Brazilian Storm Dominates Men’s Elimination Round
Five of the six Brazilian surfers participating in the Elimination Round have performed well and advanced to the Round of 32. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) guaranteed his spot in the next round after earning an excellent 8.33 score (out of a possible 10).
“I perform better under pressure,” said Crisanto. “I tried to improve my surf with good maneuvers and I got lucky to catch a really good wave. My focus is good now and I’m 100% ready to give my all here in Mexico and in Tahiti, so I can re-qualify for the CT in 2022.”
In Heat 2, Deivid Silva (BRA) took the win while Yago Dora (BRA) finished in second place, which resulted in the elimination of local hero, wildcard Jhony Corzo (MEX). Adriano de Souza, Jadson Andre and Alex Ribeiro battled in an all-Brazilian Heat 3 with the hopes to remain in the competition. Ribeiro was the one eliminated after earning a combined score of 7.57 (out of a possible 20), the lowest score of the round.
The women’s Elimination Round was up next, and Australians Isabella Nichols, Macy Callaghan, and Keely Andrew all put up a solid performance at the four-to-six-foot waves in Barra De La Cruz, advancing to the next round.
“I found myself in the Elimination Round quite often this year,” said Nichols. “But coming into this event I felt really good, and on the bright side, I got to surf one more heat here at one of the most fun waves in the world. Silver linings.”
Gabriel Medina Takes Round of 32 to the Air
The men’s Round of 32 started with a show of innovative surfing on the Olympic rematch between Michel Bourez (FRA) and two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA). In a down-to-the-wire heat, Medina took to the air to take the win.
“I was praying for one more wave,” said Medina. “I know the waves are there, but it’s just super slow so I was trying to wait until the end. Michel was surfing really strong, so I knew I had to go big. I’ve done that trick before but honestly I wasn’t trying to do it at all. I can’t even remember what I did on that last wave. I’ll have to thank God for that one.”
Reigning WSL Champion and No 2 in the rankings, Olympic gold medalist Italo Ferreira took the win against Wade Carmichael (AUS) in a very close heat, getting the score needed to advance in the last minutes of the action, and advancing to the Round of 16 where he will face 11-time WSL Champion, Kelly Slater (USA).
“It’s nice to compete against the best guys in the world and push myself,” said Ferreira. “In the next round I just want to catch good waves, go vertical, have speed and power, and show some progressive surfing with dynamic maneuvers. I can’t wait!”
In a nail biting heat, Olympian wildcard Rio Waida (IDN) surprised everyone by taking out world No. 3 Filipe Toledo (BRA) on the very least wave of Heat 9.
“I’m trying to surf my best,” said Waida. “I didn’t know I was going to have enough to beat Filipe. He is one of my favorite surfers, so I’m very happy I could win. I’ll try to surf more like him moving forward because I’ll have to go big on the next round.”
On the last heat of the day, world No. 5 Griffin Colapinto (USA) got eliminated by wildcard Mateus Herdy (BRA), and will now need a big result in Tahiti to clinch a spot on the WSL FInal 5.
Olympic Medalists Kanoa Igarashi and Owen Wright Eliminated On Round of 32
World No. 6, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), who advanced in the Elimination Round after finishing in second place behind Crisanto, faced Kolohe Andino (USA) for the second day in a row, this time in the third heat of the Round of 32. With a 0.64 score difference, Andino took the victory again and eliminated Igarashi from the event in Mexico.
“I was feeling nervous coming into the event,” said Andino. “I know there are four guys that I love battling for a spot in the Final 5, especially Griffin (Colapinto) who I consider my little brother. I hope I don’t get to surf against him, and I’m happy I was able to help him out by winning this heat against Kanoa. My last three heats surfing have been with Kanoa, one being at the Olympics, but I don’t want to think about rivalry or get in my head, I just want to surf as much as I can. I got a whole new perspective on life this year after my injury, the Olympics and with my wife being pregnant. So I’m just trying to keep myself loose, and surf the best I can.”
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) also took the win against Olympic medalist Owen Wright (AUS), who won bronze in Tokyo. He will be facing rookie Morgan Cibilic (AUS) in Heat 3 of the Round of 16.
“I grew up with the Wright family,” said Fioravanti. “Owen is like a big brother to me, and I knew it was going to be very hard to beat him. I’m glad I got out of the water on the good side of it, taking the win. I’m having a really good time here in Mexico, it’s been a great week.”
World’s Best Surfers Join The Quiksilver Icons of Surf Super Session
After the competition wrapped for the day in Barra De La Cruz, some of the world’s best surfers joined Quiksilver for an expression session riding iconic surfboards that have helped shape the future of surfing in one way or another.
Ryan Callinan (AUS), Mikey Wright (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Caroline Marks (USA), Owen Wright (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Mateus Herdy (BRA), and Leah Dawson (HAW) got to battle in a one 40-minute heat format where judges picked one male and one female winner based on overall performance.
The winners of the Quiksilver Icons of Surf Super Session were Mikey Wright and Caroline Marks. Wright rode a remake of the board used by Andy Irons when he won the last CT event in Mexico 15 years ago, while Marks rode a Gerry Lopez Single. Each winner received a $5,000 prize and the chance to pick one of the iconic boards to bring home.
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.33 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.66, Diego Cadena (MEX) 10.37
HEAT 2: Deivid Silva (BRA) 10.44 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 9.33, Jhony Corzo (MEX) 7.93
HEAT 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.84 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.07, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 7.57
HEAT 4: Seth Moniz (HAW) 15.37 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 11.87, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 8.67
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.20 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.86, Regina Pioli (MEX) 8.07
HEAT 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.67 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.50, Shelby Detmers (MEX) 9.50
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 13.70
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 18.07 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 9.33
HEAT 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.07 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.43
HEAT 4: Deivid Silva (BRA) 13.73 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.63
HEAT 5: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 15.04 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 9.67
HEAT 6: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.37 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 9.87
HEAT 7: Conner Coffin (USA) 11.33 DEF. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.33
HEAT 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.73 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.17
HEAT 9: Rio Waida (IDN) 11.33 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.23
HEAT 10: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.24 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.80
HEAT 11: Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.74 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 12.44
HEAT 12: Yago Dora (BRA) 12.80 DEF. Mikey Wright (AUS) 12.10
HEAT 13: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 13.30
HEAT 14: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.60 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.50
HEAT 15: Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.33 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 11.17
HEAT 16: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 14.50 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.80
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Ethan Wing (AUS)
HEAT 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
HEAT 5: Rio Waida (IDN) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 6: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA)
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
HEAT 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
HEAT 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 7: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)
HEAT 8: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Opening day of the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver, the seventh stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), kicked off today in three-to-five-foot waves at Barra de la Cruz for men’s and women’s Seeding Round 1.
Men’s WSL Champions Ferreira, Slater, and Medina Advance to Round of 32
The day started with Olympians Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Kolohe Andino(USA) taking on 11-time WSL Champion, Kelly Slater (USA). Coming back on the CT after recovering from an injury and focusing on getting ready for the Olympics, Andino took the win today after changing the number on his jersey to 24 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. Slater finished second in the first heat of the day and also advanced straight to Round of 32. Currently No. 6 on the WSL Leaderboard, Igarashi finished in third place and will battle trials winner Diego Cadena (MEX) and Peterson Crisanto (BRA) on Heat 1 of the Elimination Round.
“I’m really excited to be back on tour,” said Andino. “This year has been very weird for me, so I’m glad I was able to perform well, especially against those guys.”
The Battle Is ON For The WSL Final 5
The fight for a spot on the WSL Final 5 is in full swing at the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. The defending World Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Italo Ferreira (BRA) along with fellow Brazilian and two-time WSL Champion, Gabriel Medina, both finished their Seeding Round matchups in second place, advancing to the Round of 32. While Medina has already secured a spot on the WSL Final 5, Ferreira, who is currently No. 2 in the rankings, has yet to secure a place at the Finals.
For Ferreira to clinch a WSL Final 5 spot in Mexico, he needs to make it to the final heat of the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. No 3 in the world, Filipe Toledo (BRA) won his heat over Jeremy Flores (FRA) and wildcard Jhony Corzo (MEX), and needs to finish at least third in this event to clinch his spot in the Finals. Rookie of the year and currently No. 4 on the WSL Leaderboard, Morgan Cibilic (AUS) started strong by winning Heat 3 against Deivid Silva (BRA) and Olympian wildcard Rio Waida (IDN) and advancing straight through the Round of 32. He has only two events left to earn enough points and secure his place in the Rip Curl WSL Finals, in September.
“At the beginning of the year my goal was to re-qualify for 2022 and maybe be in the top 10,” said Cibilic. “Now my goal is 100% to get in the WSL Final 5. I’m very happy with my performance so far, my boards are solid under my feet. I’m stoked.”
Olympians Defay, Weston-Webb, Fitzgibbons Fight For a Spot In WSL Final 5
Out of the five women sitting at the top of the WSL Leaderboard, three can clinch a spot at the WSL Final 5 while in Mexico. Current World No. 3, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) took the first heat win for the women’s at the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver. If she wins this event, she will lock in her place at the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Johanne Defay (FRA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), both finished their heats in second place and advanced straight to the Round of 16. Both surfers will clinch a spot in the WSL Final 5 if they make it to the finals in Mexico. Four-time WSL Champion and Olympic gold medalist, Carissa Moore (HAW) has already clinched her spot and is surfing in Mexico with the hopes of keeping her No. 1 position in the rankings in order to get the best seeding position for the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
“We have so many amazing women on tour,” said Fitzgibbons. “It’s so hard to win a heat, let alone make it to the final 5. I believe I’m capable of it though, I know what I have to do, so I’ll keep plugging it away, and hopefully, I’ll be there next month.”
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Seeding Round 1 Results:
HEAT 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.60 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 11.00, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.77
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.00 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 11.73, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.43
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.00 DEF. Rio Waida (IDN) 9.70, Deivid Silva (BRA) 8.27
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.46 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.33, Jhony Corzo (MEX) 6.87
HEAT 5: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 14.13 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.93, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 13.03HEAT 6: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.13, Diego Cadena (MEX) 7.90
HEAT 7: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.77, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 11.34
HEAT 8: Mikey Wright (AUS) 12.73 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 11.80, Yago Dora (BRA) 10.76
HEAT 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.77 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 12.77, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 8.87
HEAT 10: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.17 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.13, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 9.50
HEAT 11: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.16 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 12.40, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.06
HEAT 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.43 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.37, Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.46
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Seeding Round 1 Results:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.27 DEF. Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.90, Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.96
HEAT 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.93 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.00, Shelby Detmers (MEX) 7.43
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.96 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 12.60, Regina Pioli (MEX) 5.07
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.24 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.24, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.30
HEAT 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.07 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 12.60, Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.94
HEAT 6: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.03 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.97, Sage Erickson (USA) 11.53
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) vs. Diego Cadena (MEX)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Jhony Corzo (MEX)
HEAT 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
HEAT 4: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Regina Pioli (MEX)
HEAT 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Shelby Detmers (MEX)
Pipe Master, backhand barrel beast and out standing competitor Jeremy Flores is to leave the WSL.
So many good things to say about this kid, but not enough time. We’ll just let the video do the talking.. Watching him get chaired up the beach at Hoss was all time.
Good luck in your next chapter.
“I don’t like the word « retiring » because i don’t feel like i’m retiring at all, I’m moving on to the next chapter. I dedicated most of my life to Surfing competition. It’s been a rollercoaster, lots of ups & downs but damn i lived it to the fullest. Some epic moments. I tried to stay real the whole time, maybe too much sometimes 🤣 But it was all worth it ! If someone told me, when I was a kid, the success, the life i would have, I wouldn’t of believed it. Because of professional surfing i am now lucky enough to live a happy life & provide for my whole family.
High level sports is no joke, there is a lot of things people don’t see behind the scene, it’s intense, it takes so much energy. Since I became a father my priority totally changed, I want to be 100% there for my family. The last few years I haven’t been putting enough effort to be my best version of an athlete. I didn’t have that fire anymore. It was getting hard to keep up with the new generation who are training so freaking hard 🤣
“Anyways, thank you to everyone who believed in me since day 1 & the one who didn’t because it made me who I am.
“I’m frothing to work on new projects, surf trips with my friends. Try to send a positive message out there the best way I can.
“Big thank you to all my brothers & sisters who I got to spend time with on tour along the years, Love you guys !
“Thank you to @quiksilver who been having my back for 24 years, for giving me the opportunity when i was just a kid to make my dream possible.
And of course thank you to my family for keeping up with me all these years. I’ve always had the best support. I’m excited for the future. Love you ❤️.”
