Men's Rip Curl Pro Bells Update

Some serious swell arrived over the weekend for the Rip CurlPro Bells Beach, and the best surfers in the world greeted it with some fantastic performances in less-than-perfect Bells walls. We’ve seen more impressive performances from rookies and wildcards, as well as some big names going down, similar to the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast. Here are some highlights of the men's contest thus far:

Kelly Slater, who was eliminated early at Snapper, narrowly escaped a Round 2 upset before falling to Michel Bourez in Round 3. Slater fans are certainly feeling nervous that his subpar results this season could result in a truncated schedule for the 11-time World Champ. Was this the last time we saw Kelly at Bells? Let's hope not.

Mason Ho made some noise in this event last year, and he’s performing even better this time around. Ho has a versatile game and a unique style, and he used that to bounce Jeremy Flores in Round 2 and defeat the reigning World Champ Adriano De Souza in the following round. After a semifinal at Pipe in 2015, it’s clear that Ho knows he belongs in the water with the top CT competitors.

Following an early exit at Snapper, Mick Fanning looks extremely sharp. He could definitely use the points toward qualifying in 2017 since he won’t surf all of the events this year. However, it remains uncertain if he truly wants to return to the CT full time ever again. He was in the booth before the event started and he seemed extremely relaxed.

Sebastian Zietz and Kolohe Andino had a dramatic Round 2 heat that saw Seabass pull out the score he needed in the closing seconds of the draw. It seemed he was overscored, though, and Andino’s exit nets him a disappointing  25^th following his runner-up finish at Snapper.

Speaking of Snapper, Quiksilver Pro champ and reigning World #1 Matt Wilkinson has looked really good at Bells thus far. A shot of him getting ready for a heat showed a different Wilko than we’re used to. He looked intense and focused, as opposed to the jovial guy we’re accustomed to seeing. Another big result for Wilko and we may have to start seriously talking about him as a World Title contender in 2016.

Matt Wilkinson has come out firing in 2016.
Courtesy of Rian Castillo

Jordy Smith has always performed well in powerful waves, and his Round 3 heat reminded anyone who may have forgotten that. He posted a 9+ that showcased his raw power in big walls, and he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on this season. Don’t forget that he was one of the best CT competitors just a few years ago and is healthy for the first time in a while.

Conner Coffin continues to showcase a rail game that is going to net him good results. He bounced Joel Parkinson in Round 3, and I remain extremely impressed by the rookie. Two more big upsets from rookies followed Coffin’s toward the end of Round 3, as Caio Ibelli upset John John Florence and Davey Cathels beat former World Champ Gabriel Medina. I thought Ibelli got dramatically overscored on his heat-winning wave against John John, but he surfed really well nonetheless. These rookies are for real.

Here is a look at the Round 4 non-elimination heats on the way:

Italo Ferreira vs. Nat Young vs. Julian Wilson: This is a really interesting heat. This is Young’s pet event, and he’s been great on his backhand. However, Italo Ferreira has been a monster on his backhand as well. Wilson is the best overall surfer of the three, making this heat extremely hard to predict. I’d lean Young here, but it’s really close.

Matt Wilkinson vs. Wiggolly Dantas vs. Mason Ho: The Wilko hype is real! In all seriousness, though, he looks like a guy that wants to win big this season. I’m not picking against him until he loses a heat or matches up with a top guy. Keep an eye on Ho, though.

Mick Fanning vs. Jordy Smith vs. Conner Coffin: This is a heat of raw power, and the one I’m looking forward to the most in this round. Of course, you have to favor Mick here, but Jordy and Conner both have games built for Bells. I can’t wait for this heat.

Michel Bourez vs. Caio Ibelli vs. Davey Cathels: This is probably the least splashy of the heats, but it’s still intriguing. Here we’ve got a pair of rookies matched up with a tour vet that has won multiple contests over the years. It never made sense to me that Bourez hasn't performed that well at Bells in previous years, and he may have figured something out over the weekend. I’m taking The Spartan after his win over Kelly in the previous round.

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

Fantasy Picks for Men's Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Here is a look at the Go Left Fantasy Surfer team for the Men’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach:

Mick Fanning ($10,750,000): Mick saw a surprising early exit at Snapper, and if he wants to qualify while surfing select events he’ll need a good result at Bells. He won this event last year, and I expect him to advance deep yet again.

Nat Young ($7,500,000): This is Young’s best event on the CT, as his backhand was built for hefty rights like Bells. I love the value here for a guy that always does well at this tour stop.

Joel Parkinson ($7,000,000): I get a discount on the Aussie vet here thanks to my picking him on the Gold Coast as well, as his price to add to a team is now $7,500,000. Parko has done very well at Bells in the past, and his smooth rail game should have plenty of room to operate on some nice Bells walls.

Kelly Slater ($7,000,000): I don’t think Kelly took kindly to being eliminated early on at Snapper, and I think we may seem him get on a tear at the Rip Curl Pro. How can you not take him at this price?

Matt Wilkinson ($5,500,000): Here’s another carryover from my Snapper team, so I get Wilko at a $1,000,000 discount. It will be awesome to see the Aussie donning the yellow jersey after his win on the Gold Coast. He historically has not done well at Bells, which is a surprise given his strong backhand. 2016 Wilko looks like a new Wilko, though, and the discount was enough for me to play him.

Kolohe Andino ($4,500,000): Andino is coming off a runner-up at Snapper, and he carries another carryover discount for me. I don’t necessarily expect him to thrive at Bells, but his price tag presented great value.

Conner Coffin ($3,500,000): I really liked what I saw from Coffin at Snapper, as he’s got an old-school rail game that should suit Bells well. I love his value here.

Michel Bourez ($4,750,000): I don’t know why the Spartan has not been a standout at Bells over the years, as he’s got the kind of style that should suit the location well. I needed to fill my last slot, and I liked his price, but it’s definitely a risky pick.

Alternate – Sebastian Zietz: Seabass fell off the tour officially, but we should see him in a multitude of events this season. He looked sharp at Snapper, and he looks like the safest alternate option. Mason Ho and Stu Kennedy are good picks for an alternate slot as well.

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

Rip Curl Pro Bells Men's Preview

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast kicked off the 2016 CT season with a thrill ride of upsets and chaos, and at the end of it all stood Matt Wilkinson, smiling and ready to don the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. The waiting period for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach begins March 24^th, and Round 1 holds some interesting heats.

Heat 2 – Julian Wilson vs. Stuart Kennedy vs. Adam Melling: Wilson, my pick to win the Quiksilver Pro, bowed out unexpectedly in Round 2, while Kennedy was the upset special of the event. Stu took down several of the biggest names on tour and advanced all the way to the semifinals at Snapper Rocks. His equipment was the talk of the event, and it will be interesting to see how he follows up a career performance. Is Julian ripe for another early loss?

Heat 4 – Gabriel Medina vs. Conner Coffin vs. TBD

Medina, like Wilson, experienced an early exit at Snapper, his coming in Round 3. He can’t afford a slow start to a second consecutive season, as it likely cost him the World Title last year. However, things won’t be easy with Coffin lurking in this heat. I was really impressed by Coffin’s power rail game at Snapper, and he should be able to unleash that even further at Bells, especially if it gets big. Medina is a dynamo on his backhand in big waves, though, making this a great matchup.

Heat 5 – Mick Fanning vs. Keanu Asing vs. TBD

It’s all about Mick here, as he was eliminated in Round 3 at Snapper in perhaps the biggest surprise of the event. Fanning doesn’t plan to surf all of the CT events in 2016, so he needs a big result at Bells to earn some serious qualifying points toward 2017.

Mick Fanning could use a good result at Bells to help him qualify for 2017.
Courtesy of MarkYourWavesSurf

Heat 6 – Adriano De Souza vs. Michel Bourez vs. TBD

The reigning champ looked good at Snapper, and he traditionally performs well at Bells. However, Michel Bourez has the kind of power game that can really look good in this event. Could we see an upset? I say no, but the matchup is intriguing. 

Heat 7 – Kelly Slater vs. Kai Otton vs. Alex Ribeiro

Kelly didn’t look great on the Gold Coast, as his equipment seemed a bit slow. There’s always the danger of a bad result at Bells cuing a truncated schedule for Slater this season, and no surfing fan wants that.

Heat 9 – Matt Wilkinson vs. Kolohe Andino vs. Miguel Pupo

Here we’ve got the two finalists from the Quiksilver Pro battling it out in Round 1. Wait, what? I was under the impression that the heats are created by ranking, so how is the current World #1 facing the current World #2 in the first round? I need someone to explain this to me.

Heat 12 – John John Florence vs. Jordy Smith vs. Jadson Andre

John John looked really good before being eliminated at Snapper, seeming to have a more strategic approach to his heats. That could spell serious trouble for the rest of the CT competitors. Jordy should be able to thrive at Bells thanks to his power, but does he have enough to upset Florence?

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

Takeaways From the Gold Coast

The World Surf League Championship Tour season kicked off this past week with a pair of events that were exciting, dramatic and entertaining. Here are some takeaways from the Gold Coast:

The Winners: Let’s start with Matt Wilkinson. Snapper marked Wilko’s first CT victory, and he was a standout all the way through. I had a good feeling about Wilko heading into the event, putting him on my Fantasy Surfer team, but I didn't expect him to win the event. The Aussie surfed the minimum number of heats possible in the event, and his backhand was on full display on each day of competition. He’s just the third goofyfoot (Go Left!) to win the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, and he did it in convincing fashion. Some people may point to the Filipe Toledo injury and try to cheapen the victory, but don’t let that influence you. A win on the CT is incredibly tough to pull off, and some really good surfers never get one.

Matt Wilkinson's backhand is lethal.
Courtesy of Rian Castillo

As for Tyler Wright, I have to say that her win was even more impressive than Wilko’s. I’ve had a feeling that we were going to see a new Tyler Wright in 2016, and so far so good on that prediction. She looked great in Round 1 and never stopped shredding. Perhaps what is most impressive about her win is that she had to finish it out with wins over Carissa Moore and Courtney Conlogue, the Top 2 surfers from 2015. Wright seems focused and ready to seriously contend for the World Title this season, and she’ll be wearing yellow at Bells.

*I’d like to give a special nod Glenn “Micro” Hall, who began coaching both Wilko and Tyler this past offseason. He’s off the tour now, but he’s making more of an impact than ever. I dare say more people could be clamoring for his services in the not-too-distant future.

The Upsets and Rookies: The Quiksilver pro was filled with upsets, as guys like Julian Wilson, Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina were all bounced really early at Snapper. Conner Coffin, Kanoa Ingarashi and Caio Ibelli all reached Round 5, which is basically unheard of for a trio of rookies in their first event of the year. I was especially impressed with Coffin, who possesses a powerful rail game that should net him some big scores in several spots on tour this season. Is this the year of parity in the CT ranks, or was this just a fluke occurrence?

The Women’s CT: The Women’s CT is in a great place right now. There are multiple surfers that are legitimately capable of winning a World Title, especially if Carissa Moore has a down year (dubious). But it’s not just top-heavy anymore. The depth of the women’s tour is only getting better, and standout performances by the likes of Johanne Defay and Bronte Macauley only prove this further.

Johanne Defay showed some progressive surfing on the Gold Coast.
Courtesy of chde.eu

Stu Kennedy's Board: Stuart Kennedy was the talk of the event for most of the week. His board looked faster than any other, and he parlayed that drive all the way to the Semifinals. Kennedy took down Kelly, Medina and John John along the way, showing that he is deserving of the major sponsor he lacks. While his performance was electric, his equipment may have gotten more attention. The Sci-Phi model is actually due to be released soon, and designed by none other than Slater Designs.

Mick Fanning’s Requalification: Mick has said he’s only going to surf select events this season, but he intends on requalifying for 2017. However, with a Round 3 exit at Snapper, Mick may have to surf more events than he wants to in order to earn enough points. Of course, he’ll probably win at Bells and shut me up, so let’s move along.

Toledo’s Injury: Filipe Toledo injured his hip/back/leg/unclear landing an air on some backwash. We don’t have much information, but he was headed from the beach to the hospital for some tests. He seemed pretty upbeat in a quick interview before his departure, so hopefully it’s not that serious. If he is forced to miss any events, it really shakes up the World Title race.

Some post-Snapper rankings that stand out:

Men’s CT

1. Matt Wilkinson: Speaks for itself.

2. Kolohe Andino: I thought 2015 was going to be a big year for Brother. Maybe I was a year early?

3. Stuart Kennedy: He should get a lot of injury replacement slots this season, so get used to seeing him.

5. Joel Parkinson: Parko looked good at Snapper before running into the buzz saw that was a pre-injury Toledo. Does he have another title run left in him?

5. John John Florence: John John looks motivated and more strategic. Every other surfer on tour should take note.

9. Conner Coffin: He was the most impressive of the rookies at Snapper.

13. Mick Fanning: Surprisingly early exit from the three-time world champ.

13. Gabriel Medina: Another slow start to the year is not what the former champ is looking for.

25. Julian Wilson: It was an ugly couple of days for Julian, who didn’t look like himself. Let’s hope he gets himself right for Bells.

Women’s CT

1. Tyler Wright: Could it be her year?

3. Carissa Moore: She didn’t look great, but she still made the semis. Look for fireworks at Bells.

5. Steph Gilmore: She’s back, but she’s not all the way back. Will she pick up steam as the season goes on?

5. Tatiana Weston-Webb: I really really impressed by the young Hawaiian at Snapper. How long until she’s competing for a World Title?

9. Bronte Macauley: Loved her style, and would love to see her in some events this season.

13. Sally Fitzgibbons: Sally experienced her first-ever Round 2 exit this week. Don’t expect it to become a regular thing. 

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

Upsets Abound on the Gold Coast

If there has been one theme of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, it’s been the upsets. We have seen giant after giant slain by wild cards and replacements, and the remaining field certainly doesn’t look like what I expected to see. The boys are halfway through the non-elimination Round 4, but there are not many big names left.

The first big upset came two days ago when Julian Wilson went down in Round 2. He looked off in his Round 1 heat, and Sebastian Zietz took him out the next round. One heat later Kelly Slater fell to Stu Kennedy, setting the tone for the upset theme at Snapper.

Things continued to get wacky in Round 3, where we saw Mick Fanning, Gabriel Medina and Taj Burrow all go down. However, one juggernaut that looked as good as we expected was Filipe Toledo. Toledo has won all of his heats, including Round 4, and has already locked up a spot in the Quarterfinals. He looks like the in-form surfer of the event thus far, and we could see back-to-back wins for the Brazilian on the Gold Coast. I mean, just look:

Aside from Toledo, we’ve still got big guns like John John Florence, Joel Parkinson and Adriano De Souza lurking, but there are also surprises like Stu Kennedy and Conner Coffin still alive. Both guys have looked excellent on this event, and it will be interesting to see just how deep that can advance. Toledo and Matt Wilkinson have locked up their spots in the quarters, and we should see more heats today.

Here are the latest highlights:

Quiksilver Pro Round 1 Recap

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast kicked off yesterday in some fun surf. Let’s take a look at how Round 1 played out:

Heat 1: Snapper suits Italo Ferreira well, and he started fast with the first wave of the season. It wasn’t anything special, but his smoothness on his backhand was evident from the get-go. That same smoothness earned him a 6.83 later in the heat, which ended up being the difference-maker. Ryan Callinan got close, but Italo earned the berth into Round 3.

Heat 2: This was a strong heat, and I noted that it was a tough draw for Julian Wilson. Small waves are usually not the forte of Michel Bourez, but he looked good, more like the 2014 version of The Spartan. Julian, my pick to win the event, finished third in this heat. Not time to panic yet.

Heat 3: Filipe Toledo won this event last year, and he looked good to start things off this time around. He took to the air in waves that didn’t seem all that conducive, but that’s become his trademark. He’ll be tough to beat at Snapper. Leaving him off my Fantasy Surfer team seemed suspect at the time, and now it feels even worse.

Did you leave Filipe Toledo off your Fantasy Surfer team? Probably not a great move.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

Heat 4: Medina Medina Medina. No slow start this season. The Brazilian looked dialed in, and his backhand is just naughty. He’s my pick to win the World Title this season.

Heat 5: Mick Fanning might not surf all of the events this season, but it’s clear that he didn’t slack off in training for this event. He put up the best heat total of the round and looked like the classic Mick on a pair of 8+ waves. Wade Carmichael, who narrowly missed out on a full-time spot on tour, get a nod here for surfing really well. Drawing Mick is tough.

Heat 6: Mikey Wright won a really tight heat here, upsetting the reigning World Champ. Adriano looked solid, as did Kolohe Andino, but Wright edged it out.

Heat 7: Jeremy Flores is one of the more underrated surfers on tour. Sure, everyone knows he’s an incredible barrel riders on his backhand, but the Reunion Island native can tag some lips too. His rail game looked on point in Round 1.

Heat 8: Matt Wilkinson has always had immense talent, but it only seems to translate to contest sporadically. Perhaps this was one of those sporadic occurrences, or maybe Wilko will finally put it together this year. You’ve got to love his backhand, and he showcased why yesterday. He scored a 9.33 on one wave, going vertical with some serious hacks. He took down Kelly Slater, the master, in this heat. Rookie Conner Coffin had one of the best turns of the event here too.

Heat 9: A bit of an unspectacular heat here, but Nat Young looked solid. Solid is probably the best way to describe the Santa Cruz goofy-footer most of the time. He definitely showed his power in this heat, and the judges seemed to like it.

Nat Young's power was on display on the Gold Coast yesterday.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

Heat 10: It feels like Taj Burrow is a bit of a forgotten man this year, and I may be as guilty as the next guy. Taj looked great yesterday on his forehand, and I’m glad I put him on my fantasy team for this event. It’s kind of amazing that he hasn’t won a World Title, and his window sure seems like it’s closed. Who says he can’t post a Top 5 finish this year, though?

Heat 11: For me, this heat was all about Jordy Smith when it began, but Wiggolly Dantas stole the show. He was dominant, surfing two really good waves and sending Jordy to Round 2.  

Heat 12: This was the heat I was most excited for in the first round. Joel Parkinson, the veteran, was able to outdo the young guns in this one. His patented smoothness was on display. While that’s not flashy, it got the job done. John John Florence and Jack Freestone both surfed good heats, but ultimately came up short. Parko just did a great job of maximizing his scores on waves that were not all that great, and that ended up being the difference.

The winners head to Round 3, while the rest of the guys have to surf in Round 2. Until then...

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

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Fantasy Surfer Picks

Here is a look at the Go Left Fantasy Surfer team for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast:

Mick Fanning ($11.5M): Mick’s taking some time off this season, but I doubt he even considered missing out on Snapper. He still wants to qualify for the 2017 CT, so he knows he needs good results in the events in which he does participate. Therefore, don’t expect to see a laid-back approach from Mick on the Gold Coast. This is an event that Mick loves, and expect him to perform well.

Julian Wilson ($9.5M): Snapper suits Julian well, and he showed that last year by making the Final. He’s got an amazing arsenal, and I think 2016 will be a big year for him. Look for Wilson to get off to a hot start with a good result on the Gold Coast. He's my pick to win the event.

Joel Parkinson ($7M): Parko is just a year removed from making the Final at Snapper, and historically he has performed well at this event. The price tag is great for him here, and I think he’s definitely worth the selection.

Taj Burrow ($6.5M): This is a very similar pick to the Parko selection. Taj is another veteran that has performed well at Snapper over the years, and like Parko he’s got a very reasonable price tag.

Matt Wilkinson ($.5.5M): Sure, Wilko is a goofy-footer and Snapper is a right point, but Matty is at his best on his backhand. He made it to Round 5 in 2015, and he’s fresh off a victory at Surfest. He’s good value.

Koloho Andino ($3.5M): Brother had a disappointing 2015 season on the CT, but he backed himself up by surfing QS events and requalifying that way. I thought Andino was set for a career year heading into 2015, and I’m still not quite sure what happened last season. He’s supremely talented, and I like his chances of pulling an upset or two at Snapper. The talent you’re getting for the low price here is tough to find.

Jack Freestone ($3.5M): Freestone actually surfed in this event as a Wild Card last year, so there’s the experience factor. He actually performed pretty well, but was ousted in Round 2 when he came up against Kelly Slater. For this price you’re basically looking for a lottery ticket, and Freestone could take a heat or two if he gets the right waves.

Matt Banting ($3M): One of the best values of the event, in my opinion. Banting missed most of his rookie year due to injury, but prior to the ailment he took down Mick Fanning in Round 1 of this event last year before being edged out by Jordy Smith in Round 3. Not a bad track record for a guy you can get for $3M. 

When picking a lineup, my usual strategy is to spend big money only on guys that I trust to advance deep and have a real shot at winning the event (Mick, Julian). Value is a big part of this particular lineup (Parko, Taj) as well, and should always be a major consideration in building a well-rounded and deep lineup. To round things out it's always good to get some high-upside sleepers to use as lottery tickets (Kolohe, Banting). Excluding certain surfers will always be tough (Toledo, Medina), but the budget is the budget.

Play Fantasy Surfer and take a crack at your own lineup. It's free to play, and there are prizes to be won. 

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

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

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: 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

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

Mick Fanning Leads World Tour Rankings

In 1976, Peter Townend was named surfing's first World Champion. The odd part about that honor being bestowed on Townend was the fact that he didn't win an event that year. However, he surfed the most events and was consistent enough in those contests that the point system used by the then-IPS awarded him the trophy (even if the trophy was a fake). This year, we've got another Townend situation brewing, as Mick Fanning has been the model of consistency this season, reaching at least the quarterfinals of every event this year but failing to win one as of yet. We're at the mid-point of the tour, and Mick owns a narrow lead over Kelly Slater. Reigning World Champ Joel Parkinson, fresh off his dramatic win at Keramas, has catapulted himself into third place in the rankings after some disappointing results earlier in the year. Jordy Smith is currently slated fourth, while Taj Burrow rounds out the Top 5.

Who is the favorite to win the World Title this season? Your guess is as good as mine, as this race feels increasingly tight with every passing event. Nobody is separating themselves from the pack, but again, there are still five events to be surfed. Could Mick keep surfing well but missing out on wins and still take home the title this season? It's possible unless someone really tightens their game and puts up some big results. If I were Fanning, I would be most worried about Kelly and Parko, for rather obvious reasons. Kelly can win any event at any time, and if he decides to flip his killer instinct switch he could run away with this thing before anyone knew what happened. Parko, on the other hand, just got his first win of the season, and in doing so looked like the Parko of 2012. These three guys are the favorites right now in my eyes, though Jordy, Taj and Adriano are definitely in the mix. If you want a dark horse, then I'd go with Nat Young, who is surfing better than ever right now and has shown some serious consistency in his own right this season. Should be a hell of a race.

Bali Pro Down to Quarters

Hell of a day yesterday for Rounds 4 and 5 of the Oakley Bali Pro, as Keramas went off with some incredible barrels, and the boys went hunting for deep tubes (highlights below). The performance of the day undoubtedly came from reigning World Title champion Joel Parkinson, who put up a perfect heat in Round 5 against John John Florence's 19.20 in the best head-to-head performance of the competition thus far. Just going into that heat and knowing that one of those guys was going to be eliminated didn't feel quite right, but afterward it really seemed like they both deserved to advance. A vet-on-vet upset occurred in Round 5 when C.J. Hobgood ousted current number one Kelly Slater, and another stunner came one heat later when Nat Young bounced Adriano De Souza from the contest.

Here is a look at the quarters matchups:

Taj Burrow vs. Joel Parkinson
-What a heat this will be. Both guys looked seriously on their game yesterday, and it might come down to wave selection, which is why I'd give Parko the nod here. The champ hasn't won a contest yet this year, and it's really starting to feel like that streak is going to end.

Josh Kerr vs. C.J. Hobgood
Kerr had a fantastic Round 4 heat where to took down both Kelly and John John, so he's on a roll. His tube-riding has been better than I expected, as he's proving that he's much more than just an aerial guy. Will C.J.'s veteran savvy be enough here?

Julian Wilson vs. Nat Young
Julian is probably my favorite surfer on tour, though I felt he coasted a little yesterday and didn't love that. He'll need to compete harder to take down Young, one of the hottest surfers over the past few events. This is a great matchup of young guns and it's fun to know one of them will end up in the semis.

Michel Bourez vs. Mick Fanning
Normally I'd almost assume Mick is going to win this one, but Michel's game has looked tighter this week than I've ever seen it. He's becoming one of the more impressive power surfers on tour, and he's had a patient approach to this event that has netted him some of the best waves in the lineup. If pressed for a pick, I'd still take Mick, but I think it's much closer than you'd think at first glance.

Kelly is King

In an interview following his convincing victory over Sebastian Zietz in the quarterfinals of the Volcom Fiji Pro yesterday, Kelly Slater made a simple statement, "I want to win this contest." It sounded harmless enough, but if you watched his heat before the interview, you knew it was Kelly time. Slater posted a perfect heat in the quarters, putting up a pair of 10-point barrel rides in the span of three minutes that surely left his rookie opponent dizzied out the back. We've seen it time and time again; when Kelly wants it bad enough, he's unstoppable. Add in the fact that he has more experience at Cloudbreak than anyone else on tour, and I didn't see a way Kelly could lose. And he didn't disappoint.

Kelly got busy early against John John Florence in the semis and went on to post an 18.17 to advance to the finals, where he met Mick Fanning. Fanning had just eeked out heats in the quarters and semis, and I didn't feel like he was much of a threat to Kelly. But nobody would have been a threat to the master, as Slater posted yet another perfect 10 along the way to a 19.80 score in the final heat. It was like watching a movie you know the ending to, but still being enthralled every step of the way. That's the kind of surfer and entertainer that Kelly Slater is.

With his victory in Fiji, Kelly moves up into a place he knows better than anyone in the history of surfing, the top spot in the World Tour rankings. He currently enjoys a narrow lead over Mick, who has been incredibly consistent this season with finishes of third, fifth, third and second. Jordy Smith followed up his win in Rio with a fifth in Fiji, good enough to put him third in the ranks. We've now got a quick turnaround for the next event, the Oakley Pro Bali, as the waiting period starts on June 18th.

Cloudbreak Comes Alive

The Fiji Pro got going again yesterday, and we saw why contest organizers were being patient in calling the contest on, as we saw some incredible waves comes through Cloudbreak. This quote from Kelly Slater (via ASP), a guy who has probably surfed this break more than any non-Fijian, really says it all about the conditions:

“That was unbelievable,” Slater said. “Those were some of the best waves I’ve ever had in a contest. On the 10, I was deep in the barrel and grabbed my rail, but I had to let go to get speed and then I hit the foam ball, I barely made that one. I did the turn and got another tube. On that one big one, it was so perfect and I just wanted to be in the right spot. As I was in the barrel, it spit really hard and there was lots of mist and I couldn’t see. The foamball pushed my tail up in to the wave and I just couldn’t come out the way I wanted to. I didn’t even care if I won or lost, because I’d get to surf again.”

That last statement was essentially the theme of yesterday's heats; the pros were so stoked and frothing at the sight of a pumping Cloudbreak that one of the sport's biggest events of the year boiled down to a simple and pure love for surfing. These guys are pros, but they were all little kids once that audibly oohed and aahed at hollow barrells and open faces. They still ooh and ahh, usually silently, but sometimes that little kid inside gets too excited an makes an appearance, and that's great to see. They're not surfing robots, after all, though sometimes their performance might have you suspecting otherwise.

We got down to the quarters yesterday, and here are the matchups:

John John Florence vs. Jordy Smith

Kelly Slater vs. Sebastian Zietz

C.J. Hobgood vs. Josh Kerr

Joel Parkinson vs. Mick Fanning

I've got to stick with my original pick of Kelly to win it all, but really several of these guys have surfed well enough thus far to make my confidence in that pick wane a bit, just because so many competitors have looked so good. John John has probably consistently surfed the best in the contest to this point, with Jordy a close second and Kelly probably right behind them, though Slater's Round 4 heat was absolutely insane. Zietz has shown that he can translate his Pipe skills to Cloudbreak without issue, C.J. Hobgood is one of the best lefthanded barrel riders in the world and always kills it in Fiji, Parko seems to finally be coming alive this season and Mick put together a 19-plus heat in the last round. This should be a great finish at what has probably my third-favorite event on the tour.

Volcom Fiji Pro Preview

The Volcom Fiji Pro's waiting period is set to kick off on Sunday, and there's reason to be excited. This is one of my favorite events on tour; I mean, it's set at one of the best lefts in the world. Cloudbreak is one of the coolest waves on the planet when it's on, as it can give incredible barrels and huge faces depending on the conditions, and Restaurants is a left that goofy footers like me dream of. Last year Kelly won the event in the biggest non-surprise of the year. Tavarua is essentially Kelly's home away from home at this point, and nobody on tour has surfed there more than the legend himself.

I hate to go chalk on a prediction, but let's just get that out of the way now. I can't in my right mind predict anyone but Slater to take home first at the Fiji Pro, but there are some guys that could challenge him. Last year Gabriel Medina made a nice run on his forehand before getting squashed by the king in the finals. The Hobgoods are always dangerous in any left-handed tube. Jordy Smith, fresh off his win in Rio, is a threat as well. He's been in Tavarua basically since Rio to prep for this event.

The real challenger to Kelly in this event, though? I think it will be Mick Fanning. I love how Mick has been surfing this year, and his consistent results prove that he's in top form this season. He's one of the most focused surfers on tour, and while Cloudbreak might not suit him perfectly, he's my best bet to take down Kelly. 

No matter who wins, these elite surfers will be treated to a week or two in paradise, surfing two of the best waves in the planet in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Cheers, boys. Nice life choices. 

Jordy Wins in Rio

Jordy Smith has come into this season more mature and more focused after an offseason spent working on his repertoire, and the fruits of his labor are starting to show. The 25-year-old took down Brazil's own Adriano De Souza in the finals of the Billabong Pro Rio on Saturday to take home his first event of the tour season. The win, which followed up a third at Bells, puts Jordy in second place in the world tour standings right now, behind only De Souza, who leads Smith by a measly 250 points.

Adriano came out typically aggressive in the final heat, nabbing some early waves, but Jordy's patience eventually paid off. Smith's exuberance was on display after an 8.50 ride in which he linked together an aerial maneuver and a carving turn in one of the most seamless manners I've ever seen, as the South African was putting on an uncharacteristically big claim. But it may be Ariano's personality in the water that brings out the claims in his competitors. Personally, I'm not of fan of De Souza's attitude out there, but he certainly makes for fiery heats. Jordy put Adirano away for good when he busted a huge air with a grab that netted him a score of better than nine, and that was all she wrote.

One must remember that Smith was a legitimate world title contender in 2010 before struggling a bit the last two seasons. As one of the bigger surfers on tour, his power is unmatched in the water, something that puts him in elite company even among the best in the world. Could this be the year that Jordy breaks through and wins it all?

It's worth noting that Mick Fanning is right behind Adriano and Jordy in the season standings right now, as he's been the Peter Townend of the season through three events, not winning any contests but consistently contending and racking up points.  Thus far in 2013, Fanning has posted finishes of third, fifth and third, so he's in the hunt, as usual. Kelly is currently slated fourth, so as long as he's in striking distance everyone above him will be looking over their shoulders. Rounding out the Top Five is Taj Burrow, who is always near the top of the standings but never actually at the top despite his talent level.

A few other notes include the fact that Gabriel Medina finally had a strong showing this season, posting a third-place finish and showing that he's damn close to healthy if not fully there. He should be back in the title hunt within a few events; he posted a perfect 10 in the quarters that was downright naughty. Nat Young has been surfing really well this season, and he's currently ranked sixth. Reigning champion Joel Parkinson posted his second straight 13th, but it's too early to panic about Parko. Also Ace Buchan has surfed really well the last two events.

Here are highlights from the quarters on:

Rio Pro Preview

Tomorrow marks the start of the waiting period for the third event of this World Tour season, the Billabong Rio Pro. First thing's first; last year's winner, John John Florence, will miss the event with an ankle injury sustained earlier this season on the Gold Coast, so we'll have no repeat for the young gun this week. John John is undoubtedly already one of the top surfers on tour, despite his young age. It's a shame his world title hopes were dashed so early this season, but he's got plenty of years ahead of him. Last year, John John took down eventual World Champ Joel Parkinson in the final, so look for Parko to bring his best stuff to Rio once again, though that's really not going out on a limb considering the high level that Parko has been surfing at since coming back from his gruesome heel injury two years ago.

Obviously Kelly is always a threat, so no need to go into that, but I'd keep an eye on Taj Burrow. He's in the best shape of his career and has posted a third and fifth-place finish thus far this season. He currently trails only Kelly in points after two events, as does Mick Fanning. Mick is always a threat, though his best is not enough to beat some of the more flashy surfers when they're at the top of their game. I thought Jordy Smith looked really good at Bells, and I expect him to be legitimately in the hunt for the World Title this year thanks to a more mature approach.

As always, I'll be keeping a close eye on Julian Wilson, my personal favorite surfer on the World Tour since Dane Reynolds decided to focus less on competition and more on just being Dane (which I fully support). Julian has shown flashes of World Title potential, but he seems to get outmaneuvered (figuratively more than literally) pretty consistently by the tour vets, especially Parko. The conditions will dictate whether or not high-flyers like Wilson and Josh Kerr have a real shot at this thing.

Mick Fanning
Photo: Wikimedia (kanaka)

And you simply can't talk about any World Tour event without mentioning perhaps the highest of flyers, Gabriel Medina. I'm not sure how healthy his ankle is, but if it's close to 100 percent then it goes without saying that the Brazilian wunderkind is a contender. He and John John are going to be headlining the big boy tour for the next decade.

If pressed, I'd take Mick in this one, mostly on a gut call, but not completely without reason.  The Aussie has looked as solid as ever thus far this season and I think this event suits him well. He was edged out by Parko in the semis last year, and this time I think he goes all the way. You can watch the webcast of the event live here.