Sebastian “Seabass” Zietz Wins Drug Aware Margaret River Pro

When Sebastian Zietz elected to stay in the water after winning his Semifinal match against Italo Ferreira it revealed everything about his amazing turnaround in 2016, even how he got here. Keep in mind, at the end of 2015 Zietz had fallen off Tour. He was heartbroken at the prospect of heading back to the surfing’s minor leagues. He loved every moment of his CT experience, and he was dreading the loss of two-man heats in the world’s best waves.

“That was the toughest pill to swallow,” Zietz said heading into the Australian leg. “I want to be around the best surfers in the world, and in the best waves.”

In February, Zietz put his money where his mouth is. When the Gold Coast was firing weeks before the Quiksilver Pro event, he let WSL officials know he was in town, ready to compete, should any possible window open. With Bede Durbidge and Owen Wright already sidelined, he knew his chances were decent, but as the third man out, the rulebook says his spot is left 100 percent up to the commissioner, Kieren Perrow.

Perrow saw something in Seabass, and wisely gave him the nod when Alejo Muniz pulled out of the Quiksilver Pro. It was a decision he didn’t regret, as Seabass pounced.

Now, suddenly, after taking his first-ever CT victory at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, Sebastian Zietz is heading to Brazil firmly back on Tour, with no need to go back to the minors, because he’s sitting at No. 2 in the world and representing the latest surprise in this year of astonishing developments.

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