The J-Bay Open was called off Sunday after Finalist Mick Fanning (AUS) was attacked by a shark in the lineup.
After Sunday's cancellation of the J-Bay Open, Mick Fanning (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) will each earn equal-second place, and split the available prize money for first and second places. The World Surf League Commissioner's Office has provided the following explanation of the allocation, according to the current WSL Rulebook:
"The cancellation of the Final due to a WSL surfer being attacked by a shark and the real threat of another incident in the Final is considered a 'Force Majeure Event' under the WSL Rulebook.
"Article 18.02 of the WSL Rulebook addresses allocation of points and prize money when a Force Majeure Event occurs during a CT Event.
"Article 18.02(a) addresses prize money allocation. As the Final began but was cancelled before completion, all prize money available to the surfers in the Final will be split equally between them.
"Article 18.02 (b) and (c) address the points allocation to each surfer. Both surfers won their Semifinal heat and therefore, earned the right to collect points for no less than a second place finish at the J-Bay Open.
"As the Final was not completed, based on the WSL Rulebook, the only points available to be awarded were those points earned for starting the Final. Accordingly, each surfer was awarded 8,000 points, the number of points awarded for a second-place finish in a CT Event."
The second-place finish bumped Fanning and Wilson up two spots each on the Jeep Rankings, to second and third place, respectively. Brazilian surfer Adriano de Souza still leads the men's Championship Tour rankings, but now has just a 250-point lead over Fanning.
De Souza will wear the leader's yellow jersey going into the CT men's next event, the Billabong Pro Tahiti, which runs August 14 - 25.
J-Bay Open: Points Rule, Explained
WSL
After Sunday's cancellation of the J-Bay Open, Mick Fanning (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) will each earn equal-second place, and split the available prize money for first and second places. The World Surf League Commissioner's Office has provided the following explanation of the allocation, according to the current WSL Rulebook:
"The cancellation of the Final due to a WSL surfer being attacked by a shark and the real threat of another incident in the Final is considered a 'Force Majeure Event' under the WSL Rulebook.
"Article 18.02 of the WSL Rulebook addresses allocation of points and prize money when a Force Majeure Event occurs during a CT Event.
"Article 18.02(a) addresses prize money allocation. As the Final began but was cancelled before completion, all prize money available to the surfers in the Final will be split equally between them.
"Article 18.02 (b) and (c) address the points allocation to each surfer. Both surfers won their Semifinal heat and therefore, earned the right to collect points for no less than a second place finish at the J-Bay Open.
"As the Final was not completed, based on the WSL Rulebook, the only points available to be awarded were those points earned for starting the Final. Accordingly, each surfer was awarded 8,000 points, the number of points awarded for a second-place finish in a CT Event."
The second-place finish bumped Fanning and Wilson up two spots each on the Jeep Rankings, to second and third place, respectively. Brazilian surfer Adriano de Souza still leads the men's Championship Tour rankings, but now has just a 250-point lead over Fanning.
De Souza will wear the leader's yellow jersey going into the CT men's next event, the Billabong Pro Tahiti, which runs August 14 - 25.
Julian Wilson
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