Words by Megan Phippen. Photos World Surf League
In just a matter of weeks the highly anticipated 2016 Women’s Samsung Galaxy Championships Tour will kick off at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast of Australia with the Roxy Pro.
The first WSL event on tour will provide the world’s best surfers an opportunity to set their standard for the year to come. The girls have spent the past months recharging their batteries ready for the 2016 season of competitions that are about to get started. The Tour will send the girls from Australia to Brazil, Fiji, America, Portugal and France before finally crowning a new champion in Hawaii.
Above: Powerhouse and Current World Champion Carissa Moore.
Carissa (HAW) is hot off an explosive year and has set the standard of female surfing higher than ever. With many podium finishes in 2015 she is at the top of her game. Her stylish and powerful surfing comes out in full force on right hand points and will be in her element on the superbanks of Coolangatta. With back-to-back wins at the first two events in 2015, can she do it again?
Above: We’re looking forward to seeing Steph’s stylish moves. She’s been ripping at Snapper these last couple of weeks.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) is set to return bigger and better than ever. After missing out on the majority of last year due to an injury she has spent her time out surfing and training harder for a chance to make a come back to win her seventh world title; “I’m excited to see if I can come back and win it again.”
Above: Tyler Wright. Will Tyler be a contender for the title this year?
Keely Andrew (AUS) and Chelsea Tuach (BRB) are the 2016 rookies on tour. Tuach is the first person ever to qualify for the world tour from Barbados; she has two CT event experiences under her belt and is not to be underestimated. Andrew from the Sunshine Coast gained fifth place on the Qualifying Series to secure her spot on tour. She already has four CT experiences competing as a wildcard and injury replacement, her best result at the Rio Pro gaining a quarterfinal finish. Both rookies’ experiences will help them better their chances for the upcoming year.
2016 is set to be an exciting year. The battle between the top surfers in the world continues…watch it live here www.worldsurfleague.com
World Tour Surfers Rankings
- 1. Carissa Moore
- 2. Courtney Conlogue
- 3. Sally Fitzgibbons
- 4. Bianca Buitendag
- 5. Tyler Wright
- 6. Lakey Peterson
- 7. Tatiana Weston-Webb
- 8. Johanne Defay
- 9. Nikki Van Dijk
- 10. Malia Manuel
- 11. Sage Erickson
- 12. Chelsea Tuach
- 13. Keely Andrew
- 14. Alessa Quizon
- 15. Coco Ho
- 16. Laura Enever
- World Tour Events
