Last year, Jesse Mendes finished two spots away from achieving his dream of qualifying for the WSL’s Championship Tour. A dazzling talent, Jesse had been slugging it out for years on the QS — which is a notoriously difficult tour. Slugging it out there means a lot of time away from home and a lot of heats in 2-foot wind swell that would disgust even the most frothed-out of individuals. At one point, he even considered giving up.

Then he won the biggest event of his life, the 2016 Billabong Pro Cascais, and it felt like the tides were finally turning. But when the end of the year rolled around, he still didn’t have enough points to qualify. The kid couldn’t couldn’t catch a break. So instead of waiting for one, he created one.

A new year started and Jesse came out hot. He won some events, immediately grabbed the lead on the QS and he hasn’t left the top of the rankings since. Now, he’s officially qualified for the 2018 World Tour — even though the two biggest events of the year have yet to happen.

And then came these two...

Along with Jesse, Quiksilver surfers Mikey Wright and Mikey February are both looking to qualify for the 2018 tour. Though their courses have been different, they’re both on the cusp for the 2018 CT.

“This is my first year back from injury,” Mikey Wright explains. “I had to get a wildcard to get into the first Prime event of the year, but I did well enough there to get into the rest of the events. I really want to qualify.The tour is where I want to be and I where I feel like I belong.”

Meanwhile, Mikey Feb explains his path. “I’ve been on the Q for a few years now and my results have been improving every single season. This year, I don’t really feel like I’ve been doing anything differently. I’ve just been having fun, surfing and it’s been working out.”

Both Mikeys have a few good results, but they’ll need more if they want to join Jesse on Tour next year. If all goes according to plan, they’ll be back here next year as surfers on the CT. Rest assured, they’re surfing like they deserve it.

Mikey and Mikey could be vocalizing similar sentiments once the end of the year rolls around. Those two events remaining, by the way? Sunset Beach and Haleiwa, two jewels of the Triple Crown. Based off the way everyone was surfing here in France this year, don’t be surprised if Mikey Wright and Mikey Feb get the results they need and break on through. But until then, they’ll be on the cusp of a dream.