Who Stays on Tour after the Margaret River Pro?

Published on 26/04/2023

The Margaret River Pro is the fifth and final stop before the WSL’s brutal Mid-season Cut, however the top 10 ranked women and top 22 men who will progress have already been determined.

Those who made it through the cut will compete in the back-half of the CT season and battle for their place in the WSL Final 5 and for world title glory.

Molly Picklum surfing in the Margaret River Pro. Image: Aaron Hughes / WSL

Others have been relegated to the Challenger Series and will be competing to get back onto the 2024 Championship Tour in the coming weeks (starting May 6th with the Gold Coast Pro).

In a major upset, Liam O’Brien eliminated the GOAT Kelly Slater but it will not be the end of his time at the top. The 11-time World Champion (along with France’s Johanne Defay) has been given a wildcard to remain on the main tour for the rest of 2023, which means he could yet contend for a 12th world title.

WSL Chief of Sport Jessi Miley-Dye said: “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.”

Dropping off the women’s tour is fan favourite Sally Fitzgibbons, who fell victim to the cut for the second year in a row.

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)
Johanne Defay (FRA) ***mid-season wildcard

Men’s CT: Made the Cut

Joao Chianca (BRA)
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/JPN)
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)
Kelly Slater (USA) ***mid-season wildcard

Eight-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore has survived the Mid-season Cut. Image: Aaron Hughes / WSL
Two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright has also made the cut. Image: Aaron Hughes / WSL
Jack Robinson finished equal third at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Image: Ed Sloane / WSL
Ethan Ewing has made the Mid-season Cut. Image Cait Miers / WSL
Ryan Callinan is one of the top 22 men who made it through the Mid-season Cut. Image: Aaron Hughes / WSL
Callum Robson claimed his spot above the Mid-season Cut by overcoming Jackson Baker. Image: Cait Miers / WSL
Liam O’Brien survives the Mid-season Cut. Image: Aaron Hughes / WSL

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