| Next Gen Set The Standard on Day 1 at Snapper
Heat 2 of the women’s Round of 48 saw a standout performance from Eweleiula Wong (HAW), whose precise timing was a perfect match for the long, roping Snapper walls. Wong earned a near-excellent 7.87 (out of a possible 10) for a series of fast, technical snaps. Wong posted a heat total of 13.84 (out of a possible 20) to overcome Yolanda Hopkins (POR), who progressed in second place, while Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) and Saffi Vette (NZL) were eliminated from the event.
“This is such a beautiful wave, it’s like a regular-footers dream out here,” Wong said. “It’s really different when there’s no one out because you actually have to pick the right ones. I feel really good. I’ve been surfing here all week so it’s nice to finally get a few waves to myself. I’m stoked to make it through.”
Rosie Smart (AUS) came out of the gates swinging in her Round of 48 matchup with Zoe McDougall (HAW), former CT competitor Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN), and Maud Le Car (FRA). Teenager Smart posted an excellent 8.50 for a series of massive, critical backhand re-entries early in the heat, then waited patiently for a backup. As the clock wound down, Smart struggled to find a wave and eventually posted a low-range score, which, off the strength of her first wave, was enough to take the lead and the win. French competitor Le Car progressed in second with McDougal and Tsuzuki being elimainted.
Hailing from just south of the border, Cabarita surfer Zahli Kelly (AUS) looked right at home in her opening heat of the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro, posting a 14.77 two-wave heat total (out of a possible 20), the highest of the women’s Round of 48 to progress into the Round of 32. Kelly looked fast and sharp on her front, displaying plenty of variation in her maneuvers as she looked to post a breakthrough result at the Challenger Series level.
“That was a nice way to start off a Saturday morning,” Kelly said. “I saw where the good scores were coming from in the heat before mine so I knew where to sit and right when I got there, that set popped up, I got a six then paddled straigh back out and into the eight. Snapper is a hard wave to surf because you’re always looking down the line, so once I was on the wave, I was telling myself to do a proper turn. I’m happy to be here and just picking certain events throughout the year, not taking it too seriously and having fun.”
Byron Bay’s Kyuss King (AUS) put on an incredible display of rail surfing in Heat 7 of the men’s Round of 80, posting back-to-back excellent scores for a heat total of 16.20, the highest of the event so far. King took a last-minute wildcard spot and looked to be surfing with little pressure, carving hard and fast on the low-tide square walls of Snapper Rocks.
“It’s pumping out there,” King said. “Anytime you get to surf Snapper with only three other guys out is like a dream. It’s childhood dream stuff. It’s hard with priority to sit out there watching perfect empty waves roll by and not feel like you need to surf them. I’ve been on a pretty wild journey over the last couple of years with a bulging disc injury. It’s taken me on a rollercoaster and taught me a lot. I’ve been training really hard and feeling really good the last few months. I’m feeling really good and do it all for surfing and when you get to compete in waves like this with a packed beach, it’s epic. This is what we do it for.”
Josh Burke (BRB), Charly Quivront (FRA), and Taro Watanabe (USA) were other standout performers on Day 1. Watanabe posted an excellent score for his free-flowing frontside. The Malibu local’s style matched Snapper perfectly, and his fins-free approach set him apart from his opponents. |
