Jesse Mendes jumped 34 spots up the Qualifying Series (QS) rankings with his emotional win at the Billabong Pro Cascais Saturday, the third of five heavily weighted QS10000 events on the schedule this year.
Mendes rocketed from No. 44 to No. 10 for his efforts, which means if the season ended today he would qualify for the 2017 Championship Tour.
But the season is far from over.
There are 49 total events on the QS schedule; each varies by weight, which is determined by the prize purse. Smaller QS1000 and QS1500 events serve as training ground events, while the larger QS3000, QS6000 and the high-profile QS10000 events are often life-altering battles.
Surfers are free to compete in as many events as they like, but only their top five results will count towards their final QS ranking. At this stage of the season most surfers are trying to better their lowest point value result.
There are two QS3000 events remaining on the schedule, and one QS6000, but in the end the race for next year's tour slots will hinge - as it always does - on the final two QS10000 events in Hawaii.
Nevertheless, it's important to know who's positioned well going into the home stretch. So behold, the latest movers and shakers in the race to qualify, or in several cases, requalify.
Big Gainers at the Billabong Pro Cascais
Joan Duru
Accomplishment: Jumped one spot to QS No. 3, bettering his lowest score by 3700 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1500 point result to gain ground.
Ian Gouveia
Accomplishment: Jumped five spots to QS No. 4, bettering his lowest score by 5600 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 900 point result to gain ground.
Bino Lopes
Accomplishment: Jumped five spots to QS No. 5, bettering his lowest score by 5850 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 650 point result to gain ground.
Jeremy Flores
Accomplishment: Jumped 12 spots to QS No. 6 with his runner-up finish. He bettered his low score by 8000 points.
Next Step: He's only surfed in four QS events, so every point he earns will count at this point.
Ryan Callinan
Accomplishment: Jumped two spots to QS No. 9, bettering his lowest score by 4500 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 700 point result to gain ground.
Jesse Mendes
Accomplishment: Jumped 34 spots to QS No. 10, bettering his lowest score by 9000 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1000 point result to gain ground.
Jack Freestone
Accomplishment: Jumped 17 spots to QS No. 15, bettering his lowest score by 5200 points.
Next Step: He's only surfed in four QS events, so every point he earns will count at this point.
Tanner Gudauskas
Accomplishment: Jumped 15 spots to QS No. 16, bettering his lowest score by 4600 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 600 point result to gain ground.
Big Sliders at the Billabong Pro Cascais
Ethan Ewing - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Ethan Ewing
Damage: Fell four spots to QS No. 7, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 750 point result to gain ground.
Kanoa Igarashi - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Kanoa Igarashi
Damage: Fell three spots to QS No. 8 while bettering his lowest score by 1550 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 650 point result to gain ground.
Ezekiel Lau - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Ezekiel Lau
Damage: Fell five spots to QS No. 11, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 600 point result to gain ground.
Evan Geiselman - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
Evan Geiselman
Damage: Fell five spots to QS No. 12, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1050 point result to gain ground.
Qualifying Update: Who's Up, Who's Down Post Billabong Pro
WSL
Jesse Mendes jumped 34 spots up the Qualifying Series (QS) rankings with his emotional win at the Billabong Pro Cascais Saturday, the third of five heavily weighted QS10000 events on the schedule this year.
Mendes rocketed from No. 44 to No. 10 for his efforts, which means if the season ended today he would qualify for the 2017 Championship Tour.
But the season is far from over.
There are 49 total events on the QS schedule; each varies by weight, which is determined by the prize purse. Smaller QS1000 and QS1500 events serve as training ground events, while the larger QS3000, QS6000 and the high-profile QS10000 events are often life-altering battles.
Surfers are free to compete in as many events as they like, but only their top five results will count towards their final QS ranking. At this stage of the season most surfers are trying to better their lowest point value result.
There are two QS3000 events remaining on the schedule, and one QS6000, but in the end the race for next year's tour slots will hinge - as it always does - on the final two QS10000 events in Hawaii.
Nevertheless, it's important to know who's positioned well going into the home stretch. So behold, the latest movers and shakers in the race to qualify, or in several cases, requalify.
Big Gainers at the Billabong Pro Cascais
Joan Duru
Accomplishment: Jumped one spot to QS No. 3, bettering his lowest score by 3700 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1500 point result to gain ground.
Ian Gouveia
Accomplishment: Jumped five spots to QS No. 4, bettering his lowest score by 5600 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 900 point result to gain ground.
Bino Lopes
Accomplishment: Jumped five spots to QS No. 5, bettering his lowest score by 5850 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 650 point result to gain ground.
Jeremy Flores
Accomplishment: Jumped 12 spots to QS No. 6 with his runner-up finish. He bettered his low score by 8000 points.
Next Step: He's only surfed in four QS events, so every point he earns will count at this point.
Ryan Callinan
Accomplishment: Jumped two spots to QS No. 9, bettering his lowest score by 4500 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 700 point result to gain ground.
Jesse Mendes
Accomplishment: Jumped 34 spots to QS No. 10, bettering his lowest score by 9000 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1000 point result to gain ground.
Jack Freestone
Accomplishment: Jumped 17 spots to QS No. 15, bettering his lowest score by 5200 points.
Next Step: He's only surfed in four QS events, so every point he earns will count at this point.
Tanner Gudauskas
Accomplishment: Jumped 15 spots to QS No. 16, bettering his lowest score by 4600 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 600 point result to gain ground.
Big Sliders at the Billabong Pro Cascais
Ethan Ewing
Damage: Fell four spots to QS No. 7, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 750 point result to gain ground.
Kanoa Igarashi
Damage: Fell three spots to QS No. 8 while bettering his lowest score by 1550 points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 650 point result to gain ground.
Ezekiel Lau
Damage: Fell five spots to QS No. 11, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 600 point result to gain ground.
Evan Geiselman
Damage: Fell five spots to QS No. 12, gained zero ground on points.
Next Step: He needs better than a 1050 point result to gain ground.
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