India Robinson qualifies for 2022 Championship Tour

JAN Juc surfer India Robinson will be elevated into the big time next year after finishing in the top four of a season-ending competition in Hawaii earlier this week.

The 21-year-old’s placing in the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger – the final stop on World Surf League’s (WSL) Challenger Tour – secured her place in the top-flight Championship Tour.

Robinson came into the event with plenty of hype behind her and lived up to expectations at Haleiwa.

A dominant showcase of her forehand attack led her to a massive quarterfinal victory before yet another win in the semifinals, ultimately leading to the elimination of fellow Australian threat Molly Picklum.

Despite a fourth-place finish behind three Hawaiian surfers – event winner Bettylou Sakura Johnson, Gabriela Bryan and Carissa Moore – Robinson had the work done to make it to fifth spot in the Women’s Challenger Series rankings and thus will be in the lineup among the world’s best in 2022.

“I can’t believe I made the final after such a big week and it’s a dream come true,” Robinson said.

“I’ve worked so hard for this and it has paid off. I’m still in shock, but wow, I can’t wait for next year.”

The top 12 rated men and six women from the 2021 Challenger Series qualify for the 2022 Championship Tour.

Next year’s Championship Tour opens with the Billabong Pro Pipeline at Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline from January 29 to February 10, and Robinson will be in familiar territory when the tour comes south to the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on April 10-20.