Christie’s late charge not enough

Christie in action. WSL/Masurel file picture

RICARDO Christie’s late charge on the World Qualifying Series (QS) ended as he was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Vans World Cup in Oahu, Hawaii.

He needed to make it to the final to have a chance of requalifying for the Championship Tour through the QS, but the early exit means he needs to produce something special in the last CT event at Pipeline.

Up against eventual competition winner Mick Fanning, and Dane Reynolds and Conner Coffin, Christie posted a two-wave total of 11.94 out of 20 in solid eight-to-10-foot surf at Sunset Beach.

This included the highest score of the heat — 8.67 — which featured a stand-up barrel and a vertical snap on the critical inside-bowl section.

Falls on four wavesChristie had opportunities to better his second-wave score of 3.67 but fell on four of his eight waves.

Fanning came top of the heat with a 14.50 total and went on to win the final against John John Florence, Julian Wilson and Matt Wilkinson.

Christie’s 13th-place result backed up a ninth and a third in the previous two QS events and pushed him up to 25th on the QS rankings ladder.

This was not enough to secure a top-10 finish and automatic requalification, but Christie has one more opportunity to move into the CT top 22 from 30th.

He has to win the last event of the 2015 CT — the Pipeline Masters in Oahu — and other surfers ranked higher than him will have to bow out early in the competition.

The Pipeline Masters is scheduled to start on Tuesday and finish by December 20.