Surfers around the world demand an injury wildcard for Luke Cederman. Photo: Raglan Surf Report//Screenshot
Surf fans around the world have been deprived of perhaps the most comical heat in Championship Tour history after Raglan local Luke Cederman failed to win the trials event. That honor went to Tom Butland for the men, and Alani Morse for the women. Cederman, who has amassed a loyal social media following for his skits that mock surf culture, claims he had a valid excuse for losing his trials heat.
“I was starting to feel a real rhythm in my first couple of heats, but then it all turned to shit,” said Cederman. “Just gashed my foot real bad. That’s why I lost my heat.”
Walking on crutches around the event site, he showed off the “gash” on his foot under a minuscule band-aid. He blamed the event organizers for a rogue tent peg that he stepped on, which had since been covered by a cone.
Even two-time world champ Tom Carroll felt the loss for surfing fans after Cederman was eliminated.
“It’s a devastation for the local community that Luke’s sustained such a serious injury,” Carroll said. “I just hope he can get that exemption wild card.”
The question remains: will the WSL give the people what they want? A Luke Cederman post-heat interview could be the biggest viewership draw the League has had all season.
