Last year Adam Robertson showed us all what can be done by securing a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro.
In case you've forgotten Robbo surfed through the trials, qualified for the main event and ended up coming 2nd to Parko in the final.
This is not the first time a wildcard has had a great result. In 2001 a 19 year old, Mick Fanning won the event as a wildcard.
Since then Fanning has gone on to win 2 World Titles.
This year the importance of the wildcard slot is magnified with the new, one WCT rating system.
In the past if you were a WQS surfer competing in a WCT event the competing surfer would not get any points to add to their overall year tally.
If the new system had been in place last year, Robbo's results would have elevated his ranking in the WQS substantially putting him in a position to possibly qualify for the 2010 WCT.
This year WQS surfers will not have to wait until 2011 to qualify for the WCT, but could qualify by mid year 2010. So it is very important for all surfers top get a good start to the season.
Robbo in the "Vic the Place to Be Trials" 2010 can he do it again?
There are 19 other surfers who would be very keen to eliminate him and stop him from going one better this year.
One who is, is his mate, local, Nic Muscroft former 2009 WCT surfer, attempting to re-qualify.
Nic will certainly have the fire in his belly to re-qualify. Has bucket loads of experience on his side to do the job.
16 Victorian surfers from the Pre Trials Event held Sunday 28th March. 4 of which will progress through to the Vic the Place to Be Trials, made up of 8 surfers held held Monday 29th March where they will battle it out for the one wildcard spot.
There are 3 wildcard spots for the event. 2 have already been allocated.
#1 16 year old Gabriel Medina from Brazil. Fresh off the back of a string great results, one of which was a 6 Star WQS win in Brazil.
Lets not forget Newcastle's skinny 16 year old Nicky Wood winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells in 1987. It's only impossible until someone does it.
#2 Stuey Kennedy from Lennox Heads. This year Stuey is out to prove he's got what it takes to mix it with the best of the best.
By his own admission he would have been disappointed by his early exit as a wildcard from last years event. 12 months more experience on the grueling WQS. Making a WQS final in his first year on tour. The highest placed Aussie in the Billabong World Pro Junior event at Narrabeen early January this year under his belt, we'll see a different Kennedy
#3 The Victorian Trials wnner...who will that be? I guarantee you one thing, who ever it is, it will be an experience they will never forget. Surfers to watch Adam Robertson, Nic Muscroft, Jack Perry and former WCT surfer from Phillip Island, Glyndon Ringrose. Having said that, don't discount any of the trialists. They've all been given an opportunity for good reason, they all RIP!
The Girls!
Surfing Victoria has allocated four spots for the Pre Trials.
Amy Stewart (local), Nikki Van Dijk, George Fish, India Payne. The winner of the Pre Trials will surf against Tyler Wright in the Ford Fiesta Trials for a wildcard into the Rip Curl Women's Pro.
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