Wade Carmichael and Isabella Nichols took down a field of hungry QS surfers looking to earn the last remaining wildcard seeds in the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro.
Wade Carmichael made the most of small conditions at Snapper Rocks, but the Aussie has proven himself in the bigger surf winning the 2015 Hawaiian Pro. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Carmichael is fresh off a solid winter in Hawaii having claimed victory at the 2015 Hawaiian Pro QS 10,000 and the opportunity to compete in the Billabong Pipe Masters. The Australian showed his range, tearing apart smaller conditions at Snapper Rocks to win the trials and the last open space into the first CT of the season.
"I can't believe it," Carmichael said. "I came here to surf snapper with only a few other people out because I love surfing here - just making a couple of heats was a bonus. It actually turned on during the heat as well, there were a heap of little runners coming through and I just got in a rhythm. After coming so close to qualifying last year, to be in the first CT event of the year is pretty special."
Isabella Nichols, the recent World Junior Champ, earned the wildcard spot into her first CT after winning the Roxy Pro trials. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
On the women's side, Isabella Nichols steamrolled her way into the main event. After winning the World Junior Title in January, Nichols has been grinding her way through some of the QS 6,000s and currently sits at No. 21 in the rankings. Her appearance in the Roxy Pro will be her first time competing in a Championship Tour.
Isabella Nichols looking ready to make her elite debut at the 2016 Roxy Pro Gold Coast. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
""I have wanted to surf in a Championship Tour event since I was 11-years-old so this is one of the happiest moments of my life," Nichols said. "I can't wait to surf against my idols, I think I'll be up against Carissa which will be amazing. Plus surfing snapper with three other people is so sick. I'm really really stoked."
Carmichael, Nichols Win Wildcards for Quik, Roxy Pro
WSL
Wade Carmichael and Isabella Nichols took down a field of hungry QS surfers looking to earn the last remaining wildcard seeds in the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro.
Carmichael is fresh off a solid winter in Hawaii having claimed victory at the 2015 Hawaiian Pro QS 10,000 and the opportunity to compete in the Billabong Pipe Masters. The Australian showed his range, tearing apart smaller conditions at Snapper Rocks to win the trials and the last open space into the first CT of the season.
"I can't believe it," Carmichael said. "I came here to surf snapper with only a few other people out because I love surfing here - just making a couple of heats was a bonus. It actually turned on during the heat as well, there were a heap of little runners coming through and I just got in a rhythm. After coming so close to qualifying last year, to be in the first CT event of the year is pretty special."
On the women's side, Isabella Nichols steamrolled her way into the main event. After winning the World Junior Title in January, Nichols has been grinding her way through some of the QS 6,000s and currently sits at No. 21 in the rankings. Her appearance in the Roxy Pro will be her first time competing in a Championship Tour.
""I have wanted to surf in a Championship Tour event since I was 11-years-old so this is one of the happiest moments of my life," Nichols said. "I can't wait to surf against my idols, I think I'll be up against Carissa which will be amazing. Plus surfing snapper with three other people is so sick. I'm really really stoked."
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