It’s not exactly a glaring omission. And it’s not like we should have expected to see a 2017 tour stop in Lemoore, California. The WSL and Kelly Slater aren’t building a new wave pool (that we know of) and neither party has shared much about the plans for the WSL/Kelly Slater Wave Company partnership. But even if you hate the idea of WSL athletes competing on a manmade wave (aka just being the internet and getting mad about things that don’t impact your life whatsoever), you can’t deny the intrigue of its novelty. When the World Surf League became majority shareholders in Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) back in May you’d have to be really stubborn not to see the open door toward making those wave pool tour stops a reality. For now it seems we’ll have to wait a little longer.
Either way, the WSL released their 2017 Men’s and Women’s Championship Tour Schedules this week and just about every single detail remains the same. There’s the Carona Open J-Bay – same location, same wave, new sponsor and name – but no cool new destinations added or taken away from the same schedule we’ve been looking at the past three years. The last time the WSL Men’s Championship Tour had a single location other than the same eleven we’ll prepare for next year was when Joel Parkinson won the Oakley Pro in Bali in 2013. It makes me miss the days when Rip Curl’s Search added just a touch of flavor to the tour each year. In 2011 we got both the Rip Curl Search in San Francisco and the Quik Pro New York; not the most exotic destinations for a Dream Tour but enough of a curveball to keep things interesting. And as a fan, after seeing the same itinerary since 2014, I’m ready for something different again. I’d be stoked to see the ‘CT back in Bali instead of a third Australian comp, swap out Trestles for Baja, change one of the European stops to a cranking, hollow, ice-cold point break in Ireland , or yes, even go to some farm town 30 miles south of Fresno, California. Quite frankly, I’m indifferent about whether or not the ‘CT ever uses its partnership with KSWC to create a World Tour wave pool comp. I just want to see something different the next time a schedule comes out.
“The design of each year’s schedule is to create a varied format of high-quality venues through which we can determine the best surfers on the planet,” WSL Commissioner, Kieren Perrow said. “Very excited to see what next year brings and we may have a few more announcements to make before the season commences.”
So who knows, maybe those of us wanting to see things shaken up just a bit will get our wish before next March? What do you think? Should the WSL keep things as is, or switch it up and give the ‘CT schedule a makeover?
2017 World Surf League (WSL) Men’s Championship Tour:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast – March 14 – 25, 2017
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro – March 29 – April 9, 2017
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – April 12 – 24, 2017
Rio Pro – May 9 – 20, 2017
Fiji Pro – June 4 – 16, 2017
Corona Open J-Bay – July 12 – 23, 2017
Billabong Pro Teahupo’o – August 11 – 22, 2017
Hurley Pro at Trestles – September 6 – 17, 2017
Quiksilver Pro France – October 3 – 14, 2017
Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal – October 17 – 28, 2017
Billabong Pipe Masters – December 8 – 20, 2017
2017 World Surf League (WSL) Women’s Championship Tour:
Roxy Pro Gold Coast – March 14 – 25, 2017
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro – March 29 – April 9, 2017
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach – April 12 – 24, 2017
Rio Women’s Pro – May 9 – 20, 2017
Fiji Women’s Pro – May 28 – June 2, 2017
Vans US Open of Surfing – July 31 – August 6, 2017
Swatch Trestles Women’s Pro – September 6 – 17, 2017
Cascais Women’s Pro – September 21 – October 1, 2017
Roxy Pro France – October 3 – 14, 2017
Maui Women’s Pro – November 25 – December 6, 2017
