Aussie surf stars Robinson, Picklum triumph at Tahiti Pro
Australian surf star Jack Robinson's wife and son jumped into the water to celebrate after he came from the clouds to power into the world title shootout by winning an emotional event in the monster waves of Tahiti.
Robinson's win came an hour after compatriot and world No.1 Molly Picklum sealed her own 'sick' victory with a near-perfect final display on a wave she once feared.
But Robinson's triumph in the final event of the regular season, which propelled him to fourth on the rankings, came at a cost, taking the spot of fellow Aussie Ethan Ewing who was bundled out in the quarter-finals and fell to sixth on the rankings.
Robinson needed to win in Tahiti to get into the final five who will compete for the world title in Fiji at the end of the month and the emotion was evident in the family celebrations after he stunned Griffin Colapinto with a 9.5 opening wave.
'I'm right where we're meant to be,' he said.
'I had a mission and I went for it. I'm very blessed to be going to Fiji.
'The whole event, I was just doing me, just free. I was free.' — World Surf League (@wsl) August 14, 2025
Picklum, who confessed to being scared by the monster break at Teahupo, where she contested last year's Olympics, put all fear aside to blitz reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers in the final.
The 22-year-old was near untouchable, scoring three brilliant eight-point waves to start the decider, creating a break Simmers could not reel in as Picklum solidified her No.1 ranking ahead of the final-five shootout for the world title in Fiji at the end of the month.
Picklum said she'd head home to Australia for a few days and get some new boards after 'breaking a few' in Tahiti, primed for her world title push.
'I felt like I earned my stripes this event,' Picklum said.
'It was sick, so nice just to make a few waves and not get flogged.
'What a special place Tahiti is, you just feel the energy. It's where the dream comes alive, I'm so happy.'
Picklum's win came after taking out the Rio Pro in Brazil two events before heading to Tahiti and she'll hit the finals in supreme form.
'I'm so psyched,' she said.
'I'll go home for a few days, pack a few boards … I broke so many here, and head over there and enjoy it for what it is.
'I finished No.1 this year, it's a massive step in the right direction, and hopefully I can get that cherry in Fiji.'
Picklum will be joined in the final five to contest the finals by Isabella Nicholls, who jumped into the contingent in Tahiti, taking the place of American Caroline Marks.
Originally published as Jack Robinson storms into final five shootout joining Molly Picklum as Tahiti champions in epic Aussie double
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
A 4-0 loss but Pacific islanders make soccer history
The Marshall Islands have lost their first ever international football match 4-0 to the US Virgin Islands on a high school gridiron pitch in Arkansas -- but not before making history as the world's newest national soccer team. The remote Pacific nation with fewer than 40,000 people played their first-ever international at the 3000-capacity Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale, better known as home to the local high school's American football team. "I feel surreal this morning; it's one of those out-of-body experiences," technical director Lloyd Owers said before the historic match. "I don't think we or anyone else thought we'd be here in two-and-a-half years. The fact that it's going viral across the world is a great feeling." Owers, an English ex-semi-professional player, who took charge in 2022, led a squad this week that included players experiencing 11-a-side football for the first time. With just five training sessions together, the 20-man squad spans generations from a 15-year-old to a player in his early 40s. "They were a bit nervy, understandably, but we have a good dynamic off the field and that has helped raise our game," Owers added. "Now we're going into these games wanting to compete and turn that nervous energy into a positive experience." The match kicked off the Marshall Islands' own created tournament — the Outrigger Challenge Cup, a four-team event featuring two FIFA nations, Turks and Caicos Islands (world-ranked 206th)and US Virgin Islands (207th), plus local side Ozark United's under-19 team. Northwest Arkansas was chosen as the venue because it hosts the largest Marshallese community in the United States and offers a convenient mid-point for Caribbean opponents. The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation, established in 2021 with the support of British volunteers and self-funded, harbours ambitions that extend beyond Thursday's outing. FIFA membership would unlock up to $US8 million ($A12 million) in funding over four years, but confederation membership is required first. Despite writing to the Oceanian confederation, the Marshall Islands say they have received no response, with the OFC citing a 'lack of direct air links' as the barrier. They are, however, considering applying to CONCACAF (the North American confederation) and the AFC (Asian confederation). Saturday brings their next challenge against the Turks and Caicos Islands and another chance to make history.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Wallabies know exactly what's coming in South Africa. But can they stop it?
The Springboks are world class at the kick chase, which logically shouldn't be the case given the size of their wingers. Edwill van der Merwe, a carbon copy of Cheslin Kolbe, played against Georgia and was brilliant at either winning back Williams' kicks cleanly, or at least contesting well enough for a teammate to pick up the scraps. The Springboks also use second-rower Eben Etzebeth as a chaser, or have another giant such as blindside flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit close at hand. And, if and when they win it back, they compound the pain for the visitors by spreading the ball into midfield and kicking deep again. Within 20 seconds of taking a restart, teams can find themselves scrambling back inside their own 22 to secure the ball and hack it into touch – which in turn sets up the Springboks maul. It becomes a cycle of misery that can be impossible to get out of. Accordingly, the most important Wallabies at Ellis Park will be the wingers, or whoever is the designated catcher in the backfield. A fallacy has developed since the South Africans departed Super Rugby, one that says that Australian and New Zealand forwards have suffered as a result. It contains only an element of truth. Trans-Tasman players have lost something without the regular exposure to the South Africans, but it's the wingers and fullbacks who have paid the heaviest price. Without this relentless aerial examination, you could argue that their readiness for Test rugby has been degraded a touch. Similarly, we reserve most of our praise for halfbacks who can run and offload, and only those in Canberra have a fuller appreciation of what a Ryan Lonergan-type player can bring to a team. And even if the Springboks don't regain the ball cleanly from a high kick, they might get the next best thing – an opposition knock on. The Springboks smashed the much-vaunted Georgia scrum at Mbombela Stadium, and their starting tight five for the first Wallabies Test looks stronger than that line-up. But, again, the origin for that pressure was the box kick, and the Wallabies can also expect No.10 Manie Libbok to go to the air if the Springboks aren't getting quick ball at the ruck. Loading With this dominance, a 22-10 half-time lead was a relatively poor return for the Springboks – but they still do not look entirely comfortable when they try to play All Blacks rugby. But where they do excel is building pressure with aerial contests, and when they get into the right areas of the field they are relentless at sending waves of big runners around the corner – and they have the ball carriers to get over the gain line four or five times in a row. There is a way to stop this, and it's at the source. The Test will be won or lost by how the Wallabies handle the high ball.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
The Wallabies know exactly what's coming in South Africa. But can they stop it?
The Springboks are world class at the kick chase, which logically shouldn't be the case given the size of their wingers. Edwill van der Merwe, a carbon copy of Cheslin Kolbe, played against Georgia and was brilliant at either winning back Williams' kicks cleanly, or at least contesting well enough for a teammate to pick up the scraps. The Springboks also use second-rower Eben Etzebeth as a chaser, or have another giant such as blindside flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit close at hand. And, if and when they win it back, they compound the pain for the visitors by spreading the ball into midfield and kicking deep again. Within 20 seconds of taking a restart, teams can find themselves scrambling back inside their own 22 to secure the ball and hack it into touch – which in turn sets up the Springboks maul. It becomes a cycle of misery that can be impossible to get out of. Accordingly, the most important Wallabies at Ellis Park will be the wingers, or whoever is the designated catcher in the backfield. A fallacy has developed since the South Africans departed Super Rugby, one that says that Australian and New Zealand forwards have suffered as a result. It contains only an element of truth. Trans-Tasman players have lost something without the regular exposure to the South Africans, but it's the wingers and fullbacks who have paid the heaviest price. Without this relentless aerial examination, you could argue that their readiness for Test rugby has been degraded a touch. Similarly, we reserve most of our praise for halfbacks who can run and offload, and only those in Canberra have a fuller appreciation of what a Ryan Lonergan-type player can bring to a team. And even if the Springboks don't regain the ball cleanly from a high kick, they might get the next best thing – an opposition knock on. The Springboks smashed the much-vaunted Georgia scrum at Mbombela Stadium, and their starting tight five for the first Wallabies Test looks stronger than that line-up. But, again, the origin for that pressure was the box kick, and the Wallabies can also expect No.10 Manie Libbok to go to the air if the Springboks aren't getting quick ball at the ruck. Loading With this dominance, a 22-10 half-time lead was a relatively poor return for the Springboks – but they still do not look entirely comfortable when they try to play All Blacks rugby. But where they do excel is building pressure with aerial contests, and when they get into the right areas of the field they are relentless at sending waves of big runners around the corner – and they have the ball carriers to get over the gain line four or five times in a row. There is a way to stop this, and it's at the source. The Test will be won or lost by how the Wallabies handle the high ball.
