SURFING
The World Surf League’s year’s Central Coast Pro QS3000 continues at Avoca Beach, with local favourites Molly Picklum and Macy Callaghan looking sharp at the top of an international field of surfers.
A repeat of last year’s final may be on the cards with both Picklum and Callaghan entering the event’s finals with plenty of experience surfing at Avoca.
Shelly Beach’s Picklum is back competing on the break of her early surfing years, making the most of a brief gap in the Championship Tour schedule, seeking to reclaim her title from last year.
Her form has so far been a notch above her competition with three heat wins to advance into the quarterfinals.
Another Qualifying Series title to her name at Avoca will bring confidence to the Championship Tour contender ahead of the two next stops throughout Australia over the next two months at Bells Beach, Victoria and then the Margaret River, Western Australia.
“I’m stoked to be through another heat down here at Avoca and surf against some of my best friends including Kobie Enright who I have been very close with for a long period of time,” Picklum said.
“It’s such a funny experience surfing against ladies that you’ve been friends with forever and then trying to put the competition head on as you try not to get distracted.
“Hopefully I can make some more heats and continue to enjoy my time down here before the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event.”
Recent North Shelly Boardrider champion, Macy Callaghan, also advanced into the quarterfinals with a scheduled contest against Ellie Brooks.
Quarter and semi-final wins for Callaghan and Picklum will see them once again meet in a Grand Final clash.
In the Men’s event Round 3, Ryan Slattery from Toukley outperformed Championship Tour wildcard Reef Heazlewood and current Australia/Oceania Regional rankings number six, Alister Reginato, for his first competitive appearance this year.
The underdog on the scene showed proficiency in his powerful rail game to advance into Round 4 against two more heavy hitters in Mickey McDonagh, currently ranked second, and New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand.
Although boasting the best wave of the heat, Slattery was unable to finish it off with a second and fell out of the competition as a result.
Local wildcard entry from Avoca, Tahlia Hirst gave her best in the opening round although fell behind a top performance from Sophie McCulloch and in a close contest for second place against Jesse Starling.
“It was really fun (and) a really good experience for me,” Hirst said.
In the Men’s, Glen ‘Micro’ Hall showed that an old maestro can perform alongside the young guns, advancing as far as Round 2 after placing second in his opening heat, knocking out North Shelly Boardriders junior, Hugh Vaughan in the process.
The young grom’s older brother, Joel will be disappointed with his first round knockout, although will remain poised at the top of the rankings ahead of further events in the Qualifying Series.
For all competitors, each at different stages of their careers, the ultimate aim is qualification for the Challenger Series which leads onto the Championship Tour.
With 3,000 qualifying points up for grabs, the remaining surfers in the mix will seek to be at their best for the finals to continue at Avoca over Friday and Saturday.
Haakon Barry