Air time as Aussie rookie surfer stuns Brazilian great
Australian rookie Joel Vaughan has shocked top-ranked Brazilian Italo Ferreira to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Trestles Pro in California.
Competing in his first season on the World Surf League's Championship Tour, the 21-year-old took down the world No.2 in a high-scoring round-of-16 heat on Wednesday (local time).
Sydneysider Vaughan, ranked No.19 heading into the contest, produced his best performance of the season at Lower Trestles to overhaul Ferreira, winning 16.87 to 16.20.
His top wave on the famous San Clemente break earned a score of 8.57, rewarded for an off-axis air reverse after showing his skill and variety on the build-up.
Vaughan then came through with the winning wave, launching into a straight air with 90 seconds left on the clock.
He will next face hometown hero Griffin Colapinto, who beat another Brazilian in Felipe Toledo.
"I know Italo's such a great competitor, and you can never really tell what he's going to do, so I thought I might as well try to go big and risk it, and yeah, a great performance," Vaughan said.
"I'd fallen on a straight air a few waves before it and I was a bit bummed, so I just wanted to just make it.
"I kind of missed the grab and bobbled a little bit, but then made it and got around and got another turn."
Fellow Australian Jack Robinson meets another local hope in Cole Houshmand after the American eliminated rankings leader Jordy Smith from South Africa.
World No.7 Robinson was in impressive form in his victory over Italian Leonardo Fioravanti, scoring a total of 17.07, including a huge score of 8.87.
Sixth-ranked Ethan Ewing eliminated Jake Marshall, with the Queenslander next taking on Brazilian world No.3 Yago Dora in the quarters.
In the women's field, Molly Picklum is the only Australian remaining, booking a place in the semi-finals, which are set down for Saturday (local time), with the competition on hold until then.
World No.3 Picklum ousted veteran Lakey Peterson 12.50 to 11.47 and has been drawn against America's second-ranked Caitlin Simmers, the reigning world champion, in the final four.
The other semi-final line-up is still to be decided.
"I felt like I was watching it all day and getting so inspired by the boys and they were ripping. I definitely felt we'd get more waves, but I know at Lowers it can get slow," Picklum said.
"I'd be stoked to beat Caity. It's really fun when it's her and I, and it's always more fun when there's waves.
"I know what she's capable of and know what I'm capable of, and I really think I have a chance against her."
Australian two-time world champion and world No.6 Tyler Wright and fourth-ranked Isabella Nichols both bowed out in the elimination round.
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