AFTER two seasons of unfulfilled promise and a challenging 2021 tour, Ryan Callinan is driven to finally show the world his best surfing next year.
The Merewether powerhouse is enjoying a rare spring at home after requalifying with a 15th place on this year's Championship Tour, and as the World Surf League schedule changes in preparation for a mid-season cut in 2022.
In previous campaigns, Callinan would be gearing up for the CT's December finale in Hawaii. This year, his tour has been finished since mid-August.
The 29-year-old has been home since September when he watched the new WSL top five finals, featuring Merewether clubmate Morgan Cibilic, in quarantine.
Cibilic, who finished fifth on the seven-stop tour in his rookie campaign, bowed out in his opening finals heat. World No.1s Gabriel Medina and Carissa Moore went on to confirm their status in the format.
Callinan said it was inspiring to see the new finals system play out from afar and he was keen to be part of the action next time around.
"Obviously [Cibilic] would have wanted to do better than he did, but just to get to the top five and even be there on the day, I was speaking to him the other day and he said the atmosphere on the beach was incredible," Callinan said.
"I was actually in quarantine at the time and I got up and watched the whole thing live, and it was unbelievable to watch.
"Obviously it's a very different format, but I think the right people won in the end. It might have been different if someone else had won, there might have been a bit of an uproar, but the two people who won really deserved to win all year.
"But I think it just showed where the pinnacle of the sport could be, and the pressure situation and the people who were willing to step up, it was pretty phenomenal and it was definitely inspiring to watch."
Callinan has been in the world title mix after four events in the past two CT seasons, in 2019 and 2021, sitting seventh and eighth respectively before fading in the second half of the series.
He said motivation remained high heading into his fourth full season on tour.
"I came 14th two years ago and 15th this year so I'd definitely like to get up in that top 10," he said.
"I feel like I haven't done my best surfing yet or showcased it in a heat on the world stage, so I'd really like to put in some really good performances and hopefully that gets me up there.
"But I guess it's just about feeling good in my surfing, and in my heats, and I think that will translate over into some big results.
"I'm motivated in other ways, maybe not necessarily on results as much, but just on doing my best surfing."
This year Callinan was inside the top 10 after a last-16 performance at Pipeline in Hawaii then quarter-finals at Newcastle and Margaret River. However, three 17th placings to finish the COVID-interrupted year dropped him down the rankings.
A top 20 finish was enough to keep his spot for 2022 and avoid a run on the new Challenger Series, where clubmate Jackson Baker is close to qualifying. Baker effectively sits 11th chasing a top 12 finish to make the CT with one event in Hawaii remaining.
The next CT season starts at Pipeline in late January and Callinan was looking forward to a likely return to normality after spending six weeks in hotel quarantine this year as the tour schedule adjusted to COVID obstacles.
"At the time I was trying to take everything as it was coming, but looking back, it was a pretty challenging year," he said.
"Just with the cancellations of events and the uncertainty of going away for two or three events, then you only surf one.
"Those things popped up, I guess they take a bit of a toll, especially with quarantines. Taking all that into consideration, it was a good year.
"I had some really good moments, but just to survive and requalify and give myself another shot next year when hopefully it's all back to normal and we get a full year on tour.
"Six weeks in a room for one year was more than enough for my whole life I think."
After five events in 2022, the top 24 men survive a mid-season cut and also ensure their position for the following year.
Callinan will have added motivation to stay inside the top 24 because he plans to marry long-time girlfriend Nina Graham in October, when the Challenger Series will be overseas.
