Ren Hashimoto hooking in the pocket. - WSL / Smith
Day 1 of the inaugural Sydney International Women's Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 has been completed in fun, 2-to-3 foot clean peaks at Cronulla. It was a big day of action seeing all 12 heats of Round One completed. The event is the brainchild of current world No. 8 Sally Fitzgibbons, who will be competing from Round Three.
The action was on from the opening heat of the day with Japanese ripper Ren Hashimoto putting on an epic displays of forehand and backhand surfing to progress through her heat into Round Two.
The competitors area at Cronulla is seriously impressive. - WSL / Smith
"I have spent quite a bit of time here so feel pretty confident," Hashimoto said. "I just had to wait for the good ones which allowed me to surf the way I wanted to. I'm so excited to make it to the seeded round and really hope I can surf against a CT surfer -- that would be amazing."
After trailing for the majority of her heat, South African Sarah Baum snagged a long left-hander going completely vertical on two turns to nail mid range score and take the lead with only moments left.
South African Sarah Baum on a tear. - WSL / Smith
"Those little lefts were so fun," Baum said. "I haven't surfed an event in ages so I'm glad to get that first heat out of the way and shake off some of the nerves. This is my first time back to Cronulla in ages, so I'm stoked to be back."
Rubie Reents was another surfer who was left needing a solid score to progress. Staying patient eventually paid off when she was gifted a set wave which offered her a couple of sections to tear apart. Reents got the nod from the judges dropping an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) to win the heat and progress.
Rubie Reents throwing buckets. - WSL / Smith
"I was just going with the flow," Reents said. "I didn't want to over think it and worry to much about the score which seemed to work. I'm glad to make it and have the opportunity to surf again because the waves are really fun."
Western Australian charger Felicity Palmateer took command of her Round One heat from the get-go, dropping a 7.83 on her opening ride with two massive forehand gouges. She backed it up with another left for a heat total of 13.13 (out of a possible 20).
Felicity Palmateer belting the closeout section. - WSL / Smith
"I had a final out here as a junior and have surfed in a few events here and love being back," Palmateer said. "This event is amazing, I'm so inspired by all the work Sally [Fitzgibbons] and her team have put in. She is really giving back to surfing which is good to see, I'm happy to be apart of it."
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Laura Macaulay slicing her way into Round 2
- WSL
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Alyssa Lock looked in good form during Rond 1
- WSL / Smith
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Zoe Clarke with a nice rebound
- WSL / Smith
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Peony knight from the UK styling through a cutback
- WSL / Smith
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Eliza Greene going vert on her backhand
- WSL / Smith
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Danielle Hancock sliding the tail out in the early morning.
- WSL / Smith
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Jacinta Greenup coming hard off the bottom.
- WSL / Smith
Massive First Day at Sydney International Women's Pro Cronulla
WSL
Day 1 of the inaugural Sydney International Women's Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 has been completed in fun, 2-to-3 foot clean peaks at Cronulla. It was a big day of action seeing all 12 heats of Round One completed. The event is the brainchild of current world No. 8 Sally Fitzgibbons, who will be competing from Round Three.
The action was on from the opening heat of the day with Japanese ripper Ren Hashimoto putting on an epic displays of forehand and backhand surfing to progress through her heat into Round Two.
"I have spent quite a bit of time here so feel pretty confident," Hashimoto said. "I just had to wait for the good ones which allowed me to surf the way I wanted to. I'm so excited to make it to the seeded round and really hope I can surf against a CT surfer -- that would be amazing."
After trailing for the majority of her heat, South African Sarah Baum snagged a long left-hander going completely vertical on two turns to nail mid range score and take the lead with only moments left.
"Those little lefts were so fun," Baum said. "I haven't surfed an event in ages so I'm glad to get that first heat out of the way and shake off some of the nerves. This is my first time back to Cronulla in ages, so I'm stoked to be back."
Rubie Reents was another surfer who was left needing a solid score to progress. Staying patient eventually paid off when she was gifted a set wave which offered her a couple of sections to tear apart. Reents got the nod from the judges dropping an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) to win the heat and progress.
"I was just going with the flow," Reents said. "I didn't want to over think it and worry to much about the score which seemed to work. I'm glad to make it and have the opportunity to surf again because the waves are really fun."
Western Australian charger Felicity Palmateer took command of her Round One heat from the get-go, dropping a 7.83 on her opening ride with two massive forehand gouges. She backed it up with another left for a heat total of 13.13 (out of a possible 20).
"I had a final out here as a junior and have surfed in a few events here and love being back," Palmateer said. "This event is amazing, I'm so inspired by all the work Sally [Fitzgibbons] and her team have put in. She is really giving back to surfing which is good to see, I'm happy to be apart of it."
Sydney International Women's Pro
The 11-year-old first made headlines with her unfiltered interview at Sally Fitzgibbons' QS6,000. This week, she had Ellen in hysterics.
A cearense venceu o QS 6000 Sydney International na Austrália para sacramentar sua volta ao grupo das top-17 do CT.
After winning the Sydney International Women's Pro QS6,000, the Brazilian surfer is No. 1 on the QS and headed back to the elite tour.
The Brazilian aerialist solidifies her spot on the 2017 CT with a win at the final QS6,000 of the season.
Conditions changed rapidly from one foot to four foot and the world's best took advantage.