It’s that time of the year again; the 2016 WSL World Tour is ready to kick off at Snapper Rocks marking the start of this years World Championship Tour. After what was a phenomenal year of professional surfing last season, with highs and lows that culminated in an epic title race between Mick Fanning and Adriano De Souza at the prestigious Pipeline, De Souza took the title in one hell of a showdown to keep the trophy in Brazil for the Second year in a row. All eyes now turn to the Goldy in great anticipation for what this year may hold. Let us guide you through this years WSL Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour.
In a turbulent year for Australia’s prince of surfing Mick Fanning, he’s decided that he’ll only be surfing in a select few events. Opting to spend more time at home and doing trips of his choice. Having been on tour and competing for event wins and world titles for the past 15 years, Mick deserves some well earned rest.
“I’ve been in a title race for the last four years in a row. It takes a big toll on your mind and your body.” – Mick Fanning
Owen Wright is out of action after a horrible wipeout that saw him suffer a injury to the brain which is currently keeping him from surfing. Another casualty of the Banzai was tour veteran Bede Durbidge; a hideous wipeout during the Billabong Pipe Masters shattered his pelvis on impact and had left his 2016 tour dreams in tatters. Bede’s recovery is currently unknown and with two spots open, the WSL have given wildcards to Adam Melling and Stuart Kennedy. We’re stoked to see Lennox local and all round shredder Kennedy, finally get to the big league to see what he can do on those Tomo boards of his.
Rookies
In addition to a brand new trophy for the 2016 season there is, as ever a fresh batch of rookies all chomping at the bit for their shot on the WCT. And no year has been more exciting than this bunch of frothin’ new recruits, nor a bigger group of lads as this is the largest amount of rookies seen on tour for a very long time. After stealing the show in Kai Neville’s Cluster, we’re backing Jack Freestone for the Rookie of the Year title and hoping to see some of that infamous progressive power surfing that is oh-so-easy on the eye. The 2016 rookies are:
Caio Ibelli
Kanoa Igarashi
Jack Freestone
Alex Ribeiro
Conner Coffin
Davey Cathels
Ryan Callinan
Schedule
The 2015 world tour will be remembered for one thing and one thing alone – the Mick Fanning shark attack. And while it was one of the most dramatic and terrifying incidents to ever happen on the world tour, the WSL committee have decided to keep J-Bay as an event for 2016. Before the notorious shark attack took place, the swell and overall conditions were all time; 9 and 10 point rides were being clocked up and Fanning was on a roll! Mick has announced that J-Bay will be one of the few events that he partakes this year. The third stop on tour is the Margaret River Pro and it was recently announced that the notoriously gnarly slabbing spot “The Box” will be the back-up spot if the swell gets A+. The 2016 schedule is:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
Mar 10 – 21
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
Mar 24 – Apr 05
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro
Apr 08 – 19
Oi Rio Pro
May 10 – 21
Fiji Pro
Jun 05 – 17
J-Bay Open
Jul 06 – 17
Billabong Pro Tahiti
Aug 19 – 30
Hurley Pro at Trestles
Sep 07 – 18
Quiksilver Pro France
Oct 04 – 15
Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal
Oct 18 – 29
Billabong Pipe Masters
Dec 08 – 20
Our Prediction
Gabriel Medina
He’s got the lot! He can barrel ride, he’s got hacks to boot and the boy can most certainly punt an air when he needs to. The question is whether he can string some results together? Well, we think he can and we think that this is the year he can do it – watch this space…
The Quik Pro is just around the corner and we cannot bloody wait! We’ve not been sure what to do with ourselves during the off season… is it going to be Brazilian domination or will we have an Australian and Hawaiian resurgence? Get your fantasy surfer team in shape because the 2016 WSL Samsung Galaxy World Tour is here!
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