The World Surf League has announced the final results for the mid-season cut and who will be surfing on for the remainder of the Championship. The cut has reduced the fields to the top 22 men and top 10 women, who will compete in the back-half of the CT season, vying for a chance to make the WSL Final 5 and compete in the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
The mid-season cut is a crucial point in the CT season as it determines which surfers will have the opportunity to continue their campaign for the world title. The competition has been fierce this year, with surfers from all over the world battling it out in challenging conditions to secure their spot in the top ranks.
The top 22 men and top 10 women who have made it through the cut have proven their ability and consistency over the course of the season so far. These surfers will now need to maintain their form and focus as they compete in the remaining events on the CT, with the goal of securing a place in the WSL Final 5.
One massive headline from this year’s mid-season cut is that legendary surfer Kelly Slater has been eliminated from the competition for the first time in 34 years. Slater, who is widely regarded as the greatest surfer of all time, has been a dominant force on the CT for decades, winning 11 world titles and countless events.
While Slater’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by fans and fellow competitors alike, it remains to be seen what the next chapter is for the 11-time world champion. Will we see him tear it up on the Challenger Series at Snapper Rocks in the coming weeks, or will he take a break from competitive surfing? No word from the G.O.A.T as of yet.
Also dropping off the women’s tour is fan favourite Sally Fitzgibbons, who has fallen victim to the mid-year cut for the second year in a row and will be competing to get back onto the Championship Tour in the coming weeks.
Overall, the completion of the mid-season cut has set the stage for an exciting second half of the CT season. The top surfers in the world will now continue to battle it out, with the hope of making it to the WSL Final 5 and ultimately being crowned world champion.
Update: Kelly Slater and Johanne Defay were Awarded WSL Season Wildcards for 2024 and for the Back Half of 2023 Championship Tour
Women’s CT: Made the Cut
Tyler Wright (AUS)
Molly Picklum (AUS)
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Caroline Marks (USA)
Caitlin Simmers (USA)
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Tatiana Weston Webb (BRA)
Lakey Peterson (USA)
Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Men’s CT: Made the Cut
Joao Chianca (AUS)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
John John Florence (HAW)
Yago Dora (BRA)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Callum Robson (AUS)
Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Jordy Smith (RSA)
Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Liam O’Brien (AUS)
Rio Waida (INA)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Barron Mamiya (HAW)
Seth Moniz (HAW)
Ian Gentil (HAW)
