Collective hopes with Christie in California quest

Ricardo Christie in action. File picture

A “FROFFING” Ricardo Christie is ready to resume his challenge to retain World Surf League Championship Tour status for 2016.

The Gisborne-Mahia surfer is in California preparing for contest 8 on the Championship tour — the Hurley Pro at Trestles in San Clemente.

Christie is sitting 30th on the CT rankings and needs to post impressive results over the remaining four contests to have any chance of making his way into the top 22 who automatically qualify for next year’s tour.

Every contest has been a learning experience for Christie but he needs to turn the education into more success.

His quarterfinal performance at the Rio Pro in contest 4 showed he can match it with the world’s best but he needs to display this on a more consistent basis.

Despite what has become an increasingly difficult assignment, the popular Christie remains positive and is looking forward to his California quest.

“Froffing for da surfing comp to start,” he wrote this week on Facebook.

Well-wishers continue to send him messages of support and when round 1 heats start tomorrow, the collective hopes of many will be with him as he bids for an opening heat win— something he has yet to do on tour.

Add to that the daunting prospect of those against him in round 1 — Brazilian Italo Ferreira, who is sitting eighth on the CT rankings, and Hawaiian John John Florence, who is 14th.

The winners of the three-man round 1 heats advance to round 3 while the others go into two-man round 2 elimination heats.

Heading into Trestles, Brazilian Adriano de Souza is leading the rankings on 34,950 points from Mick Fanning (34,700) and fellow Australian Owen Wright (34,400). Christie is on 9450.

Surfers count their best nine of 11 results over the CT series.