It's that time again, when the competitive surfing world descends on the shores of Australia for the first leg of the Championship Tour. And joining all the familiar faces this year will be 2020 rookie Isabella Nichols.
With a powerful hook like Carissa Moore and a graceful flow like Stephanie Gilmore, the 22-year-old is about to test her chops against the world's best at the upcoming Corona Gold Coast Open.
"My plans for the Australian leg [are] to start off doing three of the QS' before the CT starts," Nichols recently told the WSL. "I feel like these three contests I'm going to use to kind of get my mind back into the game, refresh on everything and get my mind sharp and my tactics sharp and hopefully get a good run into the CT season."
One of those three events she's referring to is the upcoming Sydey Surf Pro, part of the newly minted Challenger Series.
Nichols has also been putting in the hard yards in the off-season through training, surfing new boards and even traveling to West Oz to get out of her comfort zone. "I went to Margaret River to practice at the break there because I had never been," Nichols said, adding that she's, "trying to gather intel for the coming season."
She also recently re-upped with longtime sponsor Billabong, giving her added piece of mind as she embarks of her 2020 campaign.
But back to the Gold Coast. Nichols is seeded in the opening heat of the event, where she is currently set to face off in a trial by fire against World Champs Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore. She's got the goods on Goldie though, having surfed the event in 2019 as a wild card where she finished 9th, taking down Gilmore in their Round One heat in the process.
At a competition known for predicting World Titles runs, sending either Wright or Gilmore packing to the Elimination Round would be a big statement for the rookie from Coolum Beach. Nichols is looking ready for action, but even she knows, it's all theoretical till you make your debut on the big stage.
"I won't know until the first heat, but I feel like I'm prepared and ready for the year."
Straight In The Deep End For Nichols
Sean Martin
It's that time again, when the competitive surfing world descends on the shores of Australia for the first leg of the Championship Tour. And joining all the familiar faces this year will be 2020 rookie Isabella Nichols.
With a powerful hook like Carissa Moore and a graceful flow like Stephanie Gilmore, the 22-year-old is about to test her chops against the world's best at the upcoming Corona Gold Coast Open.
"My plans for the Australian leg [are] to start off doing three of the QS' before the CT starts," Nichols recently told the WSL. "I feel like these three contests I'm going to use to kind of get my mind back into the game, refresh on everything and get my mind sharp and my tactics sharp and hopefully get a good run into the CT season."
One of those three events she's referring to is the upcoming Sydey Surf Pro, part of the newly minted Challenger Series.
Nichols has also been putting in the hard yards in the off-season through training, surfing new boards and even traveling to West Oz to get out of her comfort zone. "I went to Margaret River to practice at the break there because I had never been," Nichols said, adding that she's, "trying to gather intel for the coming season."
She also recently re-upped with longtime sponsor Billabong, giving her added piece of mind as she embarks of her 2020 campaign.
But back to the Gold Coast. Nichols is seeded in the opening heat of the event, where she is currently set to face off in a trial by fire against World Champs Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore. She's got the goods on Goldie though, having surfed the event in 2019 as a wild card where she finished 9th, taking down Gilmore in their Round One heat in the process.
At a competition known for predicting World Titles runs, sending either Wright or Gilmore packing to the Elimination Round would be a big statement for the rookie from Coolum Beach. Nichols is looking ready for action, but even she knows, it's all theoretical till you make your debut on the big stage.
"I won't know until the first heat, but I feel like I'm prepared and ready for the year."
Isabella Nichols
Robinson, Nichols, McGillivray, Cibilic and Tsuzuki prepare for their maiden season on the Championship Tour.
Gabriela Bryan, Carissa Moore, Sally Fitzgibbons and Amuro Tsuzuki are among the standouts on Day 1 of the Sydney Surf Pro.
Teahupo'o a 2024 Olympic venue, Isabella Nichols' CT preparation, The Wedge comes to life and Kelly Slater's Pipeline bodysurf.
2020 Championship Tour rookie Isabella Nichols' Indonesia training mission, and a tough question for a QS surfer: Pipe or Anchor Bay?
Some of the hottest clips dropped in 2019, featuring Russell Bierke, Noa Deane, Ian Crane, Isabella Nichols and Josie Prendergast.
News
The two-time World Champ surprised his buddies with a trip to the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch, described as "one of the funnest days ever".
In the latest episode of The Lineup, Tanner Gudauskas looks back at his win over Kelly Slater as a Wildcard at the 2014 Hurley Pro Trestles.
From training, to nutrition, to helping make the world a healthier place, Peterson is making the most of her time these days.
The Portuguese charger has a new video series called "Von Froth," which offers a unique perspective as he chases monster swells.
Season 2, Episode 3
With the stakes higher than ever, Gilmore and Igarashi charge deep into the contest and face off against dangerous World Title contenders.