The world title race will be determined right here in Hawaii after just about every favorite has seen an early demise this week at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. It was already likely that the Billabong Pipe Masters would make
The world title race will be determined right here in Hawaii after just about every favorite has seen an early demise this week at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. It was already likely that the Billabong Pipe Masters would make or break the 2015 world championship, but every contender had a chance to seize control and all came away with a less than ideal result.
The race for re-qualification always comes down to the final event and Kauai’s Sebastian Zietz has kept himself in that limbo area, reaching the third round in Portugal before a close loss to American Nat Young.
Zietz entered Portugal in a three-way tie for 24th place on the season. He had an equal point total as Adam Melling and Kolohe Andino, was one spot behind Michel Bourez and two behind both Keanu Asing and Miguel Pupo. Melling and Pupo were each bounced in round two, but Bourez and Asing will each add some distance to their leads by advancing to round five.
Only the top 22 will earn re-qualification for 2016 and Seabass is hoping to make it back on tour for a fourth straight season. But to do so will take a big effort at Pipeline. It’s certainly within Zietz’s capabilities. He needed a good result last year to retain his spot and came through with a ninth-place finish. He reached the quarterfinals in 2013 and was also a quarterfinalist in 2012 when he earned his CT spot by winning the Triple Crown.
Zietz is clearly one of the most comfortable on tour in big barrels and, specifically, at Pipeline. He’s not a guy who appears to succumb to pressure or show signs of stress, at least not outwardly. Everyone talks about his easy-going nature and how much fun he is to be around, but remaining on tour is now going to require something significant. Despite that fun personality, he’s still a fierce competitor and needs to fight for another Pipeline push.
As for the world title, we’ll know more after finals day in Portugal, but the world’s top two each went down in successive third-round heats to a pair of wild cards. Mick Fanning was behind the whole way after local Federico Morais peeled a 9.13 on his first wave and tacked on for a 16.03 to 14.40 victory.
Adriano de Souza saw the door wide open for him to recapture the yellow jersey, but it was quickly shut by another local, Vasco Ribeiro. This time it was a come-from-behind effort as Ribeiro was behind with 12 minutes remaining and without priority, but he plucked a left and scorched three turns for an 8.43 that set up a 14.36 to 11.80 upset win.
Minimal points for the top two would normally signal another name leaping up the standings, but No. 3 Owen Wright and No. 4 Julian Wilson were already eliminated in round two — Wilson getting upset by wild card Mason Ho, who was making just his fourth career CT appearance.
The only one trying to take advantage is defending world champion Gabriel Medina, who has been the hottest surfer on tour. Medina had a rough start to the year, but has been a quarterfinalist in four straight contests, making two finals and winning the last event in France. Another win in Portugal would vault Medina into a narrow points lead heading back to Hawaii. Filipe Toledo, who owns a pair of wins this season, can also put himself squarely into the mix with a Portugal victory.
One through five, as well as 20 through 25, will be under the microscope at Pipeline with everyone else trying to play spoiler. Zietz has a very different mission than the world title hopefuls but each heat is going to be important for somebody. We’ll have a front-row seat, which is exactly how it should be.
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David Simon can be reached at dsimon@thegardenisland.com.
