The final WSL Challenger Series event is set to go down in Saquarema, Brazil this weekend. With just 2 of the 10 spots locked on the Men’s side and just one locked on the Women’s side, there’s plenty on the line for some of surfing’s best young stars.

We caught up with a handful of tour veterans, a reigning World Champion and some Challenger Series surfers to get their thoughts on who could potentially make the cut and guarantee themselves a crack at Pipeline in January on the CT.—Brandon Guilmette

INHERENT BUMMER: Who is your dark horse pick currently outside the bubble?

CAROLINE MARKS: It seems like on the Men’s side there are a lot of guys who can potentially get the last few spots. Being that the final event is in Brazil, I would say Sammy Pupo and Mateus Herdy. They’re at home in Brazil and they’re amazing in beach breaks and really good at airs. They will be hard to beat there.

Sammy Pupo is super deserving to be on the tour so it would be cool to see him back there next year. Would love to see all the San Clemente guys and Eli Hanneman make it too.

I would probably go with Morgan Cibilic as a real dark horse though. He’s got a gnarly backhand and a lot of times Saquarema has some good lefts.

Bronte [Macaulay] is outside the cut now, and not sure if you would really consider her a “dark horse” because she’s been on tour and is gnarly, but I would love to see B-Mac back on tour. Plus I just love her as a human.

Would be really cool to see Vahine [Fierro] back on the tour as well. We have Tahiti again next year too. We ride for Roxy together so we’ve surfed a few times and we’ve had a few heats together. It would be really cool to see her on the tour.

Who are you most excited to see on the CT next year?

I’m really excited to watch Jacob Wilcox. I think with Tahiti and the addition of Cloudbreak he will be really gnarly with a few more waves of consequence and powerful lefts that will suit him well. Plus he’s got a great backhand.

I’m really excited to watch Crosby [Colapinto]. I think that would be really cool to see him compete against his brother and the tour suits Crosby a lot better than the QS in my opinion.

Cole [Houshmand]’s ability and strength will shine through at a lot of the events. Will be really cool to watch him.

I’m a big fan of Imai [Devault]’s surfing too. He was on tour for a little bit last year and I hope he makes it again. He’s got great style.

Would also be really cool to see Eli Hanneman make it. I know he’s had a unique journey getting to where he’s at now. Getting to see him win the US Open was a huge breakthrough moment. He’s incredibly talented and does crazy airs!

As for the Women, I would say I’d be most excited to see Bronte back.

I think Sawyer is pretty much qualified now. so I’m excited to see her on there. I see her surfing all the time even at the worst T Street ever. It’s just really cool to see how psyched she is to surf. Plus another person from San Clemente and America would be cool.

Alyssa Spencer works really hard and is such a great surfer. I know she’s been close a few times, maybe even like one spot out, so it would be cool to see her qualify.

Could be a lot of fresh faces next year so that’s fun.

Which potential rookie would adapt to the waves on the CT the quickest?

I feel like for the men Crosby would be the one to adapt the best. I know he’s gotten a few wildcards into the events before, he’s got Griffin there to help guide him, and he’s been around the events so I don’t think it will feel as foreign to him. He’s really good in Hawaii. Like at Backdoor and I think Sunset will suit his surfing, and Bells too. He’s got a really nice frontside carve.

On the Women’s side it’s a tricky one. I haven’t seen Ellie Harrison surf a whole lot, and I’ve seen Sawyer, Vahine and Alyssa surf a lot and they’re amazing. Alyssa has had quite a few wildcards and so has Vahine. They have been around events a few times. I would have to say that Vahine would adapt the best. With Tahiti on the schedule and obviously she lives at Teahupoo plus being around the events for a while. She’s an amazing tube rider so she might be really good at Pipeline.

Who would be the best addition to the CT?

I would have to think that Erin Brooks and Sierra Kerr will be coming in hot in the next couple of years. I don’t think they ‘re even doing the Challenger Series events, but seeing their clips on Instagram you’d think those girls will be coming in and battling with all of us in the next few years.

Wow, there are so many good surfers it’s tricky to narrow it down. I get to see Cole and Crosby, Eli, Kade and all the San Clemente boys surfing all the time. Cole is so strong and he’s very deserving to be on tour, as well as Crosby. When you watch them surfing against everyone they have a very mature look to their surfing. I would say those two. They’re the best two kids coming up.

I was just in France for the Quiksilver Festival and got to watch Clay Marzo. There was a day where there was current and a bunch of closeouts and you either get a 1 or a 10 and he got like three 9’s. He’s so raw and cool to watch. He’s one of my favorite surfers. Oh my gosh, he would be so fun to watch at Pipeline and Cloudbreak. He’s so incredible in the tube.