Watch: This Guy Would Have Been A Problem If He Hadn’t Broken His Ankle

Injuries suck. 

Even before the first CT comp of the year started, two of the most dynamic goofies on tour, Ryan Callinan and Yago Dora, were forced to pull out of Pipeline due to injury. Then Carlos Muñoz obliterated his shoulder. 

But Carlos got worked wearing the jersey. Meanwhile, rookie Liam O’Brien was forced to watch all of it unfold from shore. If you recall, Liam busted his foot the morning the event started in a (relatively) small Pipe tube.

LOB’s likely out for at least four months, meaning he won’t make the cut after the Australian leg. This is a real shame, because according to his Hawaiian highlight reel above, Liam looked prepared to do some damage this year. While the Australian’s got a polished rail game, it was his commitment on unruly OTW gems (can gems be unruly?) that got our attention. It’s the kind of stuff you’d love to see in the back half of the year, with lineups like G-Land and Teahupo’o just begging for someone to send it. 

With the three aforementioned injured surfers above (Plus a certain 3X world champ) needing an injury wildcard to compete on next year’s tour, it’s going to be a tight fit for Liam to get a secure spot in 2023 and avoid this season’s Challenger Series. 

That shows you how hard the CT is. Even if you’re hurt, you still have to compete.