Three of Australia’s four Olympic surfers fail to make an impact in Tahiti ahead of a return for the Games in July
The pre-Olympics sighter for a trio of Australian surf stars didn’t go as planned with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright bundled out in the quarter-finals at Teahupoʻo as Brazilian rival Tatiana Weston-Webb delivered the first ‘perfect 10’ in Tahiti by a woman showing what could in store in July.
Picklum, the world No.3, has been drawn to take on Weston-Webb and Bells Beach champ Caitlin Simmers in her opening Olympic heat which were revealed on Thursday as
local hero, wildcard, and new gold medal favourite Vahine Fierro took out the Tahiti Pro.
Jack Robinson, who is also set to make his Olympic debut for Australia, was also bundled out early after competitors waited days for good swell which arrived in a big way in French Polynesia where they will all return for the Games
The only member of the Australia’s Olympic quartet to progress from the opening rounds was Ethan Ewing who set up a Round of 16 showdown with 11-time world champ Kelly Slater, who was given a wildcard in to the event as part of his surfing swan song.
But the highlight of the day’s surfing belonged to Weston-Webb who delivered what the World Surfing League described it as “quite possibly one of the best barrels ever ridden in competition”.
Weston-Webb’s barrel came in her semi-final against Fierro laying down a marker for the Olympics.
“It was obviously a bomb [with] really good direction,” she said.
“I knew I needed to go and get a good score to try and make the heat and when I was paddling and looking down, I was [thinking] ‘just make the drop and then you can barrel’.
“I caught a little edge and then from there I was just like ‘stay calm’ and all of a sudden it was just a little tunnel. When I came out I couldn’t believe it. I was just beyond myself screaming… This is women’s surfing. We’re doing it. I feel like I won the contest but obviously I didn’t.”
Olympic officials have locked in a 15-day window to get the surfing done for the games to ensure competition takes place in the best conditions possible.
The men’s competition is likely to resume on Friday.
Originally published as Three of Australia’s four Olympic surfers fail to make an impact in Tahiti ahead of a return for the Games in July
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