Contrasting conditions benefited competitors on day two of the Mandurah Pro on Monday, with a complete turnaround in conditions on offer for the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) event.
Men’s quarter finals and women’s semi finals were confirmed after an exciting day of competition surfing at Avalon Point.
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Mandurah’s premiere wave location threw up clean, consistent and powerful left hand waves, which provided multiple scoring sections and heaps of opportunity for surfers.
Men’s quarter finalists were decided after a morning of excellent performances that were highlighted by youngster Morgan Cibilic (Merewether, AUS), who posted the highest individual score and highest combined total of the event so far.
Cibilic found the very best waves on offer at Avalon and threw vertical backhand turns to post an 8.50 (from a possible 10) and backed it up with a 7.00 (from a possible 10) to finish with a two-wave total of 15.50 (from a possible 20).
Sheldon Simkus (Gold Coast, AUS), Samson Coulter (Manly, AUS) and Liam O’Brien (Burleigh Heads, AUS) all looked sharp on their way to booking a quarter finals birth.
Slade Prestwich (Durban, ZAF) powered his way through the final eight with a high-speed display of on rail surfing.
The last international competitor remaining in the event, Prestwich was thrilled to be in Mandurah for the first time and into the quarters.
“It’s been a great day, amazing waves and weather compared to yesterday,” he said.
“I’ve never been here before but the scenery and waves have been really fun, I look forward to heading south towards Yallingup for the next event too.”
West Australian trio Jacob Willcox (Margaret River, AUS), Luke Campbell (Margaret River, AUS) and Duke Nagtzaam (Yallingup, WA) all progressed to the quarter finals and will have a wave of local support behind them as they attempt to secure a win for WA.
In the women’s event Sophie Fletcher (Phillip Island, AUS) will take on Laura Macaulay (Gracetown, AUS) in semi final one, while Emma Cattlin (Yallingup, AUS) will take on Alyssa Lock (Gold Coast, AUS) in semi final two.
Fletcher overcame Claire Bevilacqua (ITA) in quarter final one and she was over the moon to take down one of the event favourites in a close fought heat that was decided by less than a point.
“I’m stoked to be here in Mandurah and to make it to finals day is great,” she said.
“Claire is such an amazing competitor and that was a real close one that could have gone either way.”
Fletcher will take on Laura Macaulay who defeated Coral Durant (Red Bluff, AUS).
With just ten heats remaining, the inaugural Mandurah Pro Champions will be crowned just before lunchtime on Tuesday with clean offshore winds forecast and hopefully enough swell lingering to utilise Avalon Point.
A call will be made at 7am tomorrow morning with start times and locations confirmed then.
All heats and results will be available live via worldsurfleague.com
