No signs of rust in Gilmore’s Gold Coast return

Murray Wenzel |

Ryan Callinan missed his early-morning Gold Coast Pro heat after becoming a dad.
Ryan Callinan missed his early-morning Gold Coast Pro heat after becoming a dad.

Stephanie Gilmore is through to the round of 16 in her World Surf League return on the Gold Coast, setting the bar high while competing for the first time in almost two years.

The eight-time world champion skipped the 2024 season to focus on her physical and mental health.

Gilmore is also sitting out this year’s circuit but accepted a wildcard for the Gold Coast Pro, telling AAP on the eve of the event she still has a burning desire to compete against the world’s best.

That streak was evident when the 37-year-old, who hadn’t surfed on tour since August 2023, took on reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers and Bells Beach runner-up Luana Silva in her opening heat.

Gilmore produced a score of 12.7 on Saturday, bettering Silva (10.36) while advancing to the next round alongside Simmers (13.23).

The six-time Gold Coast winner was one of four Australian women to progress, with Sally Fitzgibbons, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright and Isabella Nichols also through to the round of 16.

Picklum put rivals on notice with the highest score of the opening day, 15.6, to easily win her heat.

In the early men’s action, Ethan Ewing was one of three surfers to take the direct path to the round of 32.

The waves arrived but so did Ryan Callinan’s newborn, the pre-tournament delivery forcing the Australian to miss his opening-round heat.

Callinan’s wife gave birth on Friday night, meaning the Newcastle product was a no-show when the Championship Tour returned to the Gold Coast for the first time since 2019.

He is set to return for the sudden-death second round, taking on high-profile compatriots Jack Robinson and Julian Wilson.

Callum Robson
Callum Robson scored an impressive 13.26 in his opening heat on the Gold Coast. (HANDOUT/World Surf League)

Robinson, who secured his first Bells Beach title on the previous weekend and is ranked third in the world, posted a score of 9.13 and couldn’t get going in his heat against Alan Cleland (10.27) and Callum Robson (13.26).

Wilson (14.07), back at CT level for the first time since his 2019 retirement after winning qualifying on Friday, was shot down in a high-scoring heat by No.1-ranked Italo Ferreira (16.03) and Burleigh Heads local Liam O’Brien (15.77).

The Gold Coast stop was shifted from the traditional Snapper Rocks location due to erosion created by Cyclone Alfred in March.

AAP