News
Let's talk qualifying
With the US Open being the last World Qualifying Series contest before the mid-year tour re-shuffle, and a 6-star Prime event at that, there are a number of current Dream Tour surfers who desperately need points to stay on, as well as WQS surfers on the bubble trying to earn a spot in the top 32. Winning a Prime event is the equivalent of making the semi-finals in a Dream Tour event, points-wise.
Dusty Payne is currently sitting on the bubble at 33rd. After his dominating performance in the 3-man round 4 heat this morning, he is straight into the quarterfinals and probably safe for qualification. Another clutch last minute performance from the maui kid. You may recall his last second double miracle at backdoor to re-qualify last year.
John John Florence was asked about his chances at qualifying after his round 3 heat win this morning. He nervously dodged the question, saying he didn't want to stress himself out thinking about that. The truth is he is very very close to making the cut, currently he's at 39th, needing a quarterfinal finish to have a chance, and a semi finish to make it all but official. He just barely lost his round 4 clash to Royden Bryson and Thiago Camarao today, now needing to win his heat tomorrow morning to make the quarters.
Tanner Gudauskas and Richard Christie are a bit of a long shot, both sitting in the mid 40s, most likely needing to make the final in order to vault themselves onto the World Tour. Not much of a stretch, though. Both surfers have been absolutely on fire this event, and the improving waves suite their surfing styles very well.
Yadin Nicol, who has been heart-breakingly close to making the tour for the last 2 years in a row, is just outside the bubble at 36th, and has got to be having some major deja-vu at the moment. A quarterfinal finish would probably be enough to do it for Yadin, and he's one heat away.
