WSL Fantasy Guide for Lemoore – Womens

The women’s tour got pay equality last year. We’re a little slow, only just giving them WSL Fantasy Surfer Guide equality now. While we could dwell on our failures of the past, let’s instead toast success to the future. A future of making your ladies’ fantasy squad a force to be reckoned with. Surf Ranch is the perfect place to start with this equality of awesomeness anyway. Why? Because every surfer gets to ride the same wave, the same number of times, each split evenly left and right. One could argue we’ve been waiting for this venue at the perfect launch space. One would then, of course, be wrong, however, also right in picking the best team. Without further very weird preamble – here is your WSL Fantasy Surfer Guide for the Womens Freshwater Pro.   

Tier A for this event is by far the hardest to pick. On one hand you haven’t the current gold Jersey wearer Sally Fitz, who as a veteran has had a break out year of wins in 2019. Is it the fact she’s gunning for her childhood dream of Olympic qualification, or just that it’s damn high time she won a world title? Either way, an amazing option in small rippable waves.

Then there’s Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore – the most dominant female surfers in recent memory of the sport. Not only are they nearly always the ones to beat, but last year they finished #1 and #2 at this event. Given Carissa was the winner by a solid margin, and the fact she won the speciality event held here a couple of years ago, you have to think she’s the best pick. Still, Steph’s tube skills in particular are wild, so it’s easy to put her up as a possible option in our WSL Fantasy Surfer Guide

Sorry Sally, no shakas this time. I have to put the other golden girls first.

In Short
In – Carissa
Back up – Steph
Leave – Sally

Often when it comes to sports, you can get swept up with local favourites. It’s always amazing to see the crowd get behind their hometown heroes when they crush the spirits of foreign invaders. This time, that emotion is backed by statistics. Lakey Peterson and Caroline Marks are both American all-stars and both finished top 4 at this event last year. They’re also both up for grabs in tier B. Highlighting Lakey even further is she was the only girl to crack the 9s in the qualifying rounds last year, making her a possible dark horse for an overall win. A major bargain. Caroline Marks is deadly forehand or backhand too, and with more tour experience under her cap this time around could potentially step her game up further.

That leaves side options for those wanting to spice up their picks and go alternatives. If that’s you, then another American, Corn Chips Conlogue could be an amazing bet. She’s won more events than any other female in the last few years (link to stats post), is in fine form right now, and is a crazy good competitor under pressure. If you want some more international flavour, then Johanne Defay is for sure your pick. She just missed out on qualifying for the final last year by 1.02 points. Her backhand is her strong suit here, but can hopefully showcase some forehand tube riding to take home the croissant.

In terms of names to leave off the dance card, you’re looking at Malia Manuel and Bronte Macaulay. Bronte finished dead last at this event in 2018, so isn’t even in the discussion for picking a player for middle tier. Malia was also well down the rankings at 15th. Her ocean knowledge is amazing, but when it comes to pool surfing, there are simply better names in the draw.

In Short
In – Lakey and Marksy
Back up – Corn Chips or Defay
Leave – Bronte

TIER C – STICK WITH STATISTICS

Considering this is as mechanical a venue as you’re going to get on tour, there’s an argument that statistical history is more relevant than ever. Yes, I know, boring like a pony tail and beige briefs, but also reliable like them too. If you look at the numbers, then easily your best option in tier C is Coco Ho. Not only does she have the highest average heat score of any surfer in this tier, but she also hit top 8 here last year. There’s also Sage Erickson as a reasonable back up too, but you only get one pick in their tier, so Coco is it.

If you’re wanting to go a passion pick, I love the guts of Paige Hareb. During the national teams event here last year, her backhand tube riding was a proper eyeopener. Her speed control in the pit on the rights outclassed most of the men and had everyone on the edge of their seats. Her forehand is what let Paige down during the main event in 2018, but if she can pick up that form, she could be an amazing get not many crew with have in their teams.

In terms of nos, Keely Andrew and Macy Callahan are easy to leave out. Both had shockers in this event last year, and Macy especially is having an average run for 2019 already. Sit them on the bench and let stronger bets carry your team to victory.

In short
Yes – Coco
Maybe – Sage
No  – Macy

With that, lock ‘em in and fantasise about being showered in winner’s champagne come finals time. Or pony up cash (5500$) and hit the venue up with a VIP package.

If you’re still chasing more Fantasy/Surf related news/content, then hit below on the latest episode from Lipped where local charger Jamie Powell joins in and they talk about Tahiti, tubes, and whether we can call out “non-chargers”.

They then move onto the Freshwater Pro where they look at changes to the format, whether we should run comps in pools and why no-one but the top 7 can win.

And it’s fantasy time as the boys make their  picks for the Dragon x Lipped Podcast WSL Fantasy League – use the code lipped and get involved.