Is Kelly Slater a Zombie? Why is Griffin Having An Existential Crisis? And Do We Need To Talk About Ethan?

Questions (With Answers) After The Tahiti Pro. 

Who Has Made The WSL Finals?

The mid-year cut was brought in to a) provide a guaranteed one-day, winner take all made-for-TV climax and b) add some interest to the latter events. In the Men’s, you could say it ticked both boxes. Going into the Teahupo’o event, big hitters Gabriel Medina, John John Florence and Jack Robinson all had to win the event to make the top five. Eventually, it came down to a straight shoot-out between Medina and Robinson, with the winner heading to Trestles*. Robinson’s late comeback sealed the deal, in a Final that had real tension. The Women’s however showed the other side of the coin. The only plot line of note was whether Caitlin Simmers or Steph Gilmore would secure the fifth spot, which Simmers did with Gilmore’s Quarterfinal loss. The 17-year-old now joins Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, Tahiti winner Caroline Marks and Molly Picklum at Trestles. She might be the favourite.

Do we need to talk about Ethan?*

In the above Men’s ranking scenarios, the small matter of Ethan Ewing’s fractured L3 and L4 vertebrae didn’t get much of a mention. Or if was, it was only to celebrate his locking in of his third seed. The WSL seemed to be putting their fingers in their ears and assumed that the Australian would be taking his place at Trestles, despite having broken his back at Teahupo’o just last week. The likely scenario is that he won’t be back in the water in three months, let alone three weeks, leaving the next ranked surfer, Gabriel Medina, to take his place. This, in turn, could have repercussions on the Olympic qualifications – but more on that later. 

Is this the End of The Road at The End Of the Road For Kelly Slater?

Back in May, when Kelly Slater missed the cut after the Margaret River Pro, that could have, and probably should have, been the end of Kelly’s competitive career. He most certainly wouldn’t have competed on the Challenger Series, and so wouldn’t have had a spot on the roster for 2024. However, the WSL gave him a Wildcard for the rest of the year (under a former World Champions rule), which in turn provided automatic qualification for the first half of the 2024 season. And so like a zombie refusing to die, the GOAT will return next year, with the ever-present will he/won’t he retire question still doing the rounds. In 2023, he suffered six first rounds losses and didn’t make a single Quarterfinal. Surely the time is up?

Why Is Griffin Is Having  An Existential Crisis?

On paper, Griffin Colapinto should have been happy. The Californian finished as the No 2 seed for the WSL Finals and secured Olympic qualification. He is now just three heat wins away from a World Title. And yet, he wrote on Instagram, “I look at that on paper and expect to feel an abundance of joy. But for some reason I feel nothing and I can’t understand why. What’s this all for? Do I deserve this? Why do I work so hard to feel nothing?” 

He later says that he wishes to practice Sadhana, a spiritual practice of life, where every moment is an opportunity to become closer to awareness. Or maybe, he shouldn’t just overthink it. 

Who Is Going For Gold?

Jack Robinson’s win cemented his Olympic status as the second Australian for Paris 2024, with surfing to be held at Teahupo’o. Molly Picklum was in the same boat, and will join Tyler Wright in a green and gold tracksuit next year in Tahiti. Elsewhere the top spots for USA and Brazil remain undecided. If Medina does take Ewing’s spot at Trestles, he will tussle with Joao Chianca for Olympic status. In the Women’s Carissa Moore and Caty Simmers will fight to join Carissa Moore on Team USA.

 

 WSL Final 5 Women

1 – Carissa Moore (HAW)

2 – Tyler Wright (AUS)

3 – Caroline Marks (USA)

4 – Molly Picklum (AUS)

5 – Caitlin Simmers (USA)

WSL Final 5 Men

1 – Filipe Toledo (BRA)

2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA)

3 – Ethan Ewing (AUS)

4 – Joao Chianca (BRA)

5 – Jack Robinson (AUS)

18 Olympic Qualifiers Through the WSL Championship Tour:

Men

Filipe Toledo (BRA)

Griffin Colapinto (USA)

Ethan Ewing (AUS)

Jack Robinson (AUS)

John John Florence (USA)

To be decided at Rip Curl WSL Finals (BRA)

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)

Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)

Jordy Smith (RSA)

Matthew McGillivray (RSA)

Women

Carissa Moore (USA) 

Tyler Wright (AUS)

Molly Picklum (AUS)

To be decided at Rip Curl WSL Finals (USA) 

Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

Johanne Defay (FRA) 

Brisa Hennessy (CRC)

Teresa Bonvalot (POR)

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