- WSL / Bennett
- WSL / Bennett
Adrian Buchan Avoca local and WSL CT veteran Adrian 'Ace' Buchan - Bennett - WSL / Bennett

An unanticipated jump in swell provided the perfect blank canvas for Central Coast Pro competitors to engage in some fiercely contested heats as competition intensified ahead of tomorrow's final rounds.

Kirra-Belle Olsson (AUS) is now the final local female remaining in the Women's division. Olsson found a multitude of solid scoring waves, which allowed her to post an impressive 14.90 heat total (out of a possible 20 points) and book her spot into tomorrow's Quarterfinals.

Marco Fernandez Marco Fernandez got busy applying some pressure on his fellow competitors. - WSL / Bennett

"The surf is usually never this good at Avoca, so to get it like this is amazing," said Olsson. "I don't know if my turns looked better than they felt, because some of my scores surprised me a little, but I'm over the moon to have made it to the Quarterfinals. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

Georgia Fish (AUS) added a major feather to her cap, eliminating event standouts in the Round 3. Fish performed a handful of solid forehand turns and as a result was rewarded with a 7.00 wave score as well as a 5.25 backup, which put her opposition on the ropes.

Gabriel Frarias In the fun conditions Gabriel Frarias was emphatically signing off during his rides. - WSL / Bennett

"I had a really nervous first heat, so I reset and thought, I'm just going to go out there and simplify things and it paid off," said Fish. "I'm taking one heat at a time at the moment and just trying to keep my head on my shoulders before the QS6000 events later in the month."

Georgia Fish Victorian Georgia Fish styling her way to the Quarterfinals - Bennett - WSL / Bennett

Current World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) surfer Adrian Buchan (AUS) is taking full advantage of having a WSL Qualifying Series (QS) event on his doorstep, posting impressive heat totals for his trademark backhand re-entries. The local goofyfooter posted a heat total of 16.00 to move through Round 4 and backed it up with a heat total of 18.25 to move through Round 5.

slade prestwich Avoca put her best dress on. - WSL / Bennett

"This is the first time we've had a QS at Avoca, so it feels really special to be a part of it," said Buchan. "I want to defend my home turf and do my best to get as far as I can. I'm proud to represent the area in a hometown event and have my family and friends on the beach watching. Even though it's a QS1,000, it's come at a great time with Snapper only a month away and it's the perfect event to use as a marker for the rest of 2016. I'm blown away by how high the quality has been."

Shane Holmes (AUS) blew minds in his opening exchange posting a near-perfect 9.85 wave score for a chain of massive powerful maneuvers. Despite having an injured knee, Holmes managed to leave his fellow competitors requiring two-wave combinations in excess of 17.35 to steal the top position.

"I injured my knee freesurfing earlier, so I knew I'd have to find the righthanders as it was really hurting to go left," said Holmes. "I was in the perfect spot for that righthander and fortunately it held a nice open face and allowed for a few decent turns."

Garrett Parkes (AUS) perfectly synced his forehand attack to Avoca's punchy righthanders, throwing down an array of exciting turns. The North Coast naturalfooter posted a heat total of 14.90 to cement his position into Round 6.

Garrett Parkes Garrett Parkes soaking in some Central Coast beauty. - WSL / Bennett

"This NSW Pro Surf Series has held some events in really cool spots and I've been loving doing road trips in between all the comps. I feel like a grommet again," said Parkes. "I've really just been trying to enjoy my surfing this year and not take it too seriously. I don't want to get too down on myself if I lose, but take the positives away from each heat."

All competitors are advised to ring the event hotline (0458 247 212) by 6.45 a.m. on the days of competition to confirm location and running order.

NSW Pro Surf Series Dates and Locations:
Carve Pro - Maroubra Beach, NSW 15 - 17 January, 2016
Tweed Coast Pro - Cabarita Beach, NSW 1 - 4 Feb 2016
Central Coast Pro - Avoca Beach, NSW 9 - 12 Feb 2016
Komunity Project Great Lakes Pro presented by Rockstar - Boomerang Beach, NSW 15 - 18 Feb 2016

The NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian and international surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series. The Series also creates a NSW coastal road trip for all to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and enjoy NSW surfing culture.

The 2016 NSW Pro Surf Series is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series is also proudly supported by Randwick City Council, Gosford City Council, Destination Tweed, Great Lakes Council & Tourism, NBN, World Surf League and Surfing NSW.

Marco Fernandez, all power
- WSL / Bennett
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Marco Fernandez, all power
- WSL / Bennett
1 of 9
World Surf League
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