There are still a few days left until the registrations close for one of the heaviest events of the year, the Arica Pro Tour, but there is an interesting clue about the choices surfers make when it comes to following their dreams of qualifying for the CT and taking care of their lives.

Between August 15th and 21st, the South American Pipeline will host the juiciest event of the year for WSL South America (distributing 5000 points) and yet other events with fewer points distributed had more entrants.

A quick look shows, for example, that the Mole and Garopaba tournaments quickly filled their 96 entries.

How can it be that a relatively accessible championship for everyone that offers five times more has fewer entrants, at least for now? The answer actually seems quite obvious: It is without a doubt one of the most dangerous waves in the world. The one where the best suffered their worst blows in the CT of 2007 and that over the years takes bones, teeth, and a lot of skin.

So, as much as thousands of professional surfers want to qualify for the CT with all their might, when it comes time to do so there are a few who prefer to take care of their skin, their bones, their lives, instead of going after the points that will lead them to their great goal.

I find it very interesting that this happens: To get the biggest prize you have to be willing to pay the biggest prize. It gives the Arica Pro Tour, which was already a Pipe Masters, an even more prestigious status… If you want to win, you have to be willing to pay.

And at the same time, this tournament and this 5000 status gives what they deserve to the brave people who dare to surf those tubes and do it properly.

It's a great turn of events for the WSL in the region, which is sure to see more non-Brazilian qualifiers this year than ever before.