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

Women's Rip Curl Pro Bells Round 1 Recap

Round 1 of the Women’s Rip Curl Pro got underway at Bells Beach yesterday and we saw some early upsets before things settled down into predictability. Here are the Round 1 results:

Heat 1 - Bianca Buitendag defeats Stephanie Gilmore and Chelsea Tuach: Bianca got busy early, but when Gilmore put up an 8.00 about halfway through the heat I thought the three-time Bells champ had this locked up. However, Buitendag looked good on her backhand, as she always does, and she scored big toward the end of the heat to pull the upset. Tuach’s lack of experience at tricky Bells was evident, but she’ll only get better at wave selection with more time.

Heat 2 – Malia Manuel defeats Sally Fitzgibbons and Alessa Quizon: Another upset early in this event. The waves were really tricky in this heat, and Sally only got two legitimate waves. Malia backed up a good wave with a solid one, and that’s all she needed. Sally is yet to win a heat this season. I never thought I would be typing that here. She needs a Round 2 victory.

Heat 3 – Carissa Moore defeats Keely Andrew and Brisa Hennessy: The chalk prevails here. Carissa was solid yet unspectacular, but the waves were not conducive to the sharpest surfing in the world. Moore remains the favorite in this event.

Carissa Moore will look to ring the bell again.
Courtesy of chde.eu

Heat 4 – Courtney Conlogue defeats Laura Enever and Nikki Van Dijk: Courtney dominated and dropped a 9.17 late in the heat despite Nikki interfering on the wave. She looked strong and powerful in some solid Bells surf.

Heat 5 – Tyler Wright defeats Sage Erickson and Coco Ho: Ho looked to be in control of this heat pretty late, but Tyler pulled out an 8.60 and that was all she wrote. I keep beating this drum, but Tyler’s power is a major advantage over many of the Women’s CT competitors. Bells is the perfect place for her to showcase it as long as there is significant swell on offer.

Heat 6 – Johanne Defay defeats Tatiana Weston-Webb and Bronte Macauley:  Defay looked smooth and stylish at Bells, which was not a common theme of this first round. Weston-Webb also surfed well and we know she’s comfortable in powerful waves.  

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

Fantasy Picks for Women's Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

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

Carissa Moore ($10,000,000): She’s won the last three years at Bells and she’s the best surfer on tour. Need I say more?

Tyler Wright ($8,000,000): It’s hard to pick Tyler after her dominance at Snapper. She looks locked in this season, and I think she’s a legitimate threat to Carissa for the World Title. She’s got more raw power than any other competitor on the Women’s CT, and I love her at Bells.

Stephanie Gilmore ($6,000,000): Gilmore’s price tag has risen to $6,500,000, but I get a discount from carrying her over form my Snapper squad. It looks like she’s back in good physical condition this season, so watch out. She made the finals here last season pre-injury.

Malia Manuel ($4,500,000): Malia made the quarters at Snapper and looked solid in doing so. She’s available here for a nice price.

Bronte Macaulay ($1,500,000): I was thoroughly impressed with Macaulay on the Gold Coast, and she’s got a really cool style to her surfing. Can’t beat the price tag either.

Alternate – Brisa Hennessey : Take a chance on the new girl.

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

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women's Preview

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast kicked off the season recently and saw Tyler Wright dominate from start to finish. The Women’s CT now heads to Bell Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, and it should be an awesome event. Wright looks more focused than ever, and she seems to have a much more strategic approach to the 2016 season. She’s one-for-one under the tutelage of new coach Glenn “Micro” Hall, and Tyler definitely has the kind of power game that can thrive in big Bells walls. However, the Women’s CT is more competitive than ever, and earning back-to-back CT victories is certainly a tall task.

Reigning World Champ Carissa Moore fell to Wright in the semis at Snapper, and she’s surely going to be motivated to win at Bells. She’s won the last three years at the Rip Curl Pro, so betting against her seems like a risky decision. Still, there is so much talent on the CT right now that any heat can become an upset quickly. Carissa has to be the favorite at Bells, though.

Carissa Moore has won the last three years at Bells.
Courtesy of chde.eu

It will be interesting to see how Sally Fitzgibbons rebounds from her first-ever Round 2 exit, which she suffered on the Gold Coast. That was a shocker, but a bounce-back performance from the Aussie would not be. She’s made the semis at Bells the last two years, and I would expect her to return again in 2016.

Don’t sleep on Stephanie Gilmore and Courtney Conlogue, as either of them could win at Bells. Steph made the final last year, while Courtney reached the semis. These two are elite surfers capable of winning the World Title this season. Bells should be a great show, and I must admit that I’m tempted to pick Tyler to win it all thanks to her rail game. However, as I said earlier, betting against Carissa is risky, too risky for my taste. I’ll take the reigning Bells champ here.

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

Recommended Read: Barbarian Days

I recently finished William Finnegan’s book Barbarian Days, an autobiographical surfing novel. The tome is weighty (400+ pages in hardcover), but that’s not a surprise considering it spans several decades and the bulk of Finnegan’s life. It’s a nomadic tale of waves and foreign lands, something that will certainly appeal to those with an adventurous spirit and wanderlust. Finnegan’s prose is playful, impressively crafted but not flashy. He’s brutally honest at times, but he himself is not exempt from this stark form of assessing his surroundings.

Barbarian Days is a collection of experiences of some of the best waves on the planet. These breaks include Honolua Bay, Kirra, Ocean Beach and Cloudbreak, just to name a few, and there are plenty more. The stories wander from sparse South Pacific accommodations to teaching in Apartheid-era South Africa to dreamy tropical waves to brutal San Francisco winters. The waves may be the stars of the show in many ways, but the characters, many of them surfing companions of the author, enrich the story and humanize it in a way that a protagonist alone often cannot. From childhood friends to adult partners in wave-chasing to family, there is a brilliant spectrum of personalities that glue you to the page. Just as surfing has its lulls, so does Barbarian Days, but they’re short-lived and it’s worth the wait.

There are some fantastic passages in this work, many of which any wave-rider can relate to. “My utter absorption in surfing had no rational content,” Finnegan writes. “It simply compelled me; there was a deep mine of beauty and wonder in it.”

I would certainly recommend this novel to any surfer, and really anyone that has an appreciation for nature and adventurous forays into unknown worlds. You can find Barbarian Days here.

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

Recommended Read: The 10 Most Pivotal Women in Surfing’s History

Good read up at The Inertia (great site) from Sabrina Morris on the 10 most pivotal women in surfing history. In a sport that has often been a bit of a boy's club, it's always great to recognize some of the women who helped break down those barriers over the years and bring females into the mainstream of surf culture. Just take a look at how good the Women's CT is right now. Check it out.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Trailer

Waiting period starts March 24th.  Preview coming next week.

Toledo to Miss Bells, Likely Margaret River Too

Ready for a World Title race shakeup? Well, it looks like we can remove Filipe Toledo from the running in 2016, as the Brazilian looks like he’ll miss the next two events of the Championship Tour season. Toledo injured his groin when landing an aerial maneuver at Snapper Rocks during the semifinal of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. His landing was altered by some backwash on the wave, causing his body to be compacted much more than he likely expected. Toledo was a warrior out there, though, toughing out the remainder of the heat and nearly winning it. It was clear, though, in watching Toledo surf the remainder of the semifinal that he was in pain and unable to perform to his usual level.

It's easy to forget how dangerous aerial maneuvers can be.
Courtesy of Stephen Tyler PJs

It was a big hit to lose Toledo from the Quiksilver Pro, as it appeared that he was headed for a second consecutive win there. What’s even more significant, though, is that this essentially removes him from World Title contention. A lot of people thought 2016 would be Toledo’s year, as he came close to winning it all last year. Missing two events, however, makes it nearly impossible to accrue enough points to contend for the World Title. Toledo will look to get healthy and compete in as many event as possible, but the repercussions will be felt throughout the CT ranks in the wake of this news. As if the upset-riddled Quiksilver pro didn't cloud the World Title race enough.

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

Quiksilver Pro Quarterfinal Preview

I don’t think anyone expected to see so many big names fall so early in the Quiksilver Pro, and we’ve got an interesting field of surfers remaining in the Quarterfinals. Let’s take a look at the next four heats:

Heat 1 – Filipe Toledo vs. Joel Parkinson: This is a battle of the young guns and the air game vs. the old guard and the rail game. It's the most intriguing heat of the quarterfinals in my opinion, as I could see either of these guys taking home the win in this event. Both Filipe and Parko have won at Snapper before, but Toledo has looked like the best surfer thus far this year. If Parko beats Toledo, I’d consider it an upset at this point. I can’t imagine typing that two years ago.

Heat 2 – Matt Wilkinson vs. Adriano De Souza: Wilko has surfed the minimum amounts of heats at the Quiksilver Pro to this point, and he’s looked really good doing so. However, he gets the reigning World Champ here. De Souza looked to be in trouble early in his Round heat against Connor Coffin, but he battled back in classic Adriano fashion and took home the win. If Wilko can beat De Souza here it could give him some amazing momentum to carry on throughout the season.

Heat 3 – Kolohe Andino vs. Adrian Buchan: Kolohe has looked electric at Snapper thus far, and maybe 2016 is going to be a massive bounce-back campaign for the young Californian. Ace Buchan has looked powerful and aggressive on the Gold Coast this year, though, so he can’t take this heat lightly. Kolohe has more upside in this matchup, but Ace is the more reliable surfer historically. It’s a tough call to choose a favorite here. Both guys have looked impressive.

Kolohe Andino is capable posting huge scores at any time.
Courtesy of Patrick Warren

Heat 4 – John John Florence vs. Stuart Kennedy: This should be a thrill ride of a heat if the guys get good waves coming through the lineup, and maybe even if they don't. John John has looked dynamic and focused in this event, an extremely dangerous combo. He has been tearing apart Snapper this year, drawing creative lines and showcasing his full repertoire. Kennedy, though, has been perhaps the most electric surfer in the event. His board has looked faster and shown more pop than anyone else’s. He’s already posted some huge upsets in the Quiksilver Pro, so who’s to say he doesn’t have another one in him? 

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

Roxy Pro Semifinals Set

While the Quiksilver Pro has seen some major upsets and big names going down early, we’ve gotten more chalk from the Roxy Pro. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as we've got some of the top surfers on the CT on contention. The Semifinals are all set for the event, so let’s take a look at the heats:

Heat 1 – Tyler Wright vs. Carissa Moore: This is a monster heat. Carissa is the reigning World Champ, as well as the 2015 Roxy Pro champ, and she’s looked very solid in this event so far. She hasn’t been on fire, though, so she could be beatable. If anyone can take her down, it very well could be Tyler. Moore has traditionally dominated these head-to-head matchups, but Wright looks like a different surfer in 2016. She seems focused and determined, and she’s been extremely powerful and creative at Snapper thus far. This should be a fantastic heat.

Tyler Wright has looked great in this event, but a matchup with Carissa Moore looms.
Courtesy of chde.eu

Heat 2 – Courtney Conlogue vs. Johanne Defay: Courtney has looked extremely consistent since losing her Round 1 heat, and she definitely looks to have the form to win this event. She drew the lucky straw in the semis here, as she avoids both Tyler and Carissa. Don’t sleep on Defay, though, as she has really looked impressive on the Gold Coast this year. In her Quarterfinal matchup with Tatiana Weston-Webb, Johanne pulled a ridiculous nose pick in a fashion that we don’t often see on the Women’s CT. The girls are getting more and more progressive, and it makes things more exciting. Courtney is certainly the favorite in this heat, but don't put her in the Final just yet. 

*Quiksilver Pro Quarterfinal Preview coming later today*

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:

Roxy Pro Day 1 Recap

We got to see the Roxy Pro Gold Coast get underway yesterday, and the waves got progressively better as the afternoon went on. Here are some takeaways from the first three rounds of competition:

Sally Fitzgibbons went down in Round 2 for the first time in her career. It actually looked like Sally had her Round 1 heat locked up, but a late charge from Malia Manuel forced her into the second round. Fitzgibbons surfed well in Round 2 as well, but Bronte Macaulay maxed out a pair of waves and pulled the major upset. I’m guessing this will serve as further motivation for Sally this season.

Round 2 was surprisingly filled with top surfers, as Sally, Courtney Conlogue and Stephanie Gilmore were all forced to that round after Round 1 losses. Courtney and Steph really turned it on in that second round, though, suddenly looking like the two strongest surfers at Snapper Rocks, partially thanks to improving conditions. Gilmore would suffer another loss in Round 3 to a red-hot Tyler Wright, and it looks like she’s taking the scenic route in this event.

Tyler, Courtney and Carissa Moore all booked trips to the Quarterfinals, and they were the standout performers on Day 1. They, along with Gilmore, look like the favorites to win this first event of the season. I also want to note how impressed I was by a pair of young surfers, Macauley and Isabella Nichols. They both looked extremely poised for their lack of CT experience.

Carissa Moore, reigning World Champion, won both of her heats on Day 1.
Courtesy of chde.eu

Round 4 has some really interesting matchups on the docket:

Heat 1 – Stephanie Gilmore vs. Nikki Van Dijk: Gilmore has looked really good, so it’s surprising to see her in Round 4. Van Dijk has been solid, as she always is, but I would be surprised to see her bounce the former World Champion here.

Heat 2 – Malia Manuel vs. Bronte Macauley: This is an intriguing heat. Manuel has to be considered the favorite, but what I saw from Bronte yesterday makes me think she definitely has a chance. She’s got great style, as Ross Williams noted, and her backhand was excellent on pumping surf on Day 1.

Heat 3 – Sage Erickson vs. Keely Andrew: Both of these surfers pulled significant upsets in Round 1. Sage took down Conlogue, while Keely beat Steph Gilmore. They both stumbled in Round 3, but someone is headed for the quarters.

Heat 4 – Bianca Buitendag vs. Johanne Defay: Both of these women are very good surfers, probably just outside of the top tier group of the CT right now. Johanne put up a heat score of more than 16 in Round 2, so she’s definitely capable of putting up big scores.

Here are the highlights:

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

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Highlights

The 2016 has officially begun!

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

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