Whatshot

2025
2024
June
April
2023
March
2022
2021
2020
March
February
2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
October
September
August
July

World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series

World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series

Date: 2019-03-01

Tuncurry, New South Wales, Australia where Ella Williams of New Zealand has claimed her maiden World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) victory, taking out the Women's division at the 2019 Mothernest Great Lakes Pro in heavy four-to-six foot surf at Tuncurry.

Williams' ability to consistently post decent scores on longer running lefts, proved to be an advantage as she moved past Cannelle Bulard (FRA) in the Semifinals and Zahli Kelly (Cabarita, NSW) in the final. The Kiwi goofy-foot performed a mix of powerful forehand snaps in the final against Kelly, posting a decent 13.50 two-wave heat total to claim her first QS victory by less than a two-point margin.

"This is a fantastic feeling and so exciting," said Williams. "The waves were pumping out there and I couldn't be happier to get this win. The lefts came into my favour as I could use my forehand predominately. Where I'm from in Whangamata, is a left hand sandbar, so I was quite comfortable out there."

Despite moments of brilliance in the final, Kelly was unable to find the necessary seven-point ride required to top Williams. Nevertheless, Kelly walks away from the Mothernest Great Lakes Pro, with her head held high and confident going into the upcoming Vissla Central Coast Pro and Vissla Sydney Surf Pro QS events. "That feels like a good start to the year and definitely got the momentum going heading into the next events," said Kelly.

Former Championship Tour surfer Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW) stamped his authority on his round five heat with a series of backhand gauges to claim a near-perfect 9.6 scoring wave. As a result, Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW) claimed the AirAsia Wave Of The Day for his impeccable performance.