Look who just made the tour!
Hitting the WSL World Tour as a contender is every grommet’s dream. Before that dream can be realised though, there’s an insane amount of training, hustling, grinding and fighting through the ranks to get there. Competing in crappy waves. Flight delays. Time away from family. It’s not all stand up pits and glamour. But, speak to anyone who’s made it and they’ll tell you it’s totally worth it. The best job in the world.
We want to extend a huge congratulations for the qualifiers (and requalifiers) for the 2022 WSL Championship Season.
In the Creature’s family, we’re stoked to see a few new faces in the line up…
Jackson Baker
This working class powerhouse from Merewether is known for his big heart and savage forehand gouge. He’s part of a new wave of underground Aussie shredders hitting tour next year. Watch out for Jacko at Sunset, Bells and Margies especially, which suit his heavy-footed style of surfing.
Luccas Mesinas
The first male from Peru to ever hit the World Tour, Lucca Mesinas will be a surprise packet to many. Not us. This guy’s game is ultra strong forehand, backhand, carving or in the air. Remember too, the very first Peruvian to make the tour, Sofia Mulanovich, won a world title. Lucca will now be able to build on that history. Let’s go, Lucca!
Nat Young
The smiling California assassin is no stranger to the world tour. During his first year in the big leagues (2013), Nat came out blitzing, claiming a top 10 finish and rookie of the year. After a couple of ultra tough years, Nat has been able to conquer adversity and come back to his world-beating best. Bowly rights, hollow lefts, just about anything, Nat is always a threat. Welcome back to where you belong!
We also have to give big props to Molly Picklum who got within a whisker of the big leagues. She’ll almost certainly appear in a few tour events next year with wildcard and injury slots too. Bronte Macaulay has been named as the first replacement if any surfer withdraws from an event as well, so we’ll hopefully see the West Aussie charger threading a few drainers (G-Land anyone?)
Congratulations again to all.
Here’s what the full tour line up with look like next year:
Mens CT Contenders 2022
- Gabriel Medina (BRA)
- Filipe Toledo (BRA)
- Italo Ferreira (BRA)
- Conner Coffin (USA)
- Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
- Griffin Colapinto (USA)
- Jordy Smith (ZAF)
- Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
- Yago Dora (BRA)
- Frederico Morais (PRT)
- John John Florence (HAW)
- Jack Robinson (AUS)
- Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
- Deivid Silva (BRA)
- Ryan Callinan (AUS)
- Ethan Ewing (AUS)
- Kelly Slater (USA)
- Jadson Andre (BRA)
- Miguel Pupo (BRA)
- Seth Moniz (HAW)
- Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
- Liam O'Brien (AUS)
- Connor O'Leary (AUS)
- Jake Marshall (USA)
- Callum Robson (AUS)
- Samuel Pupo (BRA)
- Nat Young (USA)
- Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
- Lucca Mesinas (PER)
- Joao Chianca (BRA)
- Jackson Baker (AUS)
- Carlos Munoz (CRI)
- Kolohe Andino (USA)
- Owen Wright (AUS)
First replacement
- Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
Womens CT Contenders 2022
- Carissa Moore (HAW)
- Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Johanne Defay (FRA)
- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
- Caroline Marks (USA)
- Tyler Wright (AUS)
- Isabella Nichols (AUS)
- Courtney Conlogue (USA)
- Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
- Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
- Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
- Caitlin Simmers (USA)
- India Robinson (AUS)
- Luana Silva (HAW)
- Lakey Peterson (USA)
- Malia Manuel (HAW)
First replacement
- Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Bring on Pipe on Jan 29th! Stay tuned for a Creatures WSL Fantasy Surfer competition that’s in the works. For updates, sign up to our newsletter.
