- WSL / Ethan Smith
- WSL / Ethan Smith

Day one of the 2020 Carve ProCarve Pro, WSL, Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 event kicked off today in difficult one-foot surf at Maroubra. Competition saw the opening rounds of getting underway in shifty peaks for the first event of the WSL APAC regional QS.

Philippa Anderson progresses through Round 2 at the 2020 Carve Pro Philippa Anderson cruising into Round 3. - WSL / Ethan Smith

2019 Carve Pro Champion Philippa Anderson showed some of the same skills that saw her win last year's event as she progressed through her Round 2 heat. The Novocastrian natural-footer found a handful of playful walls that saw her progress through the heat in the runner-up position behindPiper Harrison who took out the heat win. Anderson attributed the 2019 Carve Pro victory to the momentum that saw her finish in 14th on the 2019 WSL QS ranking at the end of last year.

"This event is always an event I look forward to every year," said Anderson. "This is the perfect competition to start the new year and hopefully get some momentum going for the bigger QS events in Newcastle and Manly. It's awesome that Carve, Surfing NSW and WSL have recognised this for Australian surfers and put this event on and also made it equal with prize money."

Piper Harrison progresses through Round 1 at the 2020 Carve Pro Piper Harrison taking top spot to progress with Anderson. - WSL / Ethan Smith

Fellow Round 2 women's standouts included Saffi Vette and Sarah Baum who both posted two-wave heat totals in excess of 12.70 to claim wins and earn their position into round three.

Another former event champion, 2018 Carve Pro winner Shane Campbell shone in his opening round exchange today, with the natural-footer executing a handful of powerful snaps and hits to finish the heat with a respectable 12.75 two-wave combination and win the heat convincingly. Campbell will meet Theo Julitte, Jed Fasso, and Grayson Hinrichs in round two tomorrow.

"I always love competing at Maroubra Beach for this event," said Campbell. "I seem to have a good relationship with this beach since claiming that sneaky win a few years back. I think it feels a bit better because I don't think I feel much pressure coming into this competition, especially since I'm not actively trying to qualify or anything. I felt really relaxed in that heat and the waves just seemed to come to me, so hopefully, that rhythm will continue in the next few heats."

Shane Campbell progresses through Round 1 at the 2020 Carve Pro Shane Campbell over powering the small surf on Day 1 at Maroubra. - WSL / Ethan Smith
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