Latest news with #BettylouSakuraJohnson
The Guardian
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Australia's Molly Picklum scores near-perfect wave but falls short in Trestles Pro final
A near-perfect ride helped Molly Picklum shake a monkey from her back at the Trestles Pro in California, where a runner-up finish firmed her top-three standing. The Australian's 9.6 point wave – the highest women's score all season – in her semi-final defeat of the defending world champion Caity Simmers ensured she finally got the better of the Californian in their seventh encounter. But Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson (17 points) was too good in the final, edging Picklum (14.3) at Lower Trestles. The Australian's result firmed her hold of third place, well clear of fourth with three regular season events remaining before the top-five battle for the World Surf League title in Fiji in August. 'I'm really happy with second place,' said Picklum, who is hunting her third top-five finish in just her fourth season. 'This year, more than any other year, I've been pushed inside and outside of the water. Most powerful turn all event? 🔨Molly Picklum gets her first win over Caity and advances to the Final ✅📺 @Lexus #TrestlesPro is LIVE | @outerknown 'Caity obviously pushed me, and I'm so happy to have gotten one over her. 'She beats me every time, and then Bettylou, I got her a few times early on in our career, and now she's starting to get me. 'She inspires me in the water, and it's just incredible. Everyone's just so capable of beating everyone, and I'm so happy to be here.' Joel Vaughan's giant-killing run ended in the quarter-finals while Jack Robinson (16.10) was pipped by Kanoa Igarashi (17.10) in the semi-finals. The Japanese surfer (16.07) was then edged in a high-scoring final by Brazil's Yago Dora (17.90). Ethan Ewing also made the quarter-finals, he and Robinson sixth and seventh respectively in a stacked men's ladder pushing for a Fiji berth in the final year of the top-five format. The tour now moves to Brazil's Saquarema break in Rio de Janeiro, with the window opening on 21 June.
CNA
15-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Surfing-Dora takes aerial route to Trestles triumph
High-flying Brazilian Yago Dora soared to victory over Japan's Kanoa Igarashi in the final of the Lexus Trestles Pro in Southern California on Saturday, while Hawaii's Bettylou Sakura Johnson took out her second event of surfing's 2025 world tour. Lower Trestles, the surfing venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, provided an ideal canvas for the world's best surfers to showcase their high-performance surfing, and Dora's aerial antics proved unstoppable. Concentrating on the left-handers of the Lower's peak, Dora landed a dizzying array of spins and grabs as he took down event favourites Ethan Ewing of Australia in the quarterfinals and hometown hero Griffin Colapinto in the semis. Just seconds into the final against Igarashi, Dora stomped a giant air reverse on an overhead left, combining it with some sharp turns for a near-perfect 9.53 out of 10. The 29-year-old kept with the winning formula, racking up three more excellent scores on the lefts, the best of which, an 8.37, gave him a two-wave total of 17.9 out of a possible 20. Igarashi, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, stayed in contention with some stylish and high-risk rides of his own, but could not get ahead of the Brazilian and ended with a two-wave total of 16.07. Lower Trestles has for the past four years hosted the World Surf League's one-day winner-takes-all Final's day for the top five surfers at the end of the regular season. It was moved to event number eight on this year's tour, giving Dora the chance to surf Trestles in competition for the first time. "I've been watching the Finals from home the last few years and just dreaming about this little left here. I finally had the opportunity, and to come out with the win is very special," said Dora, who also won in Portugal this year. Johnson, on the women's side, took a different approach to Dora, focusing on the long right-handers on the cobblestone point and getting her best scores throughout the final day of competition with sharp carves and critical turns in the lip. The 20-year-old from Oahu's North Shore took down former world and Olympic champion Caroline Marks in their quarterfinal and Californian Sawyer Lindblad in the semis to meet Australia's Molly Picklum in the final. Johnson started with an excellent 8 for two huge turns, improving to a 9 for a series of carves and a big vertical re-entry. With the waves taking a breather late in the final, Johnson's 17 point total was too much for Picklum, who finished with a two-wave score of 14.23. "I came up top today, and I'm super grateful. We got to surf amazing waves today, so I'm super happy to bring it home," said Johnson, who moves up to number 4 in the world rankings. The tour next heads to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil later this month for stop number nine of 11. The top five men and women will then compete for the world title in Fiji.
Reuters
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Dora takes aerial route to Trestles triumph
June 14 (Reuters) - High-flying Brazilian Yago Dora soared to victory over Japan's Kanoa Igarashi in the final of the Lexus Trestles Pro in Southern California on Saturday, while Hawaii's Bettylou Sakura Johnson took out her second event of surfing's 2025 world tour. Lower Trestles, the surfing venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, provided an ideal canvas for the world's best surfers to showcase their high-performance surfing, and Dora's aerial antics proved unstoppable. Concentrating on the left-handers of the Lower's peak, Dora landed a dizzying array of spins and grabs as he took down event favourites Ethan Ewing of Australia in the quarterfinals and hometown hero Griffin Colapinto in the semis. Just seconds into the final against Igarashi, Dora stomped a giant air reverse on an overhead left, combining it with some sharp turns for a near-perfect 9.53 out of 10. The 29-year-old kept with the winning formula, racking up three more excellent scores on the lefts, the best of which, an 8.37, gave him a two-wave total of 17.9 out of a possible 20. Igarashi, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, stayed in contention with some stylish and high-risk rides of his own, but could not get ahead of the Brazilian and ended with a two-wave total of 16.07. Lower Trestles has for the past four years hosted the World Surf League's one-day winner-takes-all Final's day for the top five surfers at the end of the regular season. It was moved to event number eight on this year's tour, giving Dora the chance to surf Trestles in competition for the first time. "I've been watching the Finals from home the last few years and just dreaming about this little left here. I finally had the opportunity, and to come out with the win is very special," said Dora, who also won in Portugal this year. Johnson, on the women's side, took a different approach to Dora, focusing on the long right-handers on the cobblestone point and getting her best scores throughout the final day of competition with sharp carves and critical turns in the lip. The 20-year-old from Oahu's North Shore took down former world and Olympic champion Caroline Marks in their quarterfinal and Californian Sawyer Lindblad in the semis to meet Australia's Molly Picklum in the final. Johnson started with an excellent 8 for two huge turns, improving to a 9 for a series of carves and a big vertical re-entry. With the waves taking a breather late in the final, Johnson's 17 point total was too much for Picklum, who finished with a two-wave score of 14.23. "I came up top today, and I'm super grateful. We got to surf amazing waves today, so I'm super happy to bring it home," said Johnson, who moves up to number 4 in the world rankings. The tour next heads to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil later this month for stop number nine of 11. The top five men and women will then compete for the world title in Fiji.
West Australian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Margaret River Pro put on hold as World Surf League organisers await bigger swell on Tuesday
Competition has been put on hold at the Margaret River Pro for two days as organisers await the arrival of big swell and more favourable winds mid-week. The championship tour event started Saturday when the 10-day window for competition opened with both men's and women's opening rounds completed in 4-6ft conditions at Main Break. But with smaller conditions on offer Sunday, and the prospect of 6-8ft swell on Tuesday and Wednesday, World Surf League officials opted to wait to resume. The next call will be made at 7am on Tuesday. 'After we had a good look at the conditions, we decided to call the event off for the day,' WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hickel said. 'The swell is declining and the Cape Naturaliste buoy had declined since 4.30 am this morning, and there is not much energy on the swell, really weak waves, 2-3ft max. 'With the swell on offer for the remainder of the waiting period, we decided to wait for the next swell, which looks like it's going to be this coming Tuesday. 'Potentially a really big powerful swell with the chance for running heats at The Box, so fingers crossed.' The prospect of heats running at The Box, a slab wave a few hundred metres north of Main Break that offers deep barrels with the right conditions, will please local favourite Jack Robinson, who called for organisers to take advantage of the iconic break ahead of this year's event. 'I think it's calling for it, and I think it's about time we ran there,' Robinson said on Friday. 'Everyone wants to see it and I think it would be great to watch.' When competition does resume, veteran Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons will face a must-win elimination round heat to keep her hopes of avoiding the mid-season cut alive. The 12-time winner on tour and three-time world title runner-up needs a deep run in Margaret River to have any hope of staying on tour but was relegated to the elimination round after a heartbreaking loss in the dying seconds of her opening round heat on Saturday. She will face recent Gold Coast Pro winner Bettylou Sakura Johnson and teenage local qualifier Willow Hardy in the elimination round. On the men's side, qualifier Jacob Willcox will be hoping for a better heat in his home conditions after struggling to find the right waves in his opening round loss. The crowd favourite will face fellow Aussie Ryan Callinan and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii for the chance to advance to the round-of-32. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS WOMEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND Heat 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson HAW v Sally Fitzgibbons AUS v Willow Hardy AUS Heat 2: Erin Brooks CAN v Lakey Peterson USA v Nadia Erostarbe BAK MEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND Heat 1: Ryan Callinan AUS v Barron Mamiya HAW v Jacob Willcox AUS Heat 2: Seth Moniz HAW v Imaikalani deVault HAW v Winter Vincent AUS Heat 3: Alejo Muniz BRA v IAN Gentil HAW v Mikey McDonagh AUS Heat 4: Deivid Silva BRA v Crosby Colapinto USA v Edgard Groggia BRA
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Margaret River Pro put on hold as organisers await swell
Competition has been put on hold at the Margaret River Pro for two days as organisers await the arrival of big swell and more favourable winds mid-week. The championship tour event started Saturday when the 10-day window for competition opened with both men's and women's opening rounds completed in 4-6ft conditions at Main Break. But with smaller conditions on offer Sunday, and the prospect of 6-8ft swell on Tuesday and Wednesday, World Surf League officials opted to wait to resume. The next call will be made at 7am on Tuesday. 'After we had a good look at the conditions, we decided to call the event off for the day,' WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hickel said. 'The swell is declining and the Cape Naturaliste buoy had declined since 4.30 am this morning, and there is not much energy on the swell, really weak waves, 2-3ft max. 'With the swell on offer for the remainder of the waiting period, we decided to wait for the next swell, which looks like it's going to be this coming Tuesday. 'Potentially a really big powerful swell with the chance for running heats at The Box, so fingers crossed.' The prospect of heats running at The Box, a slab wave a few hundred metres north of Main Break that offers deep barrels with the right conditions, will please local favourite Jack Robinson, who called for organisers to take advantage of the iconic break ahead of this year's event. 'I think it's calling for it, and I think it's about time we ran there,' Robinson said on Friday. 'Everyone wants to see it and I think it would be great to watch.' When competition does resume, veteran Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons will face a must-win elimination round heat to keep her hopes of avoiding the mid-season cut alive. The 12-time winner on tour and three-time world title runner-up needs a deep run in Margaret River to have any hope of staying on tour but was relegated to the elimination round after a heartbreaking loss in the dying seconds of her opening round heat on Saturday. She will face recent Gold Coast Pro winner Bettylou Sakura Johnson and teenage local qualifier Willow Hardy in the elimination round. On the men's side, qualifier Jacob Willcox will be hoping for a better heat in his home conditions after struggling to find the right waves in his opening round loss. The crowd favourite will face fellow Aussie Ryan Callinan and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii for the chance to advance to the round-of-32. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS WOMEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND Heat 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson HAW v Sally Fitzgibbons AUS v Willow Hardy AUS Heat 2: Erin Brooks CAN v Lakey Peterson USA v Nadia Erostarbe BAK MEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND Heat 1: Ryan Callinan AUS v Barron Mamiya HAW v Jacob Willcox AUS Heat 2: Seth Moniz HAW v Imaikalani deVault HAW v Winter Vincent AUS Heat 3: Alejo Muniz BRA v IAN Gentil HAW v Mikey McDonagh AUS Heat 4: Deivid Silva BRA v Crosby Colapinto USA v Edgard Groggia BRA
