Australia’s Molly Picklum has won her first World Surf League title, taking out the event at Hawaii’s Sunset Beach, and will now share the yellow jersey with Carissa Moore as the overall rankings leader.
Key points:
- Molly Picklum reached her first WSL final by defeating fellow Aussie Tyler Wright in the semifinal
- Picklum, 20, defeated American Caroline Marks 10.90 to 9.90 in the final
- Pipeline winner Jack Robinson was beaten in the semifinals by US competitor Griffin Colapinto
Competing in her first championship tour final, the 20-year-old won a thriller against American Caroline Marks, with the Hurley Pro decider coming down to the wire.
Picklum — from the NSW central coast — scored 10.90 to edge out Marks, who posted a two-wave total of 9.90.
She had to eliminate Australia’s two-time world champion, Tyler Wright, in the semis as well as defending champion Brisa Hennessy on Sunday to make the final.
It looked like an error by Picklum with 90 seconds left on the clock might hand the 21-year-old Floridian the title, when the Australian lost priority after making a start to paddle on to a wave.
However, Marks was unable to make the most of the late opportunity to find the winning score to join Moore as number one in the rankings.
Australia’s Jack Robinson maintained that status in the men’s rankings, despite making a semifinal exit.
Picklum said it was a difficult final to navigate.
“I’m pretty baffled — it was pretty slow and then it was just a big flurry of waves at the end,” Picklum said post-win.
“I’m super-stoked to have taken it out. This event so challenging.”
Picklum missed the mid-season cut last year, when the women’s field was reduced to 12, and had to battle her way back through the challenger series.
She showed her promise last December when she became the first non-Hawaiian women’s winner of the invitational Vans Pipe Masters in Oahu.
“I’m proud myself for just chipping away, and [keeping] trying, even though there’s so many setbacks and so many emotions and mind games in it all,” Picklum said.
“Moments like these make it all worth it.”
Moore — who won the Billabong Pro at nearby Pipeline earlier this month — was a quarter-final elimination but held on to the yellow jersey, along with Picklum.
The youngster said she wanted to keep a hold of the leaders’ jersey right through to the WSL Finals at Trestles later in the year.
“It is just a jersey colour but I’m stoked to be on the top because it’s honestly where I want to be and where I believe I can be,” she said.
“The end goal is Trestles. So, hopefully, I’m wearing it all of this year.”
AAP/ABC
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