Latest news with #CaitlinSimmers
ABC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Molly Picklum beats Caitlin Simmers to win Tahiti Pro ahead of Fiji world title face-off
Molly Picklum has out-pointed American rival Caitlin Simmers to win the Tahiti Pro in a statement result before her Fiji world title charge. The Australian had already secured the top seeding for the World Surf League Finals later this month by reaching the final in pumping Teahupo'o swell. Conditions cleaned up and the waves grew just as Picklum hit the water on Thursday (AEST), Simmers (4.94-point total) wiping out in what would likely have been a 10-point ride as both surfers pushed the limits. The Australian was all class though, notching three eight-point rides in the heat for her second victory and fifth top-two result this season. Picklum (17.26) had defied a huge wipe-out to win her semifinal earlier in the event. "It was sick; so nice to make a few waves and not get so flogged. I feel like I've earnt my stripes in this event," she said. "What a special place. You just feel the energy, the dream comes alive, and Fiji [is] next." Earlier, Ethan Ewing put his finals fate in compatriot Jack Robinson's hands when he lost his quarterfinal. Ewing, runner-up last season in an incredible return from multiple spinal fractures, would have secured his finals spot with a semifinal berth in Tahiti. But, with Griffin Colapinto facing the same scenario, the door was emphatically shut just minutes into their heat. The American (16.76) found 8.33 and 8.43-point rides and did not register another score as Ewing (14.2) scrambled fruitlessly for a reply. The ball was then in compatriot Robinson's court and the West Australian obliged with a brilliant 18.1-point semifinal total against a helpless Crosby Colapinto that included a late, clean barrel that scored 9.27. Robinson will face Crosby's older brother Griffin in the final later on Thursday, needing a victory to jump Ewing into the top five. AAP
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Molly Picklum dominates Teahupo'o monster swell to win Tahiti Pro title
Molly Picklum has out-pointed American rival Caitlin Simmers to win the Tahiti Pro in a statement result before her Fiji world title charge. The Australian had already secured the No 1 seeding for the World Surf League finals later this month by reaching the final in pumping Teahupo'o swell. Conditions cleaned up and the waves grew just as Picklum hit the water on Thursday, Simmers (4.94-point total) wiping out in what would probably have been a 10-point ride as both surfers pushed the limits. The Australian was all class though, notching three eight-point rides in the heat for her second victory and fifth top-two result this season. Picklum (17.26) had defied a huge wipe-out to win her semi-final earlier in the event. 'It was sick,' Picklum said. 'So nice to make a few waves and not get so flogged. I feel like I've earned my stripes in this event. 'What a special place, you just feel the energy, the dream comes alive and Fiji next.' This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Earlier, Ethan Ewing put his finals fate in compatriot Jack Robinson's hands when he lost his quarter-final. Ewing, runner-up last season in an incredible return from multiple spinal fractures, would have secured his finals spot with a semi-final berth in Tahiti. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion But, with Griffin Colapinto facing the same scenario, the door was emphatically shut just minutes into their heat. The American (16.76) found 8.33 and 8.43-point rides and didn't register another score as Ewing (14.2) scrambled fruitlessly for a reply. The ball was then in compatriot Robinson's court and the West Australian obliged with a brilliant 18.1-point semi-final total against a helpless Crosby Colapinto that included a late, clean barrel that scored 9.27. Robinson will face Crosby's older brother Griffin in the final later on Thursday, needing a victory to jump Ewing into the top five.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Molly Picklum solidified her No.1 ranking going into the World Surf League finals with a stunning win in Tahiti
Australia world No.1 Molly Picklum will take the ultimate momentum into her quest for a maiden world title after a stunning display in the huge waves in Tahiti secured her second trophy of the year. 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's 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 to 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.'
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'Amazing scenes' as world-champion surfer shares wave with dolphins
'Amazing scenes' as world-champion surfer shares wave with dolphins Caitlin Simmers didn't win the recent Western Australia Margaret River Pro, but the 2024 World Surf League champion did to surf circles around a couple of dolphins. The accompanying footage, courtesy of the WSL, shows Simmers ripping a large wave in slow motion while at least two "locals" appear in the face. Or, as the announcer exclaims: 'Look at this! Amazing scenes as Caity Simmers just flies over the top of that dolphin… And they're loving sharing a wave with the world champ!' The dolphins might have actually breached the wave face had it not been so beautifully occupied. Simmers, of Oceanside, Ca., finished second to Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan in the event, and is currently second to Bryan in the 2025 WSL standings.
ABC News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Gabriela Bryan and Jordy Smith claim victory at the Margaret River Pro
A young star and tour veteran have won the Margaret River Pro, with Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan and South Africa's Jordy Smith celebrating after a challenging week of surfing. It is Bryan's second successive win at the Margaret River Pro, and her second win in the World Surf League's Championship Tour this year. Posting a 9.5 and securing the best combined total for the women's series so far, Bryan holds onto the yellow jersey and puts extra space between herself and 19-year-old Caitlin Simmers, who sits at a close number two on the women's world rankings. She told the World Surf League she was still getting used to her status as the competition's front-runner. "Every heat I have with it I'm getting more comfortable," Bryan said. "I have amazing people supporting me and I honestly couldn't do it without them." Simmers is still hoping for her second world title in a row after becoming the youngest to claim one last year. She knocked off the last-standing West Australian, wildcard Bronte Macaulay, in their semi-final heat earlier in the day. It was Macaulay's fourth time making the semi-finals at her home break but she has never made it to finals. But she came out all smiles, to cheers from local supporters. It was the veteran versus the comeback kids in the men's final, with South Africa's Smith eventually securing the win. American surfer Griffin Colapinto charged up the ranks to make both the cut and the Margaret River Pro finals, but Smith's performance was too strong. Smith, oldest in the league at 37, has already had one win this year and currently sits at number one, chasing his first world title. He made the most of the slight swell on offer, less than a week after Main Break offered up some of its biggest waves on record. The Margaret River event has served as a crucial mid-year cut point for the tour, after which lower-ranked competitors are relegated back to the qualifying circuit, a format which has divided surf fans. It was announced earlier this year that the feature would be dropped in 2026, and tour organisers would reintroduce a more traditional cumulative points winner to determine titles for the 2026 season. The Margaret River event will also be held earlier in the tour, with the season-ending event shifted to Pipeline in Hawaii. The tour now moves to California where 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will compete as a wildcard ahead of the world title showdown in Fiji in August.
