We spoke to Tom yesterday and he’s in good spirits in a Tahitian hospital despite what he has been through. He is fully humbled by the support he has received via messages and the GoFund me to cover his medical bills which smashed it’s target and wants everyone to know how grateful he is.
He posted on Insta to say how important the funding was to help him cover his bills,
“It’s not in my nature to ask for handouts, but in this instance I don’t know what I would have done without it.”
Good work all!
“As some of you already know, I hit the reef hard at Teahupo’o a few days back and sustained critical injuries. After surgery and a blood transfusion due to internal bleeding, a fractured scapula, and many broken ribs, I truly do feel lucky to have made it. I am so stoked that my pregnant wife and beautiful daughter arrived to Tahiti today to spend the next two weeks with me during recovery- big thanks to @sullyontv for flying them in!
“Also @dom_walsh for coming to visit in hospital and checking in throughout.
Brother @gerglong has set-up a GoFundMe page to help cover my extensive medical bills as insurance won’t cover it. It’s not in my nature to ask for handouts, but in this instance I don’t know what I would have done without it. I am completely overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity and kindness everyone has shown.
Thank you for all your positive energy and thoughtful messages 🙏🏽”
On Friday Tom Lowe hit the reef at Chopes, was airlifted to the hospital and needed emergency surgery. He will need to remain in the hospital for a few days. He’ll be fine, but we we need your help to help assist with his ongoing medical expenses as his travel insurance won’t cover the bills. Donate if you can… Link in our stories. Please share. Let’s get Lowey home..
It’s all about tracking swell and striking when the time is right, hoping the gamble pays off and the risk is worth the reward. Mofungo’s power team consisted of Ian Crane, Brett Barley, and Puerto Rico’s very own Dwight Pastrana. There’s something to be said about exploring a region of the world that one of your very own call home. For Dwight, he got as much out of sharing his home with us as we did exploring it. We hope you enjoy.
This episode started without any premeditation. I ordered my brother Dane a “surprise” Pat Rawson single fin for his birthday this year. The plan was to order it to be finished when we arrived in January. I hadn’t spoken to Pat in a long time but upon first call sometime in October we chatted for almost two hours. It was so nice.
My dad was a sales rep for the brand Local Motion from the mid 80’s through the 90’s. We were adopted kids for most of the people at that brand during that time and we stay in touch with them to this day. Even though I hadn’t spoken to Pat in quite some time we had a lot to chat about and catch up on.
When we arrived to pick up the boards Pat had an old Local Motion in the shaping bay and we were talking about it a little bit. He said things he was working with Jack Reeves creating more and more of these nostalgic local motion shapes again.
I went home and started to craigslist my way through the islands trying to find a Rawson Local motion. Although I didn’t end up finding that specific board I did end up discovering a very good condition board with a spray similar to what Tony Moniz used to ride in the 1990’s.
After buying that board from a neighbourhood craigslist broker, we chatted with Tony, then caught up with former owner Rob Burns, and ultimately rode it on a bitchin’ day at Rocky Point.
We learn through the process that Tony had a signature spray with red and yellow celebrating his Hawaiian heritage, and that this board was most likely a stock surfboard made in the same era with a Red and white spray. We learn a little about the history of the brand known for cutting edge shapers and designs through the 90’s and show that the board is still red hot.
I would personally like to thank Don King for allowing us clearance to use the archival footage. This footage is found in an old Local Motion VHS movie we grew up watching called “a little bit of Hawaiian Style”. This was our education on what to know when going to Hawaii. Showing respect to mother nature, the locals and their culture and challenging yourself are the core beliefs that I still take with me to this day.
I hope you enjoy this episode. It was such a blast to make. Fun to connect with old friends and create some new memories.
Thank you again for the support – Tanner Gudauskas
• Gabriel Medina Wins First CT Event Since 2021 • Carissa Moore Earns 27th CT Victory • Griffin Colapinto Earns Second Runner-up Finish of 2023 • Tyler Wright Makes Back-to-Back Finals • More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com
Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Carissa Moore (HAW) won the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT), today in solid four-to-six-foot surf at Main Break. With their big wins today, Moore and Medina made significant moves up the rankings and now sit at World No. 2 and No. 7, respectively, on the rankings.
The Mid-season Cut narrowed the field to only the Top 22 men and Top 10 women, who will continue competing through the back half of the 2023 CT season. After earning a runner-up finish here at Margaret River, Tyler Wright (AUS) will wear the yellow Leader jersey going into Stop No. 6, the Surf Ranch Pro. Joao Chianca (BRA) held onto the ranking’s lead with his Semifinal finish today and stays in the top spot on the rankings. Competitors will now shift their focus to making the Final 5 to be able to compete at the WSL Rip Curl Finals and have a shot at the 2023 World Title.
Gabriel Medina Wins First CT Event Since 2021
Gabriel Medina (BRA, above) reminded everyone why he’s a three-time World Champion today, taking a dominant win over Griffin Colapinto (USA) in the Final with the highest heat total of the day, a 17.50 (out of possible 20), which included a near-perfect 9.50 (out of possible 10). Medina built momentum throughout the event, taking down current World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the Quarterfinals and current World No. 1 Joao Chianca (BRA) in the Semifinals.
This marks Medina’s 17th CT career event win and his first ever at Margaret River. After taking a break in the first half of the 2022 season and having a slow start this season, there is no doubt Medina has come back with force.
“It’s pretty special to win here,” said Medina. “It’s a venue where I’ve struggled to make heats. It felt good to have good waves and get the win. I’m feeling better now just feeling like I’m in the rhythm again. Griff (Colapinto) and I always have good battles. I love competing against the guys, and that’s what we’re here for. It’s a really hard wave to surf, and I’m happy with my improvement.”
Medina and Colapinto started the Final with an explosive back-to-back exchange. Colapinto got the better of Medina, earning an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10). But Colapinto struggled to find a backup score for the remainder of the heat. Meanwhile, Medina was in rhythm with the ocean, throwing his backhand attack at the large Main Break walls. His critical turns right in the pocket earned him two excellent scores, and the event win. Medina’s win marks the first time a goofy-foot man has won Margaret River, CT in 33 years.
Griffin Colapinto (above) Earns Second Runner-up Finish of 2023
Colapinto’s second Finals appearance of the season was well-earned, as he had to take out fierce competitors along the way. In one of the biggest upsets of the day, Colapinto overcame two-time World Champion John John Florence (HAW) in the Semifinals. Florence had established himself as the one to beat here at Margaret River, going excellent in all of his heats leading up to the Semifinals. But, it was Colapinto who went excellent in their matchup with an 8.50 and 9.00 by capitalizing on set waves with opportunity. Colapinto is now the only man to have made the Finals twice in 2023. After this solid result, he now sits at No. 4 on the CT leaderboard.
“I’m most proud of that heat against John [Florence],” said Colapinto. “He got me last year, and I kinda surprised myself in that heat to beat him like that. It was a feather in my cap. He’s probably the GOAT out here, so that was the highlight of my day. Against Gabe [Medina], you have to go all in. Every section I got, I wanted to go as big as I could. The rest of the heat, I didn’t pick the best waves. Congrats to Gabriel. He seems super into it and super psyched on competing and life, and it makes it fun for everyone else, too when you can feel the passion. Stoked to have him back.”
Carissa Moore Earns 27th CT Victory
Carissa Moore (HAW) earned her second event win of the season and her 27th overall CT career win today at Main Break. The five-time World Champion now has a third Margaret River win to her name after taking down two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in the Finals. Now, Moore hopes to overtake Wright, who currently holds the World No. 1 position, as she’s in striking distance at No.2.
“It was a crazy week and a crazy month being away from home, it’s a roller coaster,” said Moore. “Coming here, the doubts were starting to creep in. But, I really felt the love and the joy from this community and I want to say thank you because I couldn’t have done it without that good energy. I didn’t see Tyler’s (Wright) wave so I thought I might have wasted my opportunity, but I just thought it’s up to the universe at this point.”
The women’s Final was a battle of two World Champions and former Margaret River Pro event winners. After a slow start, Moore took the lead by showcasing her trademark wrapping carves to post a 6.10. Wright had one more opportunity right before the horn but mistimed the end section and the score came up short.
Tyler Wright Makes Back-to-Back Finals
Tyler Wright (AUS) made her second-consecutive Finals appearance today and her third of the 2023 CT season. On her way to the Finals, she overcame eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarterfinals. She then went on to face an in-form Caroline Marks (USA) in the SemifInals. Marks held the lead going into the second half of their matchup, but Wright found a gem of a set wave and posted an excellent 8.50 to take the heat win.
“Carissa’s been an incredible competitor and to have another Final with her was amazing,” said Wright. “It didn’t go great for me in that Final, but I’ve had a wonderful week and a wonderful Australian leg. I haven’t been in that position for a long time. I really like what I’m doing at the moment and how my team has worked with me in the last year to position how I want to be. I’m just settling into the whole process again. I don’t expect much, but I really enjoy doing this work.”
For a third consecutive year, local favourite Bronte Macaulay (AUS) claimed an equal third-place finish at her home event in Margaret River. The talented goofy-footer was in solid form all week after winning the Local Trials before eventually falling to Moore in the Semifinals. Macaulay will hope to take her momentum into the Challenger Series season opener, the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro, which starts next week at Snapper Rocks.
With Margaret River determining who made the Mid-season Cut, the remaining CT competitors will now prepare for the back half of the season, beginning with the Surf Ranch Pro, which will run on May 27 and May 28, 2023.
For highlights from Finals Day at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Final Results: 1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.10 2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.17
Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Final Results: 1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.50 2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.27
Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Results: HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.50 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 4.07 HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 15.33 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 11.34
Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Results: HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 10.67 HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 17.50 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 11.27
Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results: HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.00 HEAT 2: Joao Chianca (BRA) 11.24 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 5.50 HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.77 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 8.83 HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) 14.83 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 11.23
Kelly Slater and Johanne Defay Awarded WSL Season Wildcards for 2024 and for the Back Half of 2023 Championship Tour; Miguel Pupo and Brisa Hennessy Awarded WSL Season Wildcards for 2024
Slater’s Wildcard Revival Puts Him Back in Contention for WSL Final 5 and Provisional Olympic Qualification
The Season Wildcards give Slater and Defay entry into Championship Tour (CT) events following the Mid-season Cut and entry into the first half of the 2024 CT season. Miguel Pupo(BRA) and Brisa Hennessy (CRC) have been awarded the 2024 WSL Season Wildcards, which give entry to all competitions in the first half of the 2024 CT season.
Slater, as a former World Champion, and Defay, as a previous Final 5 competitor, will earn ranking points as the Season Wildcards and thus will be eligible for the WSL Final 5 rankings, where the Top 5 surfers on the men’s and women’s CT will compete in the Rip Curl WSL Finals to compete for the 2023 World Title. Slater’s ranking points will also give him the opportunity to compete for provisional qualification for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Defay’s provisional qualification for the Olympics was confirmed last week at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.
The WSL is the Tier 1 pathway to qualification for the world’s best surfers to the Olympic Games. Of the 48 athletes competing in the games, the Top 18 competitors (10 men and 8 women) will qualify via the 2023 WSL Championship Tour’s final rankings. Each country can only qualify a maximum of two men and two women.
11-time World Champion Slater is regarded as the greatest competitive surfer of all time, holding nearly every major record in the sport, including 11 World Titles, 56 CT victories, and being both the youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history. He’s had a huge influence on the sport through his progressive surfing, competitive nature, and wave system technology. Slater’s incredible career started with winning Rookie of the Year in 1990 and spans more than three decades. He won his first World Title in 1992 and his most recent Title in 2011. In 2022, Slater claimed his 56th CT victory at Pipeline, just a few days before his 50th birthday. Now at age 51, Slater is in search of adding yet another World Title and a provisional Olympic qualification to his name.
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 20: Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica surfs in Heat 3 of the Opening Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on April 20, 2023 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)
Defay has finished in the Top 10 every year on the Championship Tour since qualifying in 2014. She competed in the Rip Curl WSL Finals in 2021 and 2022, finishing fourth and third, respectively, on the world rankings. Defay represented France at the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020 and is set to make her second Olympic appearance as she has provisionally qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
As the 2024 WSL Season Wildcards, Pupo and Hennessy will be eligible to compete in the first half of the 2024 CT. Pupo sustained an ankle injury in Portugal, forcing him to miss the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Last season, Pupo climbed up the rankings to a career-best sixth-place finish after his break-through victory at the Tahiti Pro. The 2024 CT will mark the 31-year old’s 12th year on the CT. Hennessy made it all the way to the Rip Curl WSL Finals last season, finishing fifth in the world, a career best. In 2020, she represented her home country of Costa Rica at the Olympic Games Tokyo, where she finished fifth. She was recently confirmed as one of the first surfers to provisionally qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The WSL Season Wildcards are selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team following applications from athletes. The wildcard selection process takes into account competitive performance, such as World Titles, CT and Challenger Series rankings, and event results, as well as a medical evaluation if applicable.
“With the rankings for the Mid-season Cut completed, we’ve announced Kelly Slater and Johanne Defay as the WSL Season Wildcards for 2023 and 2024, and Miguel Pupo and Brisa Hennessy the Season Wildcards for 2024,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Chief of Sport. “The WSL Rule Book allows for only former World Champions and previous WSL Final 5 competitors to be eligible to earn points in the second half of the season as the Season Wildcards. Kelly and Johanne meet those criteria, so we look forward to seeing them complete the CT season. We also look forward to welcoming back Miguel and Brisa in 2024.
