Good golly: Molly one win from title after Tahiti test

Perth Now

2 days ago

Molly Picklum is one win away from a maiden world surfing title after the Australian's fearless Teahupo'o masterclass at the Tahiti Pro.
The 22-year-old booked her spot in the Tahiti final by winning three heats on Saturday (AEST) as the French Polynesia break lived up to the "psycho mode" tag adopted by organisers in the lead-up.
The Australian dug deep with a late, brave 9.77-point tube to beat local hope and defending champion Vahine Fierro in the quarter-finals.
Her semi-final against Caroline Marks began with both surfers hammered by a series of huge sets.
Marks opted to take the ski back to the break, but the Australian paddled through it, earning her priority, which she used to poll an early eight-point ride that proved the difference in the final heat of a massive day.
"I saw Caroline bail (off her board) and thought I'd try the duck dive, then I got smoked. She lost her board and I wore the next two sets on my head," Picklum said.
"So I kept paddling. It ended up being a great decision ... that great wave came and (I'm) so happy I converted it."
Her progression ensured the yellow jersey-holder would retain top spot ahead of Fiji's WSL Finals campaign later this month.
In a recent tweak to the top-five format, the No.1 seed will only need to win the first heat in their best-of-three duel to be crowned champion.
The controversial format will be canned in favour of the traditional overall points system next season.
In a dramatic, high-stakes day, fellow Australian Isabella Nichols was knocked from fourth to sixth and will miss the finals.
Nichols was beaten by Fierro in a narrow elimination heat loss that allowed Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson and American Marks, who won gold at the same break a year ago, to jump her.
Tyler Wright, who began the event in seventh, also had her push ended by defending world champion Caitlin Simmers in the last eight.
Picklum, in just her fourth Championship Tour campaign, has started finals day from fifth spot in her past two seasons.
She'll meet American Simmers in the Tahiti final before turning her attention to the Cloudland finale from August 27.
"She's so gnarly out here (Simmers); hopefully I can get another one up on her," Picklum said.
"It's crazy ... it's started to sink in. When you're so close to achieving your dream it all gets really scary and like, 'wow this is crazy'.
"But I'm so happy that I dream so big and that it scares me and makes me focus and all those beautiful things.
"I'd love to win here and figure out Fiji after."
Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson, both awaiting Tahiti quarter-finals, remain in contention to represent Australia when the men's top five battle in Fiji.
Stephanie Gilmore won Australia's most-recent world title, her eighth, in 2022.