Mateia Hiquily of Tahiti was one of the stars of round 3 of the men's competition in the Australian Open of Surfing at Manly this week. Picture: © Lucas Palma @skids.com.brFinals loom in Australian Open of Surfing
After three days and three rounds of intense surfing in the Men’s QS6000, just 24 surfers remain in contention for the finals of the 2016 Australian Open of Surfing, taking place at Manly this week.
As the open moves towards the weekend and Sunday's finals, some of the highest-rated surfers - Mateia Hiquily of Tahiti, Jesse Mendes of Brazil and Jonathan Gonzalez of the Canary Islands - all progressed today with strong showings.
Hiquily, runner-up at last year’s Australian Open of Surfing, had a decisive win over Robson Santos (BRA), Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) and local Sydneysider Connor O’Leary (Cronulla) in Round 3.
The conditions early in the day were tricky, with a strong rip creating multiple peaks, forcing surfers to keep busy and select numerous waves to earn their scores.
In day six action in the Aussie Bodies Women’s Pro, defending champion and Narabeen sufer Laura Enever headed up an impressive list of who won heats and progressed into Round 5.
The conditions early in the day were tricky, with a strong rip
creating multiple peaks, forcing surfers to keep busy and select numerous waves to earn their scores.
Defending women's champion Laura Enever clocked up a 9.40 wave score in beating former world champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the hardest heat of the day to progress to round 5. Picture: © owenphoto.com.au
In day six action in the Aussie Bodies Women’s Pro, defending champion and Narabeen sufer Laura Enever headed up an impressive list of who won heats and progressed into Round 5.
Enever took out one of the most stacked heats of the round, claiming victory over former world champion Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), current world junior champion Isabella Nichols (Coolum, Qld) and Japan’s Reika Noro.
Enever dropped an excellent 9.40 wave score and edged ahead of Nichols to win what was a seesawing battle.