WSL announces teams participating in Founders' Cup

During the Roxy Pro, the World Surf League announced the team competitors for the Founders' Cup, the first open event to be held at Kelly's Pool in Lemoore, California on May 5 and 6.

It is not yet known what the format will be, nor has it been explained what the criteria were for selecting each team, or how the captain was chosen, but it is known that the tournament will take place on May 5 and 6 and that tickets will go on sale starting today, Monday.

Australian team:
Captain: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Julian Wilson (AUS)
Tyler Wright (AUS)

Brazilian team:
Captain: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Taina Hinckel (BRA)

European team:
Captain: Johanne Defay (FRA)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Frankie Harrer (DEU)

US Team:
Captain: Kelly Slater (USA)
John John Florence (USA)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Carissa Moore (USA)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)

Rest of the world team:
Captain: Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)

Each team is made up of Three male and two female surfers, they appear to follow a certain order of CT and QS rankings, albeit with some inconsistencies. For example, Frankie Harrer, the Australian competing for Germany in an attempt to reach the Olympics, is on Team Europe and finished 31st in the 2017 QS rankings. Teresa Bonvalot from Portugal, Pauline Ado from France and Carol Henrique, also from Portugal, all of whom have higher rankings, were not taken into account.

John John Florence is definitely no longer a representative of Hawaii and is now officially an American (as he was at the Future Classic). It is not clear why he is still listed under the flag of the islands on the CT.

It's interesting to see how Mick Fanning's much talked about retirement was retirement until he was invited back to Slater's pool...

Finally, the Brazilian team has seen a significant leap forward, from the great Silvana Lima to the talented young Tainá Hinckel, third in the world at the junior world championships and 101st in the QS. It is incredible that a country as full of talent as Brazil has not managed to produce more than one CT-level competitor or at least one top 50 QS competitor, especially in view of Tokyo 2020.

The US and Australian teams are looking strong, but what about the Brazilian men's trio? Toledo, Medina and De Souza... Neymar, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, how are they?