Often a contentious affair, the injury wild card process involves surfers outside the re-qualification cut off mark, who feel injury severely hampered their results lobbying for a second chance to stay on tour.

Tom Whitaker…

In Tahiti over night the Pacific Ocean showed little signs of activity – a worrying situation for Billabong Pro contest director Luke Egan and his team of organisers. On land however, humans were all a scurry. The injury wild card process was in effect.

Often a contentious affair, the injury wild card process involves surfers outside the re-qualification cut off mark, who feel injury severely hampered their results, lobbying for a second chance to stay on tour.

There are only two injury wildcards available for the second half of the 2010 world tour kicking off with Trestles and the two surfers sitting outside the bubble to be given them were Australian natural footer Kieren Perrow (33) and American Gabe Kling (30).

Why these two? Well, Kieren was suffering from a meniscus tear in his right knee early in the year, an injury he had to endure with through the first three events. KP was ranked highest out of the three wildcard applications and the international panel of ASP doctors, stated that his injury unquestionably hindered his ability to perform.

Kieren Perrow…

For Kling it went down like this. He and Australian hot rat Josh Kerr (26) were told at the end of the 2009 that they would be eligible for wildcards at the midyear point this season. They were also informed that should a decision need to be made between them, the deciding factor would be their ASP World Ranking position when the ASP midyear field reduction had been finalized. And with that Kerr was overlooked for Kling purely mathematically. It’s high stakes for these guys and unfortunately it looks as if Kerrsy (who has two zeros on his ratings sheet) simply needed to enter a few more events. Had he done this I’m sure it would be him surfing Trestles and not Kling.

Gabe Kling…

For the record, Kling was No. 27 on the ASP World Rankings with 11,328 points. Kerr, as of yesterday’s completion of the midyear field reduction, is currently sitting at No. 29 on the ASP World Rankings with 10,988 points.

The good side of all this is that Aussie stalwart’s Tom Whitaker (30), and Dean Morrison (29), move into first and second replacement spots respectively.

With Joel Parkinson looking like he’s out until Hawaii that’s Tommy in for now… And chances are another surfer will fall onto the injury list giving Dingo his shot too.

Note: Following the completion of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the 2011 ASP Top 34 will be comprised of the Top 22 finishers from the ASP World Tour, the next Top 10 finishers from the ASP World Rankings as well as two surfer wildcards.

Dean Morrison…