Today's Snapper Rocks Forecast

We didn't get to see any heats yesterday for either the Quiksilver Pro or the Roxy Pro, but it wasn't all bad news. The conditions were good enough to put the contest on hold twice before calling a lay day. The swell sounded like it cleaned up quite a bit yesterday, but there simply wasn't enough size to run an event, especially so early in the waiting period. Here's what the Surfline Snapper Rocks forecast looks like for today:

Things look more promising than yesterday. The forecast is very similar, but with more size, which was really the only thing holding back heats. However, a late start is likely due to the high tide. Yesterday both contests were put on standby until 11:30 local time, so we may see a similar strategy from WSL commish Kieren Perrow today. Let's hope we see some action in the water today.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Gold Coast Waiting Period Begins Today

For those of us in the United States, this afternoon marks the beginning of the waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro Gold Coast. For me, the Pipe Masters seems like ages ago, and I can't wait to see the best guys and girls in the world get back in the water. The forecast via Surfline looks like we could see a start of at least one of the events today:

Let's hope we get to see some heats today. Here are some highlights from last year:

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Event Preview

The waiting period for the first event of the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, will see the waiting period begin on March 10^th.  This event is held at Snapper Rocks, a fun right-hand point break on the famed Gold Coast of Australia. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting Round 1 heats and make a prediction for the winner:

Heat 2 - Julian Wilson, Michel Bourez, Adam Melling: This looks to be one of the tougher heats of the first round. When the season starts, the rankings usually dictate tiered heats as one would expect, and the draws don’t get a little chaotic until after the first event of the year. However, we’ve got three pretty big names in Heat 2 here. Julian made the Final at Snapper last year and should be considered one of the favorites to win the event. Bourez had a fantastic 2014 season before some regression last year. Melling is a CT vet that missed requalifying by a single spot last year, and he’s at Snapper as a Wild Card. This is a tough draw for Wilson, as most of his elite colleagues have much easier heats to begin the event.

Heat 4 – Gabriel Medina, Caio Ibelli, Sebastian Zietz: The main reason I’m interested in this heat is to see how Medina begins the year. His slow start to 2015 was probably the only thing that kept him from winning back-to-back World Titles. If he can hit the ground, or water, running in 2016 then he should be on track to make a serious run at a second World Title.

Gabriel Medina will look to avoid a slow start in 2016.
Courtesy of A Scott

Heat 5 – Mick Fanning, Matt Banting, TBD: I think everyone is curious to see how Mick Fanning comes out of the gate this season in the wake of his decision to only surf selectevents in 2016. He knows he has to surf well when he does participate, though, with an eye on qualifying for 2017. Don’t sleep on Matt Banting, either, as he upset Mick in the first round of this event last year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him head to Round 3 again in 2016.

Heat 8 – Kelly Slater, Matt Wilkinson, Conner Coffin: Is this Kelly’s last season? We’ve been saying that for half a decade now, and nobody really knows. Still, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how he looks at Snapper. After a 13^th last year, one would Kelly will be motivated to perform better. There is always the risk of him starting the season slowly and then skipping events down the line. Let’s hope not.

Can Kelly Slater add one more World Title?
Courtesy of chde.eu

Heat 11 – Jordy Smith, Wiggoly Dantas, Miguel Pupo: How will Jordy bounce back in 2016 from an injury-plagued 2015 campaign? That’s a big question for the CT this season, and this will be our first glimpse of the South African.

Heat 12 – Joel Parkinson, John John Florence, Jack Freestone: To me, this is the most interesting hest of the first round. Parko has surfed well here over the years, so he’s always a threat. If you read the Go Left preseason profile on John John, you know I think he’s in for a huge year. However, Parko has gotten the better of him several times in the past due to heat strategy and veteran savvy. Will John John continue to let stuff like that happen? He won’t win a World Title that way. Keep an eye on Jack Freestone too, as he’s got a ton of talent and got his feet wet with this event last year.

And finally...

The Go Left Projected Winner - Julian Wilson: I like Julian to win this event for a multitude of reasons. I see 2016 being a huge year for him, one where he is in contention for the World Title throughout the season. Snapper fits his surfing well, and he was able to make the Final last year. He’s got every trick in the book, he’s entering his prime and he’s got a competitive fire that one needs to win on the CT.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter at @GoLeftSurf

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Fantasy Surfer Picks

Here are the Go Left Fantasy Surfer picks for the upcoming Roxy Pro:

Click image to enlarge.

It's really difficult to leave Carissa Moore off of any Fantasy Surfer teams throughout the season simply because she's the best surfer on the Women's CT and wins multiple events every year. I think her and Courtney Conlogue have the best chance to win on the Gold Coast, and it's nice to get both of them in the lineup here. Don't sleep on Stephanie Gilmore, though, and for $6M she could be a massive bargain. I don't really see anyone outside of those three winning this event, but of course it's possible. 

*Fantasy Surfer picks for the men at the Quiksilver Pro coming tomorrow.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Women's CT Season Preview

The World Surf League’s Women’s World Championship Tour is as strong as it’s ever been, and the talent pool seems to get deeper on an annual basis.  A couple of years ago, the Women’s CT was extremely top-heavy, with really just a few surfers that had a legitimate shot of winning an event. Things are becoming more balanced now, which is great for the tour. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 surfers in the 2016 Go Left Projected Rankings for the Women’s CT:

1. Carissa Moore, Hawaii

We currently have the pleasure of watching perhaps the best competitive female surfer in history in Carissa Moore. Just 23 years of age, Moore has already won three World Titles in five years on tour, and I think picking her over the field to win it all in 2016 is the smart move. Carissa is the best surfer of them all right now, and I can’t see that changing any time soon. She’s won nearly ¾ of her career heats, a staggering number, and she simply looks the part in the water every time she paddles out. Her consistency, ability to surf well in all conditions and competitive drive make her a no-brainer for the top spot on this list. Oh, and there’s the fact that she won the World Title in 2015.

Carissa Moore is the best surfer on the Women's CT.
Courtesy of chde.eu

2. Tyler Wright, Australia

This may be mostly a gut call, but I think 2016 is going to be Tyler Wright’s best season yet. I am a big fan of her surfing, as she is the most powerful shredder on the Women’s CT. She won in France last year while consistently making quarterfinals throughout much of the season. She’s not flashy, but when she gets the chance to really rip off some big turns there is nobody that can match her raw aggression and power on open faces. If she can take advantage of that in events like Bells, Margaret River and Maui she could be in the running for the World Title. I don’t see anyone beating Carissa, but I like Tyler a lot this year.

3. Courtney Conlogue, USA

Courtney Conlogue seemed to be on the verge of putting it all together for a couple of years, and in 2015 it all happened. She won three events and finished second on tour after having a shot at the World Title going into the Target Pro. Interestingly, she didn’t make a final in any contest aside from the three she won, but there is little doubt that she’s an elite surfer. I dropped her to third in the Go Left rankings only because I expect such big things from Tyler Wright this season.

4. Stephanie Gilmore, Australia

The only real question relating to Steph Gilmore is her health, but it’s a big question. She missed most of last season due to injury, and she is the elder stateswoman (yet still just 28) in the elite group of the Women’s CT. However, she remains the only other surfer aside from Carissa Moore to win a World Title since the young Hawaiian joined the ranks. It was difficult to figure out where to rank Gilmore coming off last season, but this feels like the right spot. She’s won an amazing six World Titles; can she make it a seventh? I wouldn’t rule out the possibility if she can stay healthy and locked in all season long, but her injury history drops her to fourth in the rankings.

Is Steph Gilmore set for a bounce-back 2016 season?
Courtesy of surfglassy

5. Sally Fitzgibbons

I like Sally Fitzgibbons a lot, but I just couldn’t rank her any higher. Carissa, Courtney and Steph have more style, and Tyler has more power. That kind of leaves Sally in no-man’s land, and while being ranked fifth is nothing to be ashamed of it’s clear that Fitzgibbons craves a World Title. She’s a notoriously hard worker, and I’d love to see it pay off and win her the crown. It’s going to be quite the challenge, though.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Gabriel Medina

Gabriel Medina, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 1

2015 World Ranking: 2

2015 WCT Wins: 1

It was really a tale of two seasons for Medina in 2015. I have to admit that a 25^th and three 13ths in his first five events last season had me scratching my head. Had he enjoyed the offseason a little too much following his remarkable 2014 World Title season? Was 2014 an aberration? These questions were running through my head, but really I just thought that we had a sleeping giant on our hands with too much talent to continue his struggles. It turns out that Medina was that sleeping giant, and a fifth-place finish at J-Bay seemed to signal his awakening. Medina would make at least the quarterfinals in the final six events of the season, again resembling the wunderkind that we saw dominate in 2014.

Gabriel Medina could be about to embark on a run to his second World Title.
Courtesy of A Scott

You could argue that Medina is the most dangerous surfer currently on tour. He can post 10s in so many different conditions thanks to his versatile game. He’s probably the last guy I would want to draw in a random heat to be surfed at a random WCT location. Medina made a name for himself early on with ridiculous airs that a guy of his size usually can’t pull off with such altitude and style. I think a lot of people started to think of him simply as an aerial guy for a bit, but he’s since proven that he can turn it up in a variety of ways in a plethora of conditions.

Medina has a ridiculous backside rail game that makes him a serious threat in any right-heavy event, such as J-Bay, where he reached the quarters in 2015 and started his run. Some of the backside hacks he puts on rights are insane, and he has a smoothness and rhythm to his transitions that yearn for big scores and are often sated by numbers in the excellent range. Before 2014, Medina’s weakness was supposedly big-wave conditions, but his win that year in Fiji squashed that narrative pretty quickly. Just in case anyone saw that victory as a fluke, Gabby put on a show in Tahiti and took home top honors in some serious barrels there as well.

So to recap, Medina started the 2015 season very slowly, and was still in World Title contention at Pipe. That’s extremely hard to do, but the kid finished the year with a 5^th, 2^nd, 3^rd, 1^st, 5^th and 2^nd. If he surfs anything like that for the duration of 2016 he will win his second World Title and make it three straight for Brazil. I still favored Mick Fanning slightly for the crown this season before he announced his abridged schedule, but I wouldn’t be remotely surprised to see Medina run away with the race in the wake of Mick’s decision. I expect John John Florence to be in the running in 2016, and that he and Medina will be battling it out for the World Title for years to come, but I favor Medina significantly right now due to his strategic nature in the lineup. It’s clear that Medina is a perennial World Title threat, and should be for the next decade or so barring major injury.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: John John Florence

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

John John Florence, Hawaii

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 2

2015 World Ranking: 14

2015 WCT Wins: 0

I’ll start by saying that John John is my favorite surfer on tour, and I’m doing my best not to be biased. Some people will see his 2015 ranking of 14^th and think ranking him second for 2016 is crazy, but remember that it was just a year ago that Florence finished the season third in the World Rankings. There is no doubt that 2015 was a disappointing year for John, though. A midseason injury that forced him to miss a pair of events (one of them being Fiji, where he is always a contender) was partially to blame, but the only final Florence made was at Margaret River. In fact, that was the only event that saw John John reach a semifinal. All that being said, Florence could very well be the most talented surfer on the World Tour, so I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I ranked him any lower.

This could be the year of John John Florence.
Courtesy of chde.eu

I’m expecting big things from John John in 2016. It's been reported that he's more motivated to win a World Title than ever, and his win at The Eddie may serve as foreshadowing for a multitude of victories on the CT. Florence is good enough to win in any conditions, and if he locks in on heat strategy a little more this season he could win it all. No matter what, I will be excited every time John John hits the water, a sentiment I imagine plenty of surfers share.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Julian Wilson

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Julian Wilson, Australia

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 3

2015 World Ranking: 6

2015 WCT Wins: 0

Julian Wilson is a surfer that I expect to see take the next step in 2016. While 2014 was a lost year for Wilson aside from a surprising win at Pipe, 2015 was a resurgent campaign for the flashy Aussie. Wilson didn’t win a WCT contest in 2015, but he notched three second-place finishes, as well as a third. One of Wilson’s seconds came at J-Bay, where he and Mick Fanning were both awarded second-place points after the shark attack, but it’s hard to imagine Wilson beating Fanning that day at that break anyway.

Julian Wilson, always supremely confident in the air.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs 

A few years ago I thought of Julian as a guy that could really only challenge the top surfers in high-performance waves. He’s always been dangerous in conditions often seen at Trestles and the like, but over the last couple of years he has become a better-rounded surfer, one that is a threat at every stop on the World Tour. This is evidenced by him taking second-place results at both Snapper and Fiji this year, very dissimilar events. Wilson can take to the air with the best of ‘em, but he can also tuck himself into some really gnarly barrels and get spit out with aplomb.

I must admit that Julian is one of my favorite surfers on the pro tour to watch. He’s got style, a flare for the dramatic, the guts to go for the huge maneuver and an arsenal of skills that make him one of the most exciting competitors at the highest level of the sport. Consistency has often been a weakness for Wilson, and if he can avoid early contest exits in 2016 he should be able to challenge for a Top 5 spot in the rankings and potentially the World Title. He now has the versatile game to make a run at the crown.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Kelly Slater

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Kelly Slater, USA

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 4

2015 World Ranking: 9

2015 WCT Wins: 0

Kelly may be the king, be he didn’t surf like it last season. The guy is 44 years old and it’s incredible that he’s still competing at a high level on the World Tour. However, Slater did not look like the competitor that we’re accustomed to seeing last year. Kelly didn’t win a single WCT contest in 2015, but what’s even more surprising is that he didn’t even make a final. He finished third in Fiji, his home away from home, and he netted fifths at Margaret River, Tahiti and Pipe. Kelly was also able to win the Volcom Pipe Pro, a QS event, last month. Sensing a theme here? Is it possible that Slater is only truly dangerous in big barrels at this point in his career?

Could 2016 be Kelly Slater's best chance for another World Title?
Courtesy of Oziel Marchon

To be honest, I’m not willing to bet against the best surfer in the history of the sport, but his 2015 campaign did give me a moment of pause. Slater did not have those magical moments that we’re used to seeing, pulling out heats in the final seconds with seemingly impossible scores. We need to take into consideration that he was dealing with some nagging injuries last year, to the extent that he even considered skipping the European leg of the tour. He toughed it out an looked good at Pipe before going down in the quarters, but his doing well at Pipe is certainly no surprise.

Many fans have been cringing for years now, nervous that they’ll see a statement from Kelly that he’s hanging it up from the World Tour. It hasn’t happened yet, and would anyone be truly shocked if he bounced back in a big way in 2016 and contended for the world title? Still, his finishing ninth in the world rankings last year felt odd, and hopefully it’s not the beginning of the end for the best of the best. With Mick Fanning only surfing select events in 2016, maybe this is Kelly's best shot to win one more World Title. However, we can't be sure Kelly is going to surf every event in 2016, and this is a big reason that he's not ranked higher here. Regardless what Kelly does this season, every surfing fan should appreciate each wave we get to see this guy ride. 

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Joel Parkinson

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

*With the news that Owen Wright will miss the first half of the season, I have had to make adjustments to the Go Left Projected Top 10 Rankings for the WSL’s 2016 Championship Tour. I originally had Owen fourth in my rankings, and with his participation limited I’ve omitted him entirely from the list. Joel Parkinson, the first man on the outside looking in at the Top 10 following the omission of Mick Fanning, now moves into the Top 10. I will edit previous surfer profiles to reflect these changes as well.

Joel Parkinson, Australia

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 10

2015 World Ranking: 13

2015 WCT Wins: 0

2015 was a down year for Parko; there is no way around that. The oddest thing about last year was that it didn’t really appear as if his surfing had slipped, but he was on the losing end a lot of heats anyway. Perhaps that can be chalked up to bad luck, or the World Tour getting better, but one can’t simply ignore the results that Parko posted. The Aussie vet failed to make a single semifinal in 2015, which was extremely surprising, but he did finish the year with two fifths and a ninth in his last four events. Still, this is a guy that has a World Title to his name and finished just outside the Top 5 in 2014, so we've become accustomed to better results.

Joel Parkinson on the Gold Coast, where he'll look to get off to a good start in 2016.
Courtesy of Michael Dawes

2012’s World Title seems like a long time ago, and there are a lot of young, talented surfers on the rise on the CT. Maybe Parko doesn’t have that fire in his belly anymore, or perhaps he’s just on the downside of his career. He’s one of the smoothest surfers to ever hit the pro tour, and I think we can expect some solid yet unspectacular results from him in 2016. At 34 years old, Parko has had a great career of consistent World Title contention, but perhaps those days are behind him.  

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @ GoLeftSurf

Owen Wright Out For First Half of 2016 Season

Owen Wright has announced that he’ll miss the first half ofthe 2016 WSL Championship Tour season due to injury. Wright suffered a head injury while warming up for the Pipe Masters in December, causing him to miss the final event of the 2015 season. It was a big blow at the time, as Wright was technically in contention for the World Title heading into Pipe, not to mention that he’s one of the best left-handed tube riders on tour and very well could have won arguably the most prestigious surf contest in the world. It’s an even bigger blow now that we know it will affect his status in 2016 as well.

Owen Wright will miss a large chunk of the 2016 CT season.
Courtesy of surfglassy

I had Owen fourth in the Go Left 2016 Projected World Rankings before Mick Fanning’s decision bumped him up to third. Obviously now I must drop Owen from the Top 10 completely, and adjustments to everyone’s ranking will be made accordingly. It’s a shame that Wright’s injury in lingering, especially considering how much it took for him to come back from his last ailment. Hopefully he’ll be back in the water for Fiji and Tahiti, where he has been an absolute standout over the last two years thanks death-defying drops and cavernous barrels that make surf fans weak in the knees. Here’s to getting healthy, Owen. 

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @ GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Adriano De Souza

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Adriano De Souza, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 5

2015 World Ranking: 1

2015 WCT Wins: 2

Adriano De Souza is the reigning WCT Champion, so some people may see my projected 2016 rank for him and think I’m disrespecting the Brazilian. It’s not disrespect; I simply think that everything came together at the right time for De Souza in 2015, and I have a hard time seeing it all shake out the same way in 2016. De Souza has quietly been one of the better surfers on tour for probably half a decade now, and he certainly deserved everything he received last season. Consistency was huge for Adriano in 2015, as he never posted a result worse than a 13^th. That’s extremely difficult to do on today’s World Tour, as the competition from top to bottom is better than it has ever been. De Souza avoiding a second-round exit in every event in 2015 is quite the accomplishment in itself.

Adriano De Souza taking flight.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

To be honest, I was not a huge fan of Adriano for quite some time. His attitude in the water and frequent claims soured me on him a while back, but every time I see an on-camera interview with him he seems like the opposite of the surfer we see in the water. I think it comes to down De Souza being a passionate person and a fiery competitor, not a guy to dislike. 2015 made me come around on him, and now I like to see him do well in events. I also have a lot of respect for the commitment he puts into his craft. The guy basically stalked Jamie O’Brien last year in order to learn the nuances at Pipe, and it paid off big-time.

I would not be surprised to see that I’d underestimated De Souza come season’s end, but I think each of the five surfers I ranked ahead of him have more upside. Adriano could very well place himself in the title race early on yet again and make me look stupid, but I have to go with my gut and rank him sixth. It could be a mistake.

John John Florence Wins The Eddie

Is there anything that John John Florence can't do? Yesterday, after much anticipation, the Eddie was called on. A lot of living legends entered the contest; Clyde Aikau, Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, the list goes on an on. However, it was young John John Florence that bested them all in surf where the word "heavy" doesn't really do it justice.

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is an event that doesn't run every year. The contest requires massive surf at Waimea Bay, and certain conditions must be met in order to see the event get the green light. This contest is a tribute to Aikau, one of the great watermen of Oahu's North Shore. Eddie was a surfer, lifeguard, peacekeeper and hero to many. He famously perished while trying to save the lives of others, inspiring an ESPN 30 For 30 documentary.

John John certainly did Eddie proud yesterday, and one has to wonder if 2016 is Florence's year. Sure, he's not going to be surfing any conditions that even remotely resemble those of yesterday throughout the WSL Championship Tour season, but it's a fact that he's one of the most gifted surfers we've ever seen, and yesterday added another feather to his already crowded cap of accomplishments.

Preseason Surfer Profile: Jordy Smith

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

*With the news that Mick Fanning will not surf a full season, I have had to make adjustments to my Projected Top 10 Rankings for the WSL’s 2016 Championship Tour. I had Mick atop my rankings, and with his participation too difficult to predict I’ve omitted him entirely from the list. Thus, this news, while huge for the 2016 season, merely bumps everyone up one spot for the purpose of the Go Left rankings. Jordy Smith, who was the first man on the outside looking in at the Top 10, now moves into the Top 10. I will edit previous surfer profiles to reflect these changes as well.

**Owen Wright missing the first half of the 2016 season pushed Smith to ninth in the projected rankings.

Jordy Smith, South Africa

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 9

2015 World Ranking: 28

2015 WCT Wins: 0

Jordy Smith lost most of his 2015 season to an injury, as he only surfed in five events. He started off the season pretty well, posting a ninth at Snapper and a fifth at Bells, and looked on track for a solid season yet again. However, getting hurt cost him any chance to compete for a lofty ranking on the year.

Jordy Smith's dynamism has never been in doubt.
Courtesy of Michael Dawes 

Anyone that follows the World Tour knows that Jordy is capable of surfing at an elite level. He surfs with a ton of power, and he’s been one of the best aerial guys on tour since he arrived, despite his size. Smith has finished as high as second in the rankings; in 2010 he ended the year as a distant runner-up to Kelly Slater. In 2014, Smith’s last full season, he finished seventh in the rankings and won at Trestles. That year he made the semis three times and the finals twice. When Jordy first came onto the scene, a lot of people assumed he’d win a World Title. While that window may have closed for him, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a serious rebound season from the South African. This projected ranking could definitely be too low.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Mick Fanning to Surf Only Select Events in 2016

Three-time World Champ Mick Fanning has announced that he’s going to take a personal year, surfing selected events instead of participating in the full 2016 WSL Championship Tour season. That’s huge news. In my opinion, Mick is currently the best competitive surfer on tour, as well as the most consistent. His last four seasons have resulted in finishes of third, first, second and second in the World Rankings. That is incredible, especially when you consider how strong the Top 34 is from top to bottom these days. I had Mick as the number one surfer in the Go Left 2016 Projected World Rankings (adjustments will be made).

Mick Fanning will not surf a full season in 2016.
Courtesy of MarkYourWaves Surf

If anyone deserves some time off, it’s Fanning. 2015 was a tough year for the Aussie star. His much-publicized shark encounter during the J-Bay final would shake anyone to the core, and the fact that he emerged physically unscathed defied all odds. Mick also learned of the passing of his brother during the Pipe Masters last year. Both of these things can certainly change one’s perspective, and how could you do anything but respect Mick’s decision here? He’s said that he will surf Snapper and Bells for sure, and likely J-Bay, but has not committed to any other stops. Mick still wants to remain on tour, making it clear that this is not a retirement, so he’ll have to notch enough points in the events he does surf to qualify for 2017. All in all, this is an understandable move by a guy that has more than earned the right to do whatever he pleases, though it has major ramifications as far as the 2016 season goes.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Filipe Toledo

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Filipe Toledo, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 6

2015 World Ranking: 4

2015 WCT Wins: 3

Filipe Toledo is arguably the most exciting surfer on tour. When he has the chance to take to the air, everybody on the beach collectively holds their breath. Toledo experienced a serious breakout year in 2015, winning two of the first four stops on the World Tour on his way to finishing fourth in the rankings at year’s end. He had a shot at the World Title going into Pipe, but so did several others surfers. While Toledo is known for his air game, he continues to improve the other facets of his surfing each year. A ninth-place finish in Tahiti and a 13^th in Fiji show that he’s improving his barrel riding, something that needs to continue if he wants to win a World Title.

Filipe Toledo, doing what he does best and going to the air.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

Toledo is no longer just an aerial specialist, which makes him a contender in 2016. However, I see a bit of regression coming in his ranking, mostly due to the positives I expect from guys that could leapfrog him in the ranks more than any negatives relating to Toledo. Filipe is still just 20 years old, though, and if he makes significant strides at certainly tour stops this season he could end up winning the World Title. I don’t think I can remember a season in which there were so many legitimate World Title contenders. Hell, Brazil has three on its own. Toledo is a must-see surfer in rampy conditions, and if he can continue to get better at other events on tour he could very well be hoisting the hardware next winter. 

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Italo Ferreira

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Italo Ferreira, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 7 

2015 World Ranking: 7

2015 WCT Wins: 0

I must admit, I did not see Italo Ferreira coming in 2015. To be honest, I didn’t know much about the Brazilian when the year started, but that quickly changed. Italo looked like he belonged with the big boys right out of the gate when he posted a ninth at Snapper Rocks. After a pair of less-than-stellar results on the remainder of the Aussie leg, Ferreira really began to show his chops in Rio when he did his brethren proud by appearing in the semifinals. I was prepared to chalk that up as a fluky result, but there was no denying this kid’s staying power after he reached the quarters in Fiji.

Ferreira throwing some spray on his backhand at J-Bay.
Courtesy of Leo za1

Italo continued to post good finishes as the season progressed, including a fifth in Tahiti, a fifth in France and a second in Portugal. It was a no-brainer to vote him as Rookie of the Year, and he finished in the Top 10 for the season. Italo surfs well in all conditions. He has an electric air game, and he quickly proved himself in barrels as well. His backside hacks are always on-point, and he’s a real threat to break into the Top 5 this season if things really click for him. He failed to reach Round Three just one time in 2015, an amazing feat for a rookie. There could be big things in store for this youngster.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf