As powerful Indian Ocean swells rolled into Western Australia’s famed Margaret River, the World Surf League’s (WSL) controversial mid-season cut claimed its final casualties—bringing an end to one of the tour’s most divisive eras.
Australian-Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary narrowly secured his place on the elite Championship Tour (CT) on Tuesday, edging out close friend and fellow Australian Liam O’Brien in a high-stakes elimination heat. The pair, both fighting to stay above the relegation threshold, delivered a tense battle amid challenging conditions.
O’Leary emerged victorious by a single point, effectively ending O’Brien’s two-year tenure on the CT. The emotional toll was evident as the surfers embraced after the heat, acknowledging the harsh realities of competing at surfing’s highest level.
“It sucks, man,” O’Leary said. “To come up in such a high-pressure heat with one of your close mates… it sucks, but I guess you’ve just got to put it all aside and put yourself first.”
The End of an Era
Introduced in 2022, the mid-season cut reduced the CT field from 34 to 22 men and from 18 to 10 women midway through the season. The format aimed to heighten drama and viewer engagement but has consistently drawn criticism from athletes who viewed it as a harsh and destabilizing mechanism.
Among the athletes falling short of the cut in Margaret River were Liam O’Brien, veteran Ryan Callinan, and promising rookie George Pittar.
Jacob Willcox, a Western Australian surfer who once fell victim to the format, also reflected on the emotional impact. Willcox, who debuted as a wildcard in 2013, secured full-time qualification in 2024—only to be cut after just five events.
“Last year was just bitter disappointment,” he said. “This year I feel like I’m going for a bit of redemption at home.”
Now competing again as a wildcard after winning local trials, Willcox has advanced to the quarter-finals following key wins over world No. 1 Italo Ferreira and João Chianca.
“It’s heartbreaking watching those boys – I know exactly how they feel,” he added. “They’ll get back on tour.”
Format Overhaul for 2026
With consistent feedback from surfers and fans, the WSL has announced significant changes to its competition format starting in 2026. The mid-season cut will be discontinued, and the tour will return to a traditional cumulative points system to determine season champions. The women’s tour will also see an expanded field.
In place of the mid-season cut, the WSL will introduce a mini-cut late in the season, trimming the field ahead of the final events before all competitors reconvene for the season finale at Pipeline in Hawaii.
WSL Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer said restoring Pipeline to its historic role as the final stop was a key decision in reshaping the tour.
“There’s nothing more exciting than Pipe,” Miley-Dyer said. “It’s the wave surfers dream about—competing there, having it make or break your career—it makes sense to end the season there.”
Miley-Dyer, herself a former professional surfer, expressed empathy for those affected by the cut’s final iteration.
“This is one of those events where we’re going to watch people have incredible performances and leave on really big highs. But if you haven’t qualified for next year, you’ll have to pick yourself up again.”
Emotional Toll Continues
Veteran Australian Sally Fitzgibbons is one of several athletes facing potential relegation. After progressing through the elimination round, Fitzgibbons was visibly emotional, knowing that only a deep run—or an outright win—at Margaret River will keep her CT hopes alive.
Surf publication Stab described the moment as “visceral,” highlighting the psychological impact the cut has had on athletes over the past four years.
While the format has undeniably delivered drama, its critics have long argued that the emotional and career toll outweighed the spectacle.
As the sun sets on the WSL’s cut era, the surfing community looks ahead to a new chapter—one that aims to preserve tradition while still delivering the thrills fans expect from the sport’s elite tour.