice one.