Who doesn't love an underdog, right? I mean there is a reason why there are seven Rocky movies. Throughout the 2021 surfing year there was plenty of occasions when the unfancied took out the unprepared, wonder kids worked over World Champions and rookies ruled the roost. Here are six of the best.
Pipeline Sets The Upset Ball Rolling
With the CT starting at the Pipe Masters, the potential for upsets was sown into the fertile, volcanic, Hawaiian soil from the get go. And in the first Elimination Round of 32, a clutch of underdogs bit early.
Filipe Toledo was the biggest scalp, being taken down by Leonardo Fioravanti. Then the rookies took over with Matthew McGillivray defeating Pipe specialist Seth Moniz and Jack Robinson overcoming former Pipe Master Julian Wilson.
Then to complete the rout, returning CT veteran Miguel Pupo handed the then-World No. 4 Kolohe Andino his walking papers.
Jack Robinson looked phenomenal during his CT debut at Pipe, earning himself a Round of 16 match up against seven-time Pipe Master Kelly Slater.
Isabella Nichols Makes An Appearance
At the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona rookie Isabella Nichols defeated Tatiana Weston-Webb in the Round of 16.
That earned the Australian a Quarterfinal matchup with her friend, mentor and 7X World Champion Stephanie Gilmore. Nichols started strong and never relinquished control as she powered to the biggest victory of her career.
Isabella Nichols and Stephanie Gilmore - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Cibilic 1 Florence 0
An injured ankle had kept the rookie Morgan Cibilic out of the water for days, and until the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona event was called on, it was unclear if he'd even be able to compete at his homebreak.
But despite surfing at less then full fitness, he defeated John John Florence in a heat almost everyone expected him to lose
"After ten minutes, I was like, I could maybe win this… I'm winning at the moment and I just need to play my cards right," Cibilic said afterward.
"I lost priority at the end, stupidly, and I was like, I'm done here, and then he went a wobbly one and then the one after was an absolute bomb. For the last few minutes, I just couldn't stop smiling."
CT Rookie and hometown hero eliminates Hawaiian John John Florence with the highest heat total of the event so far in Newcastle.
Cibilic 2 Florence 0
Lightning doesn't strike twice. Till it does. In the next event, the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona, Cibilic again drew Florence.
Most fans expected Florence to take revenge and shut down the rookie's fairytale run. Instead, Cibilic cracked the biggest turns of the event and for the 30-minute window, was the better surfer. To beat Florence once was maybe lucky, to do it twice proved that he was no flash-in-the-pan.
Breaking down Ferreira's much-talked-about air, the growing Florence/Cibilic rivalry and all the epic matchups in the Finals Day brackets.
Podium Problems
As surfing made its debut at the Olympic Games, many thought that surfing's CT stars would make a beeline for the podium. However in the Women's draw, except for Gold Medalist Carissa Moore, there were upsets galore.
Eventual silver medalist Bianca Buitendag took down Stephanie Gilmore, France's Johanne Defay, another medal favorite, was defeated by Portugal's Yolanda Hopkins, and Tatiana Weston-Webb, another top seed, was eliminated by Japan's Amuro Tsuzuki.
Stephanie Gilmore - Sean Evans/ISA
Silva Seals The Deal
Deivid Silva's run in the Corona Mexico Pro was one long series of underdog performances. While victories over the soon-to-be-retired Adriano de Souza and a recently-back-from-injury Koloho Andino were more eyebrow rising than jaw dropping, it was the manner of his defeat of Gabriel Medina in the Quarters that was the biggest upset of the event.
Silva went toe-to-toe, or more appropriately heel-to-heel, with his fellow Brazilian goofyfooter at the righthand point and came out with a decisive victory.
It was this win that set him up for an eventual Final finish and secured his CT place for 2022.
Silva stuns the crowd with a barrage of backhand maneuvers to earn an 8.67 and eliminate Gabriel Medina in the quarterfinals.
Six Upsets That Changed The Game In 2021
Ben Mondy
Who doesn't love an underdog, right? I mean there is a reason why there are seven Rocky movies. Throughout the 2021 surfing year there was plenty of occasions when the unfancied took out the unprepared, wonder kids worked over World Champions and rookies ruled the roost. Here are six of the best.
Pipeline Sets The Upset Ball Rolling
With the CT starting at the Pipe Masters, the potential for upsets was sown into the fertile, volcanic, Hawaiian soil from the get go. And in the first Elimination Round of 32, a clutch of underdogs bit early.
Filipe Toledo was the biggest scalp, being taken down by Leonardo Fioravanti. Then the rookies took over with Matthew McGillivray defeating Pipe specialist Seth Moniz and Jack Robinson overcoming former Pipe Master Julian Wilson.
Then to complete the rout, returning CT veteran Miguel Pupo handed the then-World No. 4 Kolohe Andino his walking papers.
Isabella Nichols Makes An Appearance
At the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona rookie Isabella Nichols defeated Tatiana Weston-Webb in the Round of 16.
That earned the Australian a Quarterfinal matchup with her friend, mentor and 7X World Champion Stephanie Gilmore. Nichols started strong and never relinquished control as she powered to the biggest victory of her career.
Cibilic 1 Florence 0
An injured ankle had kept the rookie Morgan Cibilic out of the water for days, and until the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona event was called on, it was unclear if he'd even be able to compete at his homebreak.
But despite surfing at less then full fitness, he defeated John John Florence in a heat almost everyone expected him to lose
"After ten minutes, I was like, I could maybe win this… I'm winning at the moment and I just need to play my cards right," Cibilic said afterward.
"I lost priority at the end, stupidly, and I was like, I'm done here, and then he went a wobbly one and then the one after was an absolute bomb. For the last few minutes, I just couldn't stop smiling."
Cibilic 2 Florence 0
Lightning doesn't strike twice. Till it does. In the next event, the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona, Cibilic again drew Florence.
Most fans expected Florence to take revenge and shut down the rookie's fairytale run. Instead, Cibilic cracked the biggest turns of the event and for the 30-minute window, was the better surfer. To beat Florence once was maybe lucky, to do it twice proved that he was no flash-in-the-pan.
Podium Problems
As surfing made its debut at the Olympic Games, many thought that surfing's CT stars would make a beeline for the podium. However in the Women's draw, except for Gold Medalist Carissa Moore, there were upsets galore.
Eventual silver medalist Bianca Buitendag took down Stephanie Gilmore, France's Johanne Defay, another medal favorite, was defeated by Portugal's Yolanda Hopkins, and Tatiana Weston-Webb, another top seed, was eliminated by Japan's Amuro Tsuzuki.
Silva Seals The Deal
Deivid Silva's run in the Corona Mexico Pro was one long series of underdog performances. While victories over the soon-to-be-retired Adriano de Souza and a recently-back-from-injury Koloho Andino were more eyebrow rising than jaw dropping, it was the manner of his defeat of Gabriel Medina in the Quarters that was the biggest upset of the event.
Silva went toe-to-toe, or more appropriately heel-to-heel, with his fellow Brazilian goofyfooter at the righthand point and came out with a decisive victory.
It was this win that set him up for an eventual Final finish and secured his CT place for 2022.
Isabella Nichols
2025 Championship Tour qualifier Isabella Nichols returns to the show. Following her debut in Episode 75, Isabella recaps her remarkable
The electric surfing of Isabella Nichols is back among the world's best for the 2025 CT season after a dominant run through the Challenger
The former CTer Isabella Nichols put her forehand power on full display for an excellent 16.27 heat total and Quarterfinal appearance as
As the fourth stop of the Challenger Series, who might lock their spot on the dream tour at the Lexus US Open Presented By Pacifico.
The current Challenger Series No. 2, Isabella Nichols, returns to winning form among CT hopefuls. Nichols joins 2018 WSL World Junior
News
With Kin Mateo Cadena's 7.67 setting the resetting the scale, Sasha Donnanno and Carlos Ramos' 7-point rides held in opening day's Top 5
Kin Mateo Cadena and Company Elevate the Scale in Debuts
2024 Challenger Series and Regional Standouts, Mexico's Proven Threats and more Ready for Opening Day
Legendary surfer, filmmaker, and environmental advocate Chris Malloy joins us on The Lineup. Known for his no-nonsense attitude and deep
A major win in Puerto Rico helped kickstart Dimitri Poulos' season and now the Californian is looking more while soaking in the moment at