• Top Seeds Hit The Water for Day2 at Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro
• CT Surfers Chianca, Waida and Gilmore Advance on Day 2
• New Talent Raises the Bar at Snapper Rocks
• Mixed Results For Surfers Who Missed the Mid-season Cut

Having already made the Mid-season Cut, six Championship Tour surfers came to Snapper Rocks to warm up for the upcoming Surf Ranch Pro, Stop No. 6 of the 2023 CT. By the end of the day Joao Chianca (BRA), Rio Waida (INA), and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) remained in the draw with the other CT competitors unable to find their way through to the next round.

World No. 1 Joao Chianca (BRA) looked sharp in his opening heat at Snapper Rocks, taking a narrow win over Jett Schilling (USA) to progress into the Round of 32. Chianca displayed speed and power on the long righthand walls. He will now have to surf against Nat Young (USA), Jackson Baker (AUS), and Jadson Andre (BRA), all looking to reclaim their spot on the 2024 CT.

“It is a similar size and shaped wave to the ranch so it should be a good warmup here,” Chianca said. “Last year when I came here I had just fallen off tour and was in such a confused headspace so it’s nice to come here this year and feel a lot more relaxed and be able to enjoy my time a bit more. It’s funny how life changes like that. I’m also here supporting my friend Sammy (Pupo) as I hope he can make it back to the CT soon. Snapper is an amazing wave. It allows so many different types of turns so it’s an amazing place to test yourself.”

Rio Waida (INA) turned in one of his best performances of 2023, posting the highest two-wave total of the event so far, a 17.47. Waida found two of the best, longest waves of the day and demonstrated his fast-forward approach. The CT rookie from Indonesia is hoping to gain more practice and confidence here at Snapper before heading to the Surf Ranch Pro.

“I’m not here for points or the competition, I just want to surf Snapper with no one out and get good waves and I just did so I’m stoked,” said Waida. “It’s one of my favorite waves so I’m just so grateful for this opportunity.”

Eight-time World Champion and Queen of Snapper Rocks Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) narrowly advanced out of her Round of 32 matchup against Mia Huppatz (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA) and Nyxie Ryan (AUS). Gilmore snuck through in second place below Ryan, who took one of the biggest heat wins of her career.

“I’ve always dreamed of having a heat with Steph,” said Ryan. “It was so good to finally have a heat with her and to win it feels surreal. It looks like some more good waves on the way so I’m keen to keep this roll going.”

CT surfers unable to progress through the Round of 64 included Ryan Callinan (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Connor O’Leary (AUS) and the reigning event winner Callum Robson (AUS). Day 1 standout and last year’s runner-up Sheldon Simkus (AUS) also faced early elimination.

Timothe Bisso (FRA) was one of the standouts on Day 2, and looked right at home on his backhand at Snapper. The powerful goofy-footer posted a 15.00 heat total which included an excellent 8.50 for a series of vertical re-entries. Bisso will now progress into the Round of 32 where he will take on Dylan Moffat (AUS), Edgard Groggia (BRA) and Lucca Mesinas (PER) in his next heat.

“That felt great,” said Bisso. “The waves are so good today. All the surfers in this event are so good that it really comes down to who gets the best waves and I definitely got some really good waves. My tactic is to always keep busy and it was slow out there so I felt lucky to get waves early and be able to stick to my game plan. I love coming up against CT surfers and that’s why I want to qualify for the CT, so I can test myself against the best.”

Bisso’s countryman Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) also turned heads with his performance in the Round of 64, posting a near-excellent two-wave total of 15.13 to win his heat. Couzinet’s power and finesse were on-point and he hopes that 2023 is his year to break onto the elite Championship Tour.

Aussie CT hopefuls Dylan Moffat (AUS), Jacob Willcox (AUS), Morgan Cibilic (AUS), Reef Heazlewood (AUS), George Pittar (AUS) and Mikey McDonagh (AUS) were all able to make their way through to the Round of 32 with solid performances on Day 2 of competition.

Mateus Herdy (BRA), Frederico Morais (POR) and Leo Casal (BRA) also stood out in the Round of 64, overcoming CT competitors and top seeds to book spots in the Round of 32.

The last heat of the day saw Trials winner Sierra Kerr (AUS) take an impressive win over former CT competitors Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) as well as Ariane Ochoa (EUK). Kerr displayed her progressive approach with a front-side straight air to claim the win and progress with Van Dijk who finished in second spot.

Fresh off the disappointment of missing the Mid-season Cut by only one spot, Samuel Pupo (BRA) has bounced back with a solid showing at Snapper Rocks, winning his opening heat with one of the highest two-wave totals of the day. Pupo’s 15.25 two-wave total was awarded for his searing frontside rail turns. Pupo is hoping to draw inspiration from his good friend Joao Chianca who went from missing the Cut 12 months ago to currently being the world No.1.

“It’s been tough to deal with missing the cut,” Pupo said. “We don’t really have time to think about it though, we just need to move on and that’s what I’ve done and today it is working as my surfing feels great. I’m travelling with my best friend Joao who was in my position last year and now he is number one in the world so I’m taking inspiration from that. It’s good to be here on the Gold Coast; I love this place and its perfect waves so hopefully, I can get the win here.”

Missing the Cut on equal points to Pupo is Australian Jackson Baker (AUS) who also progressed through his Round of 64. Other Cut CT surfers who progressed on Day 2 included Ezekiel Lau (HAW) and Nat Young (USA).

Brazilian veteran Jadson Andre (BRA) has returned from a knee injury to compete on the Gold Coast and looked like he’s recovered well. He belted his way down the line and powered through maneuvers to take his Round of 64 heat win. His countryman Michael Rodrigues (BRA) also turned in a solid performance on Day 2 to progress into the Round of 64.

Surfers who failed to make the Mid-season Cut that were unable to kick start their requalification campaigns at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro included Kolohe Andino (USA), Jake Marshall (USA), Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and Carlos Munoz (CRC). They will all now shift their focus to the GWM Sydney Surf Pro which is set to commence next Wednesday, May 17.

The next call for competition to recommence will be tomorrow, Thursday, May 11, at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:35 a.m. start.

For highlights from today’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM competition, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.