Picklum gets golden chance as top surfers tumble
Australian surfers are off to a patchy start at the Rio Pro, however Molly Picklum has the chance to take over the rankings lead after some major upsets in the women's field.
World No.3 Picklum, who finished runner-up at the World Surf League's last tour stop in California, advanced directly through to the quarter-finals with an opening heat win at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break on Sunday.
Picklum had the highest scoring ride of the day in the women's field, picking up a 7.83 in her two-wave tally of 13.50 to down 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (9.60) and local hope Luana Silva (6.30).
But fellow Australians Tyler Wright and fifth-ranked Isabella Nichols went into sudden death with only two-time world champion Wright surviving after eliminating Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who won at Lower Trestles.
In a huge upset Peru's Arena Rodriguez, in her Championship Tour debut, ousted Hawaii's rankings leader Gabriela Bryan while Silva also took down American world No.2 Caitlin Simmers in the elimination round.
In the live rankings Picklum has moved up to second and is just 505 points behind Ryan.
The Australian is also the only woman of the five to not win an event so far this season but has a golden chance in Brazil, next taking on Rodriguez.
"I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy, so I was just really happy to make my waves and work with the swell here," Picklum said.
"Brazil's definitely one I want to win - I love the energy here and I have so many good friends here, and it's definitely something I would love to win.
"This year, I've made a couple of finals, but unfortunately, haven't got the win.
"I just keep knocking on the door, you know, just keep showing up, and let's see if I can try and crack it and take home the trophy."
On the men's side of the draw Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan, competing on his first year on tour, scored 13.33 for a rousing win over Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi (6.34) and Brazilan Alejo Muniz (4.97).
Vaughan previously earned a perfect 10-point ride during the Challenger Series event in Brazil.
"It feels awesome to be back," the 21-year-old said.
"I've tried to just keep it pretty simple and work on myself and try to get some good waves and yeah, stoked to make that one."
But Australia's Olympic duo, silver medal-winning Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing must contest the elimination round.
Robinson will take on Indonesian star Rio Waida while Ewing has drawn exciting young Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Australian surfers are off to a patchy start at the Rio Pro, however Molly Picklum has the chance to take over the rankings lead after some major upsets in the women's field.
World No.3 Picklum, who finished runner-up at the World Surf League's last tour stop in California, advanced directly through to the quarter-finals with an opening heat win at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break on Sunday.
Picklum had the highest scoring ride of the day in the women's field, picking up a 7.83 in her two-wave tally of 13.50 to down 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (9.60) and local hope Luana Silva (6.30).
But fellow Australians Tyler Wright and fifth-ranked Isabella Nichols went into sudden death with only two-time world champion Wright surviving after eliminating Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who won at Lower Trestles.
In a huge upset Peru's Arena Rodriguez, in her Championship Tour debut, ousted Hawaii's rankings leader Gabriela Bryan while Silva also took down American world No.2 Caitlin Simmers in the elimination round.
In the live rankings Picklum has moved up to second and is just 505 points behind Ryan.
The Australian is also the only woman of the five to not win an event so far this season but has a golden chance in Brazil, next taking on Rodriguez.
"I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy, so I was just really happy to make my waves and work with the swell here," Picklum said.
"Brazil's definitely one I want to win - I love the energy here and I have so many good friends here, and it's definitely something I would love to win.
"This year, I've made a couple of finals, but unfortunately, haven't got the win.
"I just keep knocking on the door, you know, just keep showing up, and let's see if I can try and crack it and take home the trophy."
On the men's side of the draw Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan, competing on his first year on tour, scored 13.33 for a rousing win over Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi (6.34) and Brazilan Alejo Muniz (4.97).
Vaughan previously earned a perfect 10-point ride during the Challenger Series event in Brazil.
"It feels awesome to be back," the 21-year-old said.
"I've tried to just keep it pretty simple and work on myself and try to get some good waves and yeah, stoked to make that one."
But Australia's Olympic duo, silver medal-winning Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing must contest the elimination round.
Robinson will take on Indonesian star Rio Waida while Ewing has drawn exciting young Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Australian surfers are off to a patchy start at the Rio Pro, however Molly Picklum has the chance to take over the rankings lead after some major upsets in the women's field.
World No.3 Picklum, who finished runner-up at the World Surf League's last tour stop in California, advanced directly through to the quarter-finals with an opening heat win at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break on Sunday.
Picklum had the highest scoring ride of the day in the women's field, picking up a 7.83 in her two-wave tally of 13.50 to down 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (9.60) and local hope Luana Silva (6.30).
But fellow Australians Tyler Wright and fifth-ranked Isabella Nichols went into sudden death with only two-time world champion Wright surviving after eliminating Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who won at Lower Trestles.
In a huge upset Peru's Arena Rodriguez, in her Championship Tour debut, ousted Hawaii's rankings leader Gabriela Bryan while Silva also took down American world No.2 Caitlin Simmers in the elimination round.
In the live rankings Picklum has moved up to second and is just 505 points behind Ryan.
The Australian is also the only woman of the five to not win an event so far this season but has a golden chance in Brazil, next taking on Rodriguez.
"I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy, so I was just really happy to make my waves and work with the swell here," Picklum said.
"Brazil's definitely one I want to win - I love the energy here and I have so many good friends here, and it's definitely something I would love to win.
"This year, I've made a couple of finals, but unfortunately, haven't got the win.
"I just keep knocking on the door, you know, just keep showing up, and let's see if I can try and crack it and take home the trophy."
On the men's side of the draw Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan, competing on his first year on tour, scored 13.33 for a rousing win over Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi (6.34) and Brazilan Alejo Muniz (4.97).
Vaughan previously earned a perfect 10-point ride during the Challenger Series event in Brazil.
"It feels awesome to be back," the 21-year-old said.
"I've tried to just keep it pretty simple and work on myself and try to get some good waves and yeah, stoked to make that one."
But Australia's Olympic duo, silver medal-winning Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing must contest the elimination round.
Robinson will take on Indonesian star Rio Waida while Ewing has drawn exciting young Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Australian surfers are off to a patchy start at the Rio Pro, however Molly Picklum has the chance to take over the rankings lead after some major upsets in the women's field.
World No.3 Picklum, who finished runner-up at the World Surf League's last tour stop in California, advanced directly through to the quarter-finals with an opening heat win at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break on Sunday.
Picklum had the highest scoring ride of the day in the women's field, picking up a 7.83 in her two-wave tally of 13.50 to down 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (9.60) and local hope Luana Silva (6.30).
But fellow Australians Tyler Wright and fifth-ranked Isabella Nichols went into sudden death with only two-time world champion Wright surviving after eliminating Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who won at Lower Trestles.
In a huge upset Peru's Arena Rodriguez, in her Championship Tour debut, ousted Hawaii's rankings leader Gabriela Bryan while Silva also took down American world No.2 Caitlin Simmers in the elimination round.
In the live rankings Picklum has moved up to second and is just 505 points behind Ryan.
The Australian is also the only woman of the five to not win an event so far this season but has a golden chance in Brazil, next taking on Rodriguez.
"I woke up this morning feeling a little foggy, so I was just really happy to make my waves and work with the swell here," Picklum said.
"Brazil's definitely one I want to win - I love the energy here and I have so many good friends here, and it's definitely something I would love to win.
"This year, I've made a couple of finals, but unfortunately, haven't got the win.
"I just keep knocking on the door, you know, just keep showing up, and let's see if I can try and crack it and take home the trophy."
On the men's side of the draw Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan, competing on his first year on tour, scored 13.33 for a rousing win over Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi (6.34) and Brazilan Alejo Muniz (4.97).
Vaughan previously earned a perfect 10-point ride during the Challenger Series event in Brazil.
"It feels awesome to be back," the 21-year-old said.
"I've tried to just keep it pretty simple and work on myself and try to get some good waves and yeah, stoked to make that one."
But Australia's Olympic duo, silver medal-winning Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing must contest the elimination round.
Robinson will take on Indonesian star Rio Waida while Ewing has drawn exciting young Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Is it time to move Nicho from seven?
NRL: The NRL 360 panel look into if the Sharks should move Nicho Hynes from halfback after a tough start to the season.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Is it 'disrespectful' to move Turbo?
NRL: The NRL 360 panel chat through Manly's recent run of form and if moving superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic is the answer.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Wallabies sharpening skills ahead of Lions and Fiji
With 12 months of the Joe Schmidt reign behind them the Wallabies have launched straight into "re-sharpening the sword" for the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies gathered in Sydney on Monday for their first training session ahead of three-Test Lions series which begins next month, and fullback Tom Wright said they hit the ground running. "This morning was less about trying to push over a fresh load of information and plays and structures onto everyone's plate, and more about a refresher, and getting everyone back into language and lingo, and then everyone just sort of hitting the ground running," the Brumbies gun said. "Last year it was a lot of trying to digest and absorb stuff but today it was just re-sharpening the sword, and it was exciting to see that translate as opposed to just picking it up fresh last year." With 37 Tests under his belt, Wright had a breakout campaign for the Wallabies on last year's spring tour, scoring a hat-trick against Wales as well as racking up major carry metres and clean breaks. But with superstar league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii able to play just about anywhere in the backline, including fullback, Wright knows there's competition for the No.15 jersey - and welcomes it. "He goes pretty well anytime he's on the field," Wright said of Suaalii, who was man of the match in his Test debut against England in November. "His talent is probably second to none in the group, and you pair that with his work ethic that he's got, it's really impressive, and he gets the most out of all of us as his teammates. "It was good to see competition for spots heat up today at training, so that's the luxury that the coaching staff have. There's going to be guys that miss out." While the touring Lions are the primary goal, the initial focus for the Australians is their Test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Wright, who was a shock omission from the World Cup by then coach Eddie Jones, said the Wallabies couldn't afford to look past the Fijians, who have included 15 northern hemisphere-based players in a threatening squad. "Obviously we get a taste of the Fijians with the Drua throughout the (Super Rugby) season so we know how lethal they'll be, with and without the ball, and then you drip in some of the guys from Europe obviously, some of the most talented players in the world. "We've got our eyes set on Newcastle and that being a really important fixture to leap-frog into what is obviously a strong Lions side in July too." The Lions have arrived in Perth ahead of their clash with the Western Force and will be licking their wounds after falling to Argentina in their warm-up Test. But Wright said both teams played "exciting footy" and the Wallabies couldn't read much into the result. "The Argentinians were really good and I wouldn't say the Lions played really poorly," the 27-year-old said. "That's a bunch of guys trying to come together for the first time really. I wouldn't read heaps into it." With 12 months of the Joe Schmidt reign behind them the Wallabies have launched straight into "re-sharpening the sword" for the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies gathered in Sydney on Monday for their first training session ahead of three-Test Lions series which begins next month, and fullback Tom Wright said they hit the ground running. "This morning was less about trying to push over a fresh load of information and plays and structures onto everyone's plate, and more about a refresher, and getting everyone back into language and lingo, and then everyone just sort of hitting the ground running," the Brumbies gun said. "Last year it was a lot of trying to digest and absorb stuff but today it was just re-sharpening the sword, and it was exciting to see that translate as opposed to just picking it up fresh last year." With 37 Tests under his belt, Wright had a breakout campaign for the Wallabies on last year's spring tour, scoring a hat-trick against Wales as well as racking up major carry metres and clean breaks. But with superstar league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii able to play just about anywhere in the backline, including fullback, Wright knows there's competition for the No.15 jersey - and welcomes it. "He goes pretty well anytime he's on the field," Wright said of Suaalii, who was man of the match in his Test debut against England in November. "His talent is probably second to none in the group, and you pair that with his work ethic that he's got, it's really impressive, and he gets the most out of all of us as his teammates. "It was good to see competition for spots heat up today at training, so that's the luxury that the coaching staff have. There's going to be guys that miss out." While the touring Lions are the primary goal, the initial focus for the Australians is their Test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Wright, who was a shock omission from the World Cup by then coach Eddie Jones, said the Wallabies couldn't afford to look past the Fijians, who have included 15 northern hemisphere-based players in a threatening squad. "Obviously we get a taste of the Fijians with the Drua throughout the (Super Rugby) season so we know how lethal they'll be, with and without the ball, and then you drip in some of the guys from Europe obviously, some of the most talented players in the world. "We've got our eyes set on Newcastle and that being a really important fixture to leap-frog into what is obviously a strong Lions side in July too." The Lions have arrived in Perth ahead of their clash with the Western Force and will be licking their wounds after falling to Argentina in their warm-up Test. But Wright said both teams played "exciting footy" and the Wallabies couldn't read much into the result. "The Argentinians were really good and I wouldn't say the Lions played really poorly," the 27-year-old said. "That's a bunch of guys trying to come together for the first time really. I wouldn't read heaps into it." With 12 months of the Joe Schmidt reign behind them the Wallabies have launched straight into "re-sharpening the sword" for the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies gathered in Sydney on Monday for their first training session ahead of three-Test Lions series which begins next month, and fullback Tom Wright said they hit the ground running. "This morning was less about trying to push over a fresh load of information and plays and structures onto everyone's plate, and more about a refresher, and getting everyone back into language and lingo, and then everyone just sort of hitting the ground running," the Brumbies gun said. "Last year it was a lot of trying to digest and absorb stuff but today it was just re-sharpening the sword, and it was exciting to see that translate as opposed to just picking it up fresh last year." With 37 Tests under his belt, Wright had a breakout campaign for the Wallabies on last year's spring tour, scoring a hat-trick against Wales as well as racking up major carry metres and clean breaks. But with superstar league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii able to play just about anywhere in the backline, including fullback, Wright knows there's competition for the No.15 jersey - and welcomes it. "He goes pretty well anytime he's on the field," Wright said of Suaalii, who was man of the match in his Test debut against England in November. "His talent is probably second to none in the group, and you pair that with his work ethic that he's got, it's really impressive, and he gets the most out of all of us as his teammates. "It was good to see competition for spots heat up today at training, so that's the luxury that the coaching staff have. There's going to be guys that miss out." While the touring Lions are the primary goal, the initial focus for the Australians is their Test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Wright, who was a shock omission from the World Cup by then coach Eddie Jones, said the Wallabies couldn't afford to look past the Fijians, who have included 15 northern hemisphere-based players in a threatening squad. "Obviously we get a taste of the Fijians with the Drua throughout the (Super Rugby) season so we know how lethal they'll be, with and without the ball, and then you drip in some of the guys from Europe obviously, some of the most talented players in the world. "We've got our eyes set on Newcastle and that being a really important fixture to leap-frog into what is obviously a strong Lions side in July too." The Lions have arrived in Perth ahead of their clash with the Western Force and will be licking their wounds after falling to Argentina in their warm-up Test. But Wright said both teams played "exciting footy" and the Wallabies couldn't read much into the result. "The Argentinians were really good and I wouldn't say the Lions played really poorly," the 27-year-old said. "That's a bunch of guys trying to come together for the first time really. I wouldn't read heaps into it."
