Cronulla’s Shane Campbell has taken out the first event of the World Surf League Australian Qualifying Series leg for 2018, the Carve Pro at Maroubra Beach.
Campbell was a standout all event posting some of the highest totals and dominated the two-foot peaks on offer on finals day. He will leave Maroubra with 1000 QS points towards his 2018 campaign.
A natural-footed surfer, Campbell is the first non ‘goofy’ footer Cronulla local for a decade to make an impression on the World Qualifying series following his Elouera teammate Glen Pringle and Cronulla Boardriders Club’s Ross Marshall.
A Carve team rider, Campbell has spent the last three years on the QS tour upping his seed each and every year. After a number of QS runner-up finishes in the last couple of seasons, Campbell found himself in top spot for the first time.
Campbell came out swinging in the final, posting decent scores on his two opening waves – a 6.00 and a 8.25 – to gain the edge over Harley Ross who was left chasing a 7.26 wave score to snatch away his lead.
"I have had a couple of QS finals and came just short finishing in second which I found really frustrating,” Campbell said.
“My aim this year was to get another win so to do it in the first event of the season is really cool. It’s the best start when you’re going for a solid showing on the Qualifying Series. Coming from Cronulla, I have spent a bit of time in this area and am comfortable with the waves. This was definitely an advantage for me this week. I’m excited for the next event and to see what sort of a run I can get on in 2018.”
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian and international surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series.
The series also creates a NSW coastal road trip with the next contest the Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro at Cabarita Beach from January 31 to February 4.
Last weeks swell is now a distant memory in the “Nulla’ with small swell once again the order of the day, with the direction moving from the SE to the E then NE.
Swellnet predicts small peaky 2 ft swell all week with Nor East winds-but no great days due to a lack of size with next Monday looking much better as a new swell kicks in.
I took todays pics at Wanda where there is a decent little bank or two if you can negotiate the crowds and it is offshore in the mornings.
Elouera are one of six wildcard boardriders clubs which are set to shake up the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle Series V National Final at Newcastle Beach on February 17-18.
Torquay Boardriders Club (VIC), Elouera Boardriders Club (NSW), North Narrabeen Boardriders Club (NSW), Culburra Beach Boardriders Club (NSW), North Shelly Beach Boardriders(NSW) and Bondi Boardriders (NSW) will all contest the prestigious event that includes Australia’s best boardriders clubs-Elouera have a CT surfer in Connor O’Leary and Culburra have three Wright siblings!
In a sign of things to come ,the 2018 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship in Wanning, China has broken the athlete participation record. 71 longboarders from 22 nations have gathered at the renowned point break of Riyue Bay in Wanning, China to represent their nations and compete for Gold.
All five continents of the globe will be represented in the event, including the participation of non-traditional surfing nations such as China, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Israel, and Russia.
Heading into the last two days of competition, Team USA and Australia lead the team rankings with all surfers remaining in the competition. Behind the leaders, the race for medals is tight with South Africa, Brazil Portugal, England, Peru, and Japan separated by a mere 60 potential points.