Aussie Picklum stamps ticket to WSL’s final five
Murray Wenzel |
Series leader Molly Picklum has punched her ticket to the World Surf League’s five-woman finals day after an impressive start at Jeffreys Bay.
The Australian scored a 9.33 out of 10 in a total of 16.83 to win her opening round heat at South Africa’s Eastern Cape and ensure she can’t miss the Cloudbreak finale with one event still to surf.
The five best-ranked men and women surfers will battle for the title in Fiji from late August, with the top seed waiting as those below them surf sudden-death heats to progress.
“I’m stoked it’s confirmed,” Picklum said of what will be her third top-five finish in just her fourth season.
“The girls are so good, and they’re going to keep pushing.
“I’d love to get my chances higher by going into Fiji in the number one spot.”
Conditions deteriorated on day one at J-Bay but not before Isabella Nichols posted a 14-point total to win her heat and dust off an early exit at her last start in Brazil.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time out here after I got knocked in Brazil,” the Australian, ranked fifth, said.
“I guess it’s paying off. I feel really comfortable here, I feel like I’m home.”
Fellow Australian title hope Tyler Wright, ranked eighth, also progressed to the quarter-finals.
Fifth-ranked Ethan Ewing can consolidate his standing with a good showing in South Africa, while fellow Australian Olympian Jack Robinson is looking for a big finish to climb from seventh into the top five.
AAP
