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Isabella Wins Down Under & The Hawaiian Pro Is Going Off
Isabella Wins Down Under & The Hawaiian Pro Is Going Off
Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, Isabella Nichols (AUS) clinched her first major World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) win, taking out the 2019 Port Stephens Toyota Pro presented by Sisstrevolution QS6,000 at Birubi Beach. Nichols took down fellow Australian Macy Callaghan (AUS)in the 35-minute final where the two went toe-to-toe in clean three-to-four foot waves for the last WSL Women's QS event of the 2019 season.
After finishing runner-up in the first two QS6,000 events of the year, Nichols was placed in a solid position to qualify for the elite Championship Tour and locked in her spot with a few events to go in the season. The only boxes left to tick were a major event win and to take the title of QS Champion for 2019. Today's win gifted Nichols both of these goals.
"Words can't even explain what I'm feeling right now," Nichols said, "Coming into this year I wanted to win a QS event which I've done now, but to win the entire series is so sick."
In Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, the third consecutive day of competition at the Hawaiian Pro unfolded as top-seeded surfers stole the show, each adding a new level of drama and expertise to the World Surf League (WSL) Men's Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 event. Triple overhead conditions ripped through Haleiwa Ali'i Beach as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing heated up with high-action surfing, including next-to-perfect performances from Jack Freestone (AUS) and Nat Young (USA).
JBay surfer Matt McGillivray is currently the highest ranked South African surfer in the Hawaiian Pro and on the International World Surf League's (WSL) Men's Qualifying Series (QS) rankings. Rated at number 14 in the world, McGillivray is within striking distance to qualify for the 2020 Championship Tour. The top 10 on the QS make the cut for the following year's 2020 tour.