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The World Surf League (WSL) is travelling into the middle of California for the sixth Championship Tour stop at The Surf Ranch. While Lemoore is not typically on anyone’s holiday itinerary it does have the tub and is located in ‘King’s County’ – rather fitting given Kelly gets the pool’s creator credits. This will be the fourth edition at Slater’s super-pond, and despite producing iconic moments as a revolutionary pro-surfing event, the wave-pool novelty has worn off for some surf fans. The WSL’s rebuttal to this concern is a new pressure-filled format. We can’t predict how the experimental format will play out, but at least we know there will be waves, and it won’t be a grovel fest like we saw at Bells. And, if we look at the contest objectively, surfers are given the exact same opportunities in Lemoore, which is the best test we have to see who’s skills are the cream of the crop.
It will also be interesting to see how surfers will compete after the Mid Year Cut (MYC) took place. The CT has been cut down to 24 men and 10 in the women. Which surfers are going to show us they really want to be in that top five spot or are some competitors already satisfied with a spot on tour next year – See you at the bar. Oz fans will need to be up at some ungodly hours with coverage expected to start around midnight on Sunday and Monday Night.
Forecast/ New Format
Surfline and Swellnet Forecasters were allowed a break from their research duties. The only conditions to keep in mind at the Surf Ranch is the potential for onshore/ offshore winds and currently it’s not looking to be over 15 km/h winds in Lemoore during the event window, so that shouldn’t be a factor.
In case you-all forgot. The Surf Ranch machine generates waves about every two minutes that are approx, three to four feet in size. No, Billy Kemper won’t be getting the wildcard. Both the left and right-handers are around 45 seconds with the potential for surfers to get barrelled, show off their rail game or punt with air sections on offer. Hopefully, the pool has no technical difficulties like Elon Musk’s Twitter Spaces experiment this week.
The New Format
The most important thing to know about this year’s Surf Ranch Pro is the WSL’s new format. The competition is split into two days:
Day One – Qualification and Night-Session rounds
Day Two – Finals Day
It starts with the Qualifying Round, which is four men and women’s heats, which sends first place to Finals Day, second and third to the new night sessions, and last-place straight home- except for Kelly cos it’s one of his homes.
Then comes the all-or-nothing Night Session, where the world’s best surfers compete under the lights for the first time. This is the most brutal round too, two men progress from the 12 to Finals Day and only one women advances from the six.
Then Finals Day, which features the regular head-to-head matchups.
Different but it does sound exciting though?
Who does the Surf Ranch favour?
Men
In the men, it’s historically been a Brazilian affair at the Wave Pool with Toledo winning in 2021, then Medina going back to back in 2018 and 2019. This very well could be repeated with Italo and world no.1 Joao Chianca both having good chances.
I can see Griffin’s arsenal of skills doing well in the pool; variety will be what the judges will be looking at as the point of difference. This is Griff’s strength and maybe the Cali home-crowd advantage could play a role too.
Women
Tyler and Carissa are looking unstoppable at no.1 & 2. Tati is also is due for a win. If Tati’s on her game and executes her aggressive surfing in the few opportunities, she’ll be hard to beat.
Surprises at the Surf Ranch Pro?
Men
While Cole Houshmand has all the hype after his big win at Narrabeen earlier this week, I reckon fellow wildcard Jett Schilling could have a surprising performance. The 19-year-old has been plugging away on the Challenger Series. Schilling has a cracking backhand and a world-class aerial game. Anyway, San Clemente has a strong presence in the event with Griffin, Cole, Jett and Caroline Marks lining up against the world’s best. Expect the 2% cheer squad to be going crazy.
Women
Johanne Defay hasn’t made it past the round of 16 in her return to competition post-injury; this could be the event which sees her start a run for the final five- The French surfer is the previous champ at Lemoore.
Matchups we wanna see at the Surf Ranch Pro?
Men
Any of the Brazilian storm such as Filipe, Italo, Joao and Medina going head-to-head will produce fireworks. The highest level of surfing at its finest.
I guess another one of mine’s going to be a sizzling reality as Kelly takes on Quiksilver prodigies Jack Robinson and Leonard Fioravanti in heat one of the Qualification round. You think the GOAT had a say in this? Hey, I’m not complaining…
Women
A co-main event featuring the New Gens against The GOATs. Caity Simmers v Steph & Carissa v Molly Picklum. Interested to see their unique approaches coming from different generations.
Wildcards
Cole Houshmand secured the first wildcard in the men’s after his win at the Sydney Surf Pro when he became the top-ranked North American on the Challenger Series. Cole’s buddy Jet Schilling is the second highest ranked North American, who will replace an injured Seth Moniz. Meanwhile Alyssa Spencer, due to her Challenger Series position, picked up the women’s wildcard in the Surf Ranch Pro. And, of course, Kelly was resurrected from the MYC with the 2023 CT wildcard and will be hosting the world’s best at his second home. Just don’t wait around for him at the cocktail bar… unless he wins.
ROUND 1 HEAT DRAW:
MEN
Heat 1: Jack Robinson, Leo Fioravanti, Jordy Smith, Kelly Slater
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo, Connor O’Leary, Callum Robson, Cole Houshmand
Heat 3: Joao Chianca, Caio Ibelli, Matthew McGillivray, Jett Schilling
Heat 4: Griffin Colapinto, Yago Dora, Italo Ferreira, Ian Gentil
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing, Ryan Callinan, Barron Mamiya, Kanoa Igarashi
Heat 6: John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Liam O’Brien, Rio Waida
WOMEN
Heat 1: Carissa Moore, Caitlin Simmers, Johanne Defay, BettyLou Sakura Johnson
Heat 2: Tyler Wright, Stephanie Gilmore, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Alyssa Spencer
Heat 3: Molly Picklum, Caroline Marks, Lakey Peterson, Gabriela Bryan
