No Competition Today for Rip Curl Newcastle Cup Pres. by Corona

CT sophomore Macy Callaghan (AUS) will be in the Elimination Round against Johanne Defay (FRA) and Sage Erickson (USA) when the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona continues. Credit: © WSL / Miers

NEWCASTLE, New South Wales, Australia (Friday, April 2, 2021) – The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), has been called off for today and tomorrow due to small surf. With a promising forecast for next week, event organizers have opted to wait until conditions improve before re-commencing with men’s and women’s Elimination Round 2.

“As expected, the surf has continued to drop overnight and there isn’t much on offer for competitors this morning,” said WSL SVP of Tours and Head of Competition, Jessi Miley-Dyer. “It looks like these conditions will continue through tomorrow, as well, so we are calling tomorrow off and will come back on Sunday and make another call then.”

When competition resumes, the stakes will be high as competitors enter the dreaded elimination round where a loss will cost a competitor a last-place finish at the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup.

Heat 2 of the Men’s Elimination Round will see Julian Wilson (AUS) take on Aussie young guns Jack Robinson and Mikey Wright.

French representative Johanne Defay (FRA) will have the tough task of overcoming Sage Erickson (USA) and CT sophomore Macy Callaghan (AUS) if she’s to progress into the Round of 16 when competition resumes.

WSL event organizers will reconvene on Sunday, April 4, and make the next call on competition at 7:15 a.m. AEST.

Watch LIVE
All the action from the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. The next call will be Sunday, April 4, at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:35 a.m. start. Free Ticket Reservations for Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona
Due to COVID-19 regulations limiting crowd size, the WSL is requiring fans to reserve FREE tickets to the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona. Although the WSL’s Tiketek ballot is closed and tickets have been allocated, each competition day at 11:00 a.m. AEDT, unclaimed ticket reservations will become available for free on the Ticketek website. Fans can check in each day at 11:00 a.m. AEDT for free ticket reservations. Please read the WSL’s event guide for more information and FAQs on ticket reservations. Tickets will be issued throughout the event. Reserve your FREE tickets at wsl.tv/NewcastleTickets.

The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona is proudly supported by our partners Rip Curl, Corona, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, The City of Newcastle, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Harvey Norman, Bonsoy, Boost Mobile, Dometic Outdoor, Bond University, BF Goodrich, Burton Automotive, and Oakberry.

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
HEAT 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
HEAT 3: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)
HEAT 4: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

COVID-19 Updates
Due to COVID-19 regulations limiting crowd size, WSL is requiring fans to reserve FREE tickets. To learn more, please read the WSL’s event guide for information on free ticket reservations and FAQs. Reserve your FREE tickets at wsl.tv/NewcastleTickets.The WSL will implement a robust and thorough COVID-19 health and safety plan for each event during the Australian leg of the CT in accordance with federal and state guidance. The WSL’s health and safety plan includes physical distancing measures, temperature checks, enhanced high-touch cleaning at the event site, contact tracing procedures, sanitizer stations throughout the event site, and minimal personnel on-site.All traveling athletes and support staff completed the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine and received medical clearance from public health officials before entering the general community.Due to COVID-19, the Australian CT events will run based on state border closures, strictly adhering to federal and state government guidelines and restrictions. All tour stops and dates subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.

RESULTS DAY ONE.

Small Waves and Dynamic Performances At Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Local Hero Ryan Callinan Secures Highest Heat Score
World No. 1 John John Florence Dominates Small Waves!
Caroline Marks, Sally Fitzgibbons,Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore Superb Opening Heat Winners

Surfers On Today’s Newsfeed Platform Include – John John Florence, Caroline Marks, Sally Fitzgibbons, Italo Ferreira, Frederico Morais, Ryan Callinan and more.

NEWCASTLE, New South Wales, Australia (Thursday, April 1, 2021) – The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), opened today with the completion of men’s and women’s Seeding Round 1 in small tricky conditions at Merewether. What lacked in the way of waves on Day 1 was made up for with incredible performances as the world’s best returned to CT competition in Australia for the first time in almost two years.

Local Hero Ryan Callinan Secures Highest Heat Score of Opening Day
Local favorite Ryan Callinan (AUS) got his hometown campaign off to a flying start, winning his opening round heat with the highest two-wave combination of Day 1. Callinan put on a perfect display of local knowledge, finding the best wave of each set and improving on each ride with his technical backside prowess to post a 15.26 heat total (out of a possible 20) to progress into the Round of 32, much to the delight of the masses of adoring fans who lined the beach at Merewether.

Overall a great day for all three Newcastle surfers competing here with wildcard locals Jackson Baker and Philippa Anderson also advanced through their opening round heats.

World No. 1 John John Florence Brings Winning Momentum To Newcastle – Small Waves No Problem for the Former 2-Time World Champ!
Current world number one John John Florence (HAW) is lauded the world over for his performances in big surf and waves of consequence but today at Merewether the two-time WSL Champion showed he has what it takes when the waves are small. Florence’s 14.56 (out of a possible 20) was the second-highest heat tally of the round behind Ryan Callinan and sees him move directly into the Round of 32 and slates him as a bigger threat than expected when surfing makes its Olympic debut later this year. Florence is simply an amazing surfing in giant surf and small surf and has an outstanding aerial game as well!

Female Competitors Light Up The Afternoon Session
Sally Fitzgibbons set an impressive benchmark in the opening Heat of Women’s Round 1 posting an impressive 14.00 point heat tally which included a near excellent 7.83 score (out of a possible 10) in her heat win. Like Florence, Fitzgibbons is renowned for her big wave surfing but her performance in today’s fun peeling smaller waves reminded all just how good she surfs on the smaller days.

Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks were also impressive Round 1 heat winners with Marks posting the highest single-wave score of the day with an excellent 8 point ride.

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Seeding Round 1 Results:
HEAT 1: Deivid Silva (BRA) 11.10 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.20, Conner Coffin (USA) 4.96
HEAT 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.00 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.70, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.30
HEAT 3: John John Florence (HAW) 14.56 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 12.73, Mikey Wright (AUS) 12.00
HEAT 4: Frederico Morais (PRT) 12.27 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.17, Matt Banting (AUS) 10.90
HEAT 5: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.74 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.27, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 8.16
HEAT 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.23 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 11.50, Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.33
HEAT 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.84 DEF. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.67, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 8.53
HEAT 8: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 10.84 DEF. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 8.67, Owen Wright (AUS) 8.13
HEAT 9: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 11.77 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 10.60, Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.53
HEAT 10: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.26 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.50, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.37
HEAT 11: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.50 DEF. Jack Freestone (AUS) 9.40, Michel Bourez (FRA) 7.77
HEAT 12: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.54 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.86, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.84Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
HEAT 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
HEAT 3: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)
HEAT 4: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Seeding Round 1 Results:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.00 DEF. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 10.27, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.44
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.37 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.50, Keely Andrew (AUS) 8.90
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.73 DEF. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 10.70, Sage Erickson (USA) 10.13
HEAT 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.50 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.27, Johanne Defay (FRA) 8.56
HEAT 5: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.93 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.10, Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 10.10
HEAT 6: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.84 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.73, Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.14Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)

PRIOR REPORT kicking off DAY ONE…

Live Surfing Returns for Opening Day of Rip Curl Newcastle Cup Pres. by Corona

Men’s and Women’s Seeding Round 1 Called ON for the Day
Men’s Seeding Round 1 Starts at 7:35 AM AEDT
WSL CT Fantasy Still Open for Registration and Team Selections
Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Perry of Wandiyali Group in the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to acknowledge that the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup is taking place on the land of the Awabakal People. Credit: © WSL / Miers

NEWCASTLE, New South Wales, Australia (Thursday, April 1, 2021) – The second stop of the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, opens today with the men’s and women’s Seeding Rounds called ON for the day. Men’s Seeding Round 1 will start at 7:35 a.m. AEDT and women’s Seeding Round 1 will follow the men’s heats. The event marks the first event in Australia since 2019 and the first of four consecutive events in Australia.

Up first will be Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) facing Conner Coffin (USA) and Deivid Silva (BRA) in the opening heat of men’s Seeding Round 1.

Welcome to Country by Wandiyali Group
Prior to the competition getting underway at Merewether, surfers and fans were treated to a moving Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Kevin McKenny of Wandiyali Group with Jackie Allen performing the National Anthem in Awabakal language, and Perry playing the didgeridoo. The words and Smoking Ceremony acknowledged that the competition is taking place on the land of the Awabakal People.

Select Your Newcastle Picks Now for WSL CT Fantasy
WSL CT Fantasy is still open for the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona. Fans can create their leagues and set their teams ahead of the first event of the Australian leg. WSL CT Fantasy is fully reimagined for the 2021 season. Register now and check out all the new features:

Power Surfers let you catch up quickly and give you 2x the points for one male and one female surfer on your team.
Combined teams create higher scores than ever before.
Progressive scoring means events are worth more as the season goes on.
Editing teams mid-event ensures you never have a surfer knocked out early.

Players can register now at fantasy.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL app.

Watch LIVE
All the action from the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.Free Ticket Reservations for Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona
Due to COVID-19 regulations limiting crowd size, the WSL is requiring fans to reserve FREE tickets to the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona. Although the WSL’s Tiketek ballot is closed and tickets have been allocated, each competition day at 11:00 a.m. AEDT, unclaimed ticket reservations will become available for free on the Ticketek website. Fans can check in each day at 11:00 a.m. AEDT for free ticket reservations. Please read the WSL’s event guide for more information and FAQs on ticket reservations. Tickets will be issued throughout the event. Reserve your FREE tickets at wsl.tv/NewcastleTickets.

The Road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals Begins
Following the CT kickoff in Hawaii, Newcastle continues the road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals. The Rip Curl WSL Finals is the new one-day, playoff-style competition that will determine the World Champions in September. The Rip Curl WSL Finals will see the top five male and top five female surfers who accumulated the most points during CT compete for the 2021 World Titles in a single day of intense, world-class surfing at Lower Trestles in Southern California.

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Heat 2: Lakey Peterson (USA), Tyler Wright (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sage Erickson (USA), Philippa Anderson (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 5: Caroline Marks (USA), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
Heat 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Isabella Nichols (AUS)Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Conner Coffin (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW), Yago Dora (BRA), Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Frederico Morais (PRT), Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Matthew McGillivray (ZAF), Crosby Colapinto (USA)
Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Jackson Baker (AUS)
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS), Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Heat 10: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 11: Jack Freestone (AUS), Michel Bourez (FRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Adriano de Souza (BRA)