.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
The Qualifying Series Storms into Manly
Tom Bennett
The professional surfing action in New South Wales has continued as the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 event kicks off at Manly Beach. The action was on tap as 24 heats of men's Round One was completed in building and blustery 4-to-6 foot surf.
Fresh off a runner-up finish yesterday at Newcastle Surfest, Barron Mamiya from Hawaii was the one to watch in men's Round One. The powerful naturalfooter struggled to get going and was left chasing Sunshine Coaster Reef Heazlewood for the majority of the heat. Eventually, it was Heazlewood who won the heat with a two-wave total of 12.73 (out of a possible 20) just ahead of Mamiya, who took the second progressing spot.
"It was always going to be hard to overcome Barron after his performance at Surfest last week," Heazlewood said. "I knew if I was on the right waves I would be able to get solid scores so I just focused on myself and what waves I needed to be on. I have been here for a couple of days and the waves today are the best I've seen yet, so all of the competitors are really excited to get out there."
Haling from France, Marc Lacomare is no stranger to chunky, beachbreak conditions, which was evident in his opening heat performance at Manly. Lacomare waited patiently for a set and eventually found a right-hander to open up two massive backhand hooks and post an excellent 9.00-point ride to put himself in a commanding position. He then backed it up with a 7.43 to comfortably win the heat and progress into Round Two.
"I'm really happy to have that first heat out of the way, it is always the most stressful," Lacomare said. "It's great that there is some solid size out there and the waves are really fun. I always see guys getting over-excited at the start of heats and trying to catch too many waves. I really focused on staying patient and trying to find a set wave that looked good, and it paid off as I was much more relaxed after posting such a good wave score."
After winning the Seat Pro Netanya pres. by Reef QS 3,000 in Israel a month ago, South African Matthew McGillivray is building momentum heading into the second QS 6,000 of the year. After seeing friend and countryman Michael February make a solid push for qualification in 2017, McGillivray is keen to continue his own form in 2018 and represent his flag well at the top end of the QS rankings.
"I feel really confident after taking out that QS 3,000 in Israel," McGilivray said. "It has definitely given me some momentum so I just need to harness that, especially at this event. It was definitely inspirational for all of the South African competitors to see Michael February last year. Seeing him get so close and get a start in the CT [WSL Championship Tour] events is awesome and has definitely spurred me on to go bigger and better than ever. The waves were building throughout my heat, so I'm hoping it stays solid for the next few days."
After a number of years away from competitive surfing, former CT competitor Raoni Monteiro returned in late 2017 to win the Siargao Surfing Cup QS 3,000 at Cloud 9 in the Philippines. Through this he was awarded a higher seed and is now competing at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro. Although he is keeping a low profile, his intentions were clear in his Round One performance: He wants to be back on the CT. A heat win to kick off 2018 was a good way to start things for the Brazilian powerhouse, who ended his Round One encounter with a combined score of 14.57.
"I don't want to make a big deal of it, but my major goal is to get back onto the CT," Monteiro said. "It was good to win in the Philippines and know that I still have it but this is a big event and the field is full of amazing surfers so it will be hard to do well. The waves are great today which always makes competing better, I just hope they stay solid and I can keep surfing the way I like to."
Matthew McGillivray
Featuring John John Florence, Jack Robinson, Kolohe Andino, Filipe Toledo, Stephanie Gilmore, Ryan Callinan, Jeremy Flores, Italo Ferreira,
After a momentous Final in El Salvador, Matthew McGillivray kept his form intact in the face of elimination and powered his way past
Featuring Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Leonardo Fioravanti, Sawyer Lindblad, Caitlin Simmers, George Pittar, Jack Robinson, Jordy Smith,
The rising South African powerhouse Matthew McGillivray's dream run takes him to a first-ever CT Final after besting an in-form Crosby
South Africa's rising CT mainstay Matthew McGillivray overpowered 2024 event runner-up Yago Dora in a clash at Punta Roca. This marks
Vissla Sydney Surf Pro
Deivid Silva and Nikki Van Dijk take the win.
O paulista do Guarujá bateu todos os recordes do QS 6000 Vissla Sydney Surf Pro na decisão do título em Manly Beach.
Silva finds perfection to take the biggest win of his career while Van Dijk earns her second win at the event.
Vissla Sydney Surf Pro Day 6 Action
Seis dos oito classificados para as quartas de final masculinas no sábado são do Brasil.