QS Update: Which Aussies Are Left at Haleiwa?
Mitch Crews! Photo: WSL/Heff
COASTALWATCH | NICK CARROLL
Some fantastic surfing in very solid Haleiwa today, and a couple of painful losses for Australian QS contenders. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: Jack Robinson got nowhere near the best surfer in the event so far, Barron Mamiya, and dipped out with a fourth in round three. That’s worth 1000 points and doesn’t change Jack’s position (20th) on the QS list. He’ll need a final at Sunset to qualify for – maybe a top two placing, by the way some other guys are going. The other painful loss was Jacob Willcox who surfed a great round four heat, a lot of backside power and drive, only to be caught up in one of those Kelly Slater hoodoo moments. Kelly rode a miniboard in 8-10’ surf and looked skitty and mad, before stunning the panel at the last minute with a single top turn that his miniboard shouldn’t have allowed. Jacob will add to his total, but will need about what Jack does at Sunset to qualify.
Caleb Tancred got shut out with a priority interference earlier in the day and stays out of the top 20 conversation for now.
Morgan Cibilic bowed out in round four too, Morgan will jump a coupla places but the people he needs to beat are already further into this event than he is.
Connor O’Leary survived a wobbly performance to make finals day and will probably lock down his qualification right here. The Aussies who lit it up were the ones a bit far off the qualification mark at present — Mitch Crews, with a dazzling effort nudging out Zeke Lau for one, and Ethan Ewing who got the best of the early swell energy and absolutely showcased it, pretty sick. And my gosh big Wade, who blitzed everything he touched. He coulda won two heats with his single heat score.
He’ll go into finals day a big chance of a win along with Barron Mamiya and Michel Bourez, who both surfed the house down in the last heat of a great day. If you want to watch just one heat from the day, watch that one.
Swells like this one tend to back down pretty quick — tomorrow might still be 4-6’ but another good swell from a similar angle is expected on Sunday Hawaii time, don’t be surprised if they decide to wait.
SEE ALSO: Nick's breakdown of the Aussie men's chances of nailing the QS in these last two Hawaiian events
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