While Connor O’Leary is currently doing battle against the world’s best in the Tahiti Pro, back at home his fellow competitive surfers are also trying to finish their 2018 season on a high note.
Event No. 7 on the 2018 World Surf League Championship Tour, the Tahiti Pro, holds a critical position in the season for both the WSL title race as well as the battle to re-qualify for 2019.
Competition was called on Monday morning with building four-to-six foot waves at the world-famous Tahitian reef pass of Teahupo’o.
O’Leary surfed in heat 12 against American Conner Coffin and Brazilian Michael Rodrigues where he opened with a dominate 7.67 for the lead and built momentum all heat for a good first round win to advance to round three.
Ranked 27th, O’Leary’s seeding has changed and he will now meet higher-ranked surfers making early heat wins essential.
The small surf that has been on offer over the last month continued into the weekend where Cronulla Point and Sandshoes boardriders clubs had to postpone their August point score contests.
On the main beach Cronulla and Elouera boardriders held their point scores in small but contestable waves.
At the North Cronulla Alley, Cronulla had the best of the nor-east swell and surfed their 12 first round heats through the morning high tide before finishing at the low tide peak.
Esperance Coppleson won the women's event, the first final of the day. The under-13s was won by Cruz McKee. The most competitive under-16s division was taken out by Jordy Turansky. Almost wrapping up the opens point score was Jordan Widenstrom, taking down junior champs Jay Brown and Turansky in the final.
At Midway on the best bank Elouera Boardriders finished their August comp with a win to the top local WSL QS competitor Shane Campbell in the opens. Jarvis Earle took the juniors and Korbin Whyte the under-13s.
In smaller conditions on Sunday and unveiling their new tent, the North Cronulla Junior Boardriders Club’s Cruz McKee took his second prize of the weekend winning the under-16s.
Felix Smith won the under-12 boys, Pippi Simpson won the girls and Cooper Steen took out the micro groms division.
With 10 registered clubs and Surfing NSW events competing in Bate Bay it is a crowded competition schedule managed by Surfing Sutherland Shire and council lifeguards.
After another small week Cronulla surfers got an unexpected kick yesterday when a surprise south swell turned up out of the blue making everybody run for Wanda.
The wind turned light Nor East and the swell kicked for an afternoon of nice waves.
Magic seaweed predicts this swell to drop today under strong offshore winds to 1-2ft before picking up again Friday/Saturday to 3ft before the first proper swell for a month to hit on Monday-so get ready for some head high action.
Speaking of action the remaining nine heats of the Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o elimination Round 2 were completed in shifty three-to-five foot average waves yesterday.
Matt Wilkinson joined Julian Wilson on the sidelines as Australia looks to lose some more surfers.
Owen Wright, a perennial threat in left hand reef passes and current WSL No. 11, was commanding in his performance , posting a 14.27 out of a possible 20 in his Round 2 win over Joan Duru (FRA).
“It’s a shame the forecast isn’t really delivering for this year’s event but we all have to deal with the same conditions,” Wright said. “Even at this size, you can still find fun ones out at Teahupo’o. It’s great being here with my family and having my brother Mikey stay with us for the event. He’s been on a tear this season.”
Connor surfs in heat 10 against Michel Bourez when competition resumes, organizers have called a lay day today for the Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o with decreasing two-to-three foot surf on offer at the South Pacific reef pass.
