2006 Barra. 2010 Lowers. 2017 J-Bay. 2019 Keramas. Could this year’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro join the upper echelon of most high performance surf events ever? I think after today, the argument is there.
I just got home from judging a contest of my own and pulled up the webcast to see Ethan Ewing throw down a 9 against Italo in R3 H2. Great timing. Waves are insane. Dare I say, perfect? This must be what they were talking about when they said ‘Dream Tour’.
Before we get into it, let’s recap the end of the day yesterday. Might I remind you that conditions were different for these last few heats – the first 3 Heats of Womens R2. Still pumping, still Snapper, but different. More tapered, not as groomed, less barrels, etc. You remember.
WOMEN
ROUND 2
HEAT 1
Gabby Bryan vs. Sally Fitzgibbons
It’s easy to say that Sally was outmatched in this heat, but nearly every Woman on Tour is outmatched by Gabby right now. Her turns are on a different level. Sally was ripping. She had a sick little straight air in the middle of a nice combo of turns for a 7.17. Gabby’s 8.83 though, I don’t know if I have ever seen a lady surf a wave better than this. Ridiculous stuff.
HEAT 2
Carolina Marks vs. Nadia Erostarbe
If Nadia beating Alyssa in R1 was the upset of that round, what should we call this? Caroline seemed to be on waves that had a strange wonk and warble to them. I think she was looking for the inside section double ups. She found one, only it was her last wave of the Heat, a bit too late. Nadia was on, specifically one, much better wave. She capitalized and dropped a straight 8. She had Caroline combo’d at one point in this heat. Another impressive Win for the Rookie.
HEAT 3
Caity Simmers vs. Vahine Fierro
If you watch the first wave of the heat for each surfer, it looks like Caity is going literally twice the speed of Vahine. Which is interesting because Vahine’s board looked quite a bit bigger too. An interesting contradiction. Caity maybe looked a bit mor sporadic, but her creativity and variety can not be denied. Vahine’s timing was really on point. Maybe it was the board? She held the lead for a bit before Caity dropped a 7.43 on a runner.
Now this was announced to be the last Heat of the day. Just under the 5 minute mark, right after Caity sends it on one of the biggest waves of the day and gets smoked, the jet ski’s pick up both surfers. The Heat goes on hold because of a reported Bull Shark nearby, and a decision is made to resume the Heat from that same time and situation the next morning.
Unfortunately for Vahine, she didn’t even get a chance to ride a wave. As Ronnie Blake put it from the booth, that happens often – presurf absolutely firing, only for it to (temporarily) shut off as soon as the event starts. Caity keeps her lead and Wins.
So here we are today, back on for the rest of the Women’s Round 2. The waves are absolutely firing. Jack Robinson got two insane barrels in the freesurf, and you just know it’s going to be a great day of surfing.
ROUND 2 CONT.
HEAT 4
BettyLou vs. Stephanie Gilmore
Very close heat that could have gone either way – as they all are. One can’t help but to think about Local Juice. She is the Queen. Everyone including the commentators knew that Steph would need to be on the better waves than BettyLou to Win. It was back-and-forth, and super close, but Steph gets the win at Home by 0.14 points.
HEAT 5
Molly Picklum vs. Yolanda Hopkins
This was going to be a big fight for YoYo. Molly is obviously the reigning World Champ, and while she might be more recognized for her strength in bigger waves, she fucking shreds. You can’t Win a World Title without being able to rip. Picklum over Yolanda, and it wasn’t particularly close.
HEAT 6
Isabella Nichols vs. Sawyer Lindblad
This one was nearly just as close as the Steph/BettLou heat. Sawyer was throwing absolute buckets of water off her snaps. Very well timed and placed. She held a commanding lead in this Heat, with Izzy needing over a 9 to take the lead. Nichols can really lean on the rail through her turns, and then snap it shut off the tail. It’s an interesting looking turn, efficient. She battles back dropping a huge number, 8.83, tying Gabby Bryan for the highest single wave of the Round. The first snap on this wave was picture-esque. Right under the hook, right in the most critical spot on the wave and Izzy just cracked it for all it was worth. It came in just under what she was looking for – 9.16, but she was firmly in the Heat. Now needing just a 6, Sawyer plays defense and keeps Izzy off a burger. So she has a shot. Under a minute and a half, with prio, she turns and goes. Unable to get anything vertical and in the lip, the wave really let her down. Nichols does as many wraps as she can, but it was never going to be enough – 4.63. Sawyer advances.
HEAT 7
Lakey Peterson vs. Carissa Moore
It looks like my premonition came true. You will remember after Carissa beat Tya in R1 and had her emotional moment on the beach, I told you she would go on to Win the event, or lose the very next heat. An emotional ride like that either completely spends you, or completely recharges you, no in between.
Of everyone that surfed today, Carissa struggled the most. Longtime Frenemy Rival Lakey Peterson gets the Heat Win, handily. She is gaining points, and momentum.
HEAT 8
Luana Silva vs. Tyler Wright
Luana is in form right now. Maybe the best of her life. Tyler looked like she had lead feet in comparison to Lulu; the difference in speed was a stark contrast from the first wave, in my eyes. Luana held control of this Heat nearly start to finish. Tyler did well to battle back in the middle of the Heat, and after an exchange while numbers were dropping, she took the lead before Luana’s score dropped, and she lost the lead yet again. Silva dropped her best two waves to close out the Heat, really pinning her last one in the pocket 3 times in a row for a 7.50. Lulu is rolling.
MEN
ROUND 3
HEAT 1
Marco Mignot vs. Kauli Vaast
I found it funny – first Heat of the Men’s and they immediately go behind the Rocks, even though it was better down the way. Marco snuck in a quick little cheeky tube for a small score that wouldn’t matter, but the idea was there.
This was a tale of two Heats; Marco rode 15 waves while Kauli rode 3. Seven of those Fifteen that Marco was on – less than a point. Meaning, he was falling, often. He was going for some of the biggest air attempts I can recall seeing. The game plan was there, and I appreciated his go-for-it attitude. And it was literally the polar opposite for Kauli; 3 waves ridden, all 3 over a 5.50. Complete contrast in approach. Very interesting.
Kauli’s best ride came pretty late in the Heat, just over 10 minutes remaining, but it was a solid combo of 2 (borderline) major maneuvers, a sneaky runner pig dog tube, followed by 2 more, less dynamic turns to just touch the excellent range – straight 8.0. That put Marco in some trouble, and he finally had to switch up the plan. Needing a big number with time winding down, Marco goes for an alley-oop outside, and this time he sticks it. Follows it up with a down carve, sleepy wrap, and a nice closeout slam. The best part of the entire wave was the claim. I think he is throwing Gang Signs? Im not sure, but Mignot has my vote for best Claimer on Tour right now. Anyways, score comes in under the requirement. Needing an 8.23, judges throw him a 7.87 and the Loss. Kauli Vaast wins a tight one.
HEAT 2
Italo vs. Ethan Ewing
Hot and cold. Open and close. Day and Night. Italo and Ethan. Complete opposites.
17 waves for Italo – 11 waves under 1 point rides. A lot of quick in-and-outs, a few falls; he really couldn’t find what he was looking for.
On the other hand, Ethan’s first 3 waves – 7.33, 8.50, and 9.00. The 8.50 notably coming under priority, right after his 7.33. It was an uphill battle for Italo, and the 9 from Ethan was the nail in the coffin. This was the surfing we’ve all been waiting for from Ewing.
HEAT 3
Jake Marshall vs. Mateus Herdy
These guys took out the Cola Bros to meet in this matchup, and both were looking dangerous. Jake Marshall had the high score from R2, and Mateus seemingly hadn’t fully clicked yet, but still putting up 14+ point Heat totals in R1 & 2. Talent wise, I think it’s not a shocker to say Mateus had the Upper Hand, and he showed it on the first exchange. Marshall got the first wave and had a nice mix of maneuvers outside, but he fell on the finish, going for a pretty lofty straight air. Would have been a good score. Mateus, like I told you he would, stuck one of those open face, grab rail tail high reverses, and he Wins the opening exchange. A jab to a hook.
Mateus really wears his heart on his sleeve. When he gets it going with momentum, it’s palpable. And when he can’t get into rhythm, he snowballs downhill. This was a case of the former. Even though he did have a few falls and took a couple of burgers, the landing on that first wave gave him the room to breathe and the confidence to surf freely. He pushed the scoreline up and Marshall couldn’t get a good wave. Mateus takes out Heat 3.
HEAT 4
George Pittar vs. LOB
Huge matchup that was a bit of a letdown. At least for GP and fans. Liam was stoked. Almost straight off the hooter Liam threads through the longest tube we’ve seen of the event, mixes in a handful of different turns, pushing and leaning and snapping, finds yet another tube a little smaller and with a messier exit, and closes the wave out with a couple of extra turns. 9.00. Pittar was in a hole from that moment.
GP waits a lifetime to get his first wave. It’s not great, and LOB, that big brained genius he is, he goes directly behind Georgie to put him in deep shit. George drops a 5, and Liam a 6.33. That was all she wrote, although Liam would up the scoreline twice more with a 7, and finally an 8.50. The hometown kid is jiving.
HEAT 5
Callum Robson vs. Connor O’Leary
Interesting Heat here. I thought CalTex was going to grind his way into another QF. Connor waited forever to get his first wave, and Callum was surfing a lot, building some momentum, though not dropping any huge numbers. Connor was looking for something that wasn’t going to come, and he finally just started surfing. He actually grinned his way through this heat. The inside tracks were standing up, and O’Leary’s vertical, powerful backhand just outmatched Callum’s rail surfing in this one, by a fair bit – 14.60 to 9.60.
HEAT 6
Jack Robinson vs. Leonardo Fioravanti
I need to start giving more respect to Leo. Out of the Kanoa, Jack & Leo bunch, I’ve always felt he brought up the rear end, if we were to rank them, talent wise. Thing is, talent doesn’t always win Heats. Contests. Or World Titles. . .
This heat wasn’t the most exciting to watch. The boys let the Game get the better of them, and they pushed each other way too deep up the Rocks. Neither was able to get into a long stretched out wall, and the scoreline reflected. They were mostly surfing the inside racetracks, and Leo was able to get to more sections, advancing on over Robbo.
HEAT 7
Medina vs. Filipe
This was the Heat everyone had eyes on, and it did not disappoint. Filipe gave us a damn show. “Mediner” as Ronnie Blakey calls him, got the nod early. Being on the backhand he could squeeze in a ton of work on that inside section, much more than a regular footer could, and he knew to take advantage of that. Judges liked to see 7 in the pocket over Filipe’s upside down tail high reverse – 7.33 Medina, 5.50 Filipe.
Fil goes under prio and juices a small inside wave to take the Lead, and then it gets funny. Filipe gets the ski back out, goes almost behind the Rocks, up the point from Gabe, and gets completely coned. Comes flying out, over a section, and throws a 4 foot no grab full reverse. 9.17. Medina hears the crowd go nuts and hits the panic button; uses his priority on a terrible wave before Filipe is even out the back. This opens the Floodgates.
Medina immediately goes again, this time under Filipe’s priority, on a wonky insider that ran off without him. He turns around and has to duck dive Filipe’s bottom turn on the first of two of the most vicious turns of the event. Venomous. Lethal. Throwing every damn thing he had into it. Closes it out through the inside with some safe surfing that just assured the score, and Fil points out the back to Medina. 9.77.
18.94 Heat Total. Door Closed.
Filipe takes out the current World Number 1. Two Heats in a row he’s put up 18+. The World is taking note.
HEAT 8
Pupo vs. Pupo
I was excited for this Heat. Sammy is my double whammy surfer in Fantasy. I felt good about this matchup, but Miggy made me nervous. He belted his first wave right in the pocket, all the way down the line for a 7.50. Sammy, I think, was on the wave behind. The damn broadcast would pick up more than 5 minutes into a Heat and with scores already on the board, so we only get the replays and the catch up. Looked like the wave behind. Anyways, he rips 3 major maneuvers out the back that Richie Lovett compares to Filipe in the last heat. 9.17. Miggy gets a 4.67 as his backup, and Sammy is now sitting outside with Piority and the Lead. Feeling good again.
Sammy uses prio on the best wave that’s come through in the last hour, at least, and he puts a fork in his older brother; 8.60. Two huge blasts off the tail on the outside, and buttoned it up safely the rest of the way. This puts Miggy in handcuffs – a combo he would not break out of.
The waves are definitely starting to improve as this Heat is nearing a close, and Sammy applies more pressure. He wants to send Filipe a Warning Shot for the next round. He gets a sidewinder wedge and puts his weight on turns 2 and 3. The 2nd turn an arcing maneuver as high and tight on the lip line as one could go, carving all the way around the tight wedge pocket that Snapper so famously provides. The 3rd turn was similar to one of Filipe’s, a version of a layback tail kick, right in the hook, throwing massive buckets over the back of the wave. He cleans it up nicely through the inside, but he pushes through some of the finishing turns, not quite holding back. 9.77.
18.90 Heat Total.
Sammy vs. Filipe in the Quarters.
Woah.
WOMEN
QUARTERFINALS
HEAT 1
Gabby Bryan vs. Nadia Erostarbe
I have said this before, I am not a gambling man. If I was, however, I would have loved to seen the odds on this heat. Nadia had to be a massive underdog. Which means this was a massive upset.
That’s right, Rookie from Spain Nadia Erostarbe took out World Number 1, in form Gabriela Bryan. Gabby was throwing down her typical giant power gouges, but she was notably out on the Open Face, whereas Nadia was slamming it through the lip, vertically and in the critical section of the wave. Clear point of difference, which the judges clearly preferred. Nadia into the Semis, huge Win.
HEAT 2
Caity Simmers vs Steph Gilmore
A World Champion matchup, and a meeting of ‘Style Masters’ as Jesse Starling put it. Steph had the sickest double up tube ride in this heat, maybe my favorite of the event aside from LOB’s. I noticed the judges rewarding going into the lip and hitting the critical part of the wave, specifically for the Regular foots. Caity was carving more out on the shoulder, but her creative surfing will never get boring to watch. After her first wave, Caity sat and waited until there was only 3:30 left on the clock to try and get a 7.34. 30 minutes of waiting, and she picked a burger. After all of that time and that pressure building, with Steph free surfing around underneath her, this was going to be a big ask. She had a couple of last minute efforts, and got a couple of sick visions on her way out of the event. The Queen, onto the Semis.
HEAT 3
Molly Picklum vs. Sawyer Lindblad
Molly’s first wave was only two turns, but she attacked the lip. Even after almost poking the nose, she nets a 6.83. Solid score. After that she could not get in to a groove. An odd fall on a takeoff. She pushed one really hard under the lip but poked the nose. Meanwhile, Sawyer was tagging the lip line on the backhand, and was able to build into a nice scoreline of 14.76, and the Heat Win in the last heat of the day. Into the Semis for the second event in a row for Sawyer, stacking some results.
When the day started, Renato said it would be likely Finals Day tomorrow. He also mentioned another one of those Heritage Heats or some shit that they’ve been putting in at the events. This one is going to be Parko vs. Mick If the waves are still cooking, it should be a great watch.
I don’t even know how, I am having a hard time fathoming, but supposedly the waves might get even better. It makes no sense to me, the math isn’t mathing – as the kids would say.
I am finishing up my event as well today, so I won’t be tuning in until later in the day as well. Forgive me for the quick summaries on a few of the Heats. Busy weekend, but I’m trying to stay on top of it. Not too much of an ask when the waves are firing like they are.
Anyways. Same time tomorrow.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield