WSL AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST QS EVENT AT BOOMERANG BEACH

With the first 2021 WSL QS event of the Australia/Oceania Region having kicked off a few days ago. We thought it only fitting to give you all an update on how the event played out!

With the excitement levels high, the women of the event were putting on an absolute show throughout the last 4 days with a few people being major standouts and the overall level of women’s surfing lifting after 12 months off from competitive surfing. 

Laura Enever, Molly Picklum, Sophie McColluch and Philipa Anderson were putting on some of the most impressive surfing in their free surfs so it was no surprise that they were the four semi finalists of the event. 

With the first two days being held in very tricky and rough conditions at south Boomerang Beach, the team at Surfing NSW made a great call moving it to Tuncurry break wall for the last two days of the event. The waves were wedgie with some heavy sections however ther definitely was opportunities for some big scores to be thrown down…. and that they were. 

Laura, Molly, Sophie and Philipa were all able to put together one to two major manouveurs with the judges loving the commitment and rewarding excellent scoring rides for one turn waves. 

The semi finals came around way quicker than anyone had expected with Laura Enever taking on Sophie McCulloch and Molly Picklum taking on Philipa Anderson. Both Laura and Philipa put on a great fight against their opponents but Molly and Sophie got the best of them in the end and met each other in the final. 

Fast forward, we are about 1 minute or so into the final and Molly makes the most of a bowling section, a one turn wonder, the judges rewarding it with a 7.75 and then backing it up with a 7.25 for a similar wave. 

And, true to her nature, Sophie was not leaving without a fight. After hearing she was needing a combination of scores of 15.00, she got underway getting a 6.00 under her belt with one insane rio on her forehand, but unfortunately our dear friend Hughie was not on her side for the rest of the heat with not too many waves offering the score she was needing to take the win. 

We thought we would give a quick shout out to Reef Heazlewood who took out the men’s with Jordy Lawler coming in a tight second. Congrats you two. 

So, Molly Picklum was victorious for the first event of the 2021 Australia/Oceania QS league at the Great Lake Pro presented by Surfers Rescue 24/7. Will she be able to back it up at the next event at Port Stephens starting on Sunday? Well, you will just have to wait and see…

You can watch the event from Monday on the WSL app or KAYO in Australia. 

Stay tuned for more updates over the next few events of the league!!