Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Carissa Moore Photo: WSL/Dunbar

The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), saw a dramatic day in its first elimination rounds in three-to-four foot surf at Merewether.

All surfers in the Top 5, except for World Champions Carissa Moore (HAW) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), fell early in today’s elimination rounds, including current World No. 1 Tyler Wright (AUS), No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons(AUS), No. 3 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), and No. 5 Lakey Peterson(USA).

Stephanie Gilmore Photo: WSL/Dunbar

World No. 1 Tyler Wright Eliminated Early from Newcastle

Wright, the two-time WSL Champion, leaves Newcastle in equal 9th place after falling short to Californian Courtney Conlogue (USA) in Heat 4 of the Round of 16. Wright immediately opted to surf the inside, while Conlogue kept to the outside sets. Conlogue’s decision secured her a strong lead with a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) and 5.30 backup score. Wright was unable to find the 6.64 required to advance.

“I got out there and saw that she had picked the inside as her gameplan and I understand why, but I was happy to sit out the back on my own,” Conlogue said. “I do like bigger, open-face turns and there were plenty of waves like that out the back. It actually reminded me of Bells when I rocked up this morning, which was nice. Bells came to us instead. I’m just stoked to have some swell here today and have competition underway. I’m feeling very grateful at the moment.”

“Strategy-wise, I feel like we did a great job,” Wright said. “There’s not much I’d actually change from that heat. I was only a few meters off missing two critical waves, which I could have converted into the 6.50 that I needed. As you can see, it’s a pretty big playing field out there and split between the inside and outside so I rolled the dice which didn’t work but Courtney (Conlogue) also surfed really well and made the most of her opportunities. I’ve had a really fun time here in Newcastle so will probably hang around here before the next event and keep having a good time with the family. I’m just so happy to be back home and competing. I feel really lucky.”

Keely Andrew, Isabella Nichols, and Bronte Macaulay Breakthrough to Quarterfinals

After a near-miss in the Elimination Round, Sunshine Coaster Keely Andrew(AUS) was looking for redemption when she took on event standout Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Round of 16. Andrew took down the perennial title threat and will now progress into the Quarterfinals. Andrew looked sharp in the matchup, easily beating Fitzgibbons with a commendable 14.23 heat total (out of a possible 20). Andrew puts some of her performance down to the mock heats she surfed in the lead-up to the event with two-time WSL World Champion Gabriel Medina, who shares coach Andy King.

“It felt like I was building into that heat,” Andrew said. “I had an average result in a Qualifying Series event a few weeks ago then my first two rounds here weren’t great, so it felt good to put a heat together like that, especially against Sally (Fitzgibbons) as she’s such an awesome competitor. I’ve been working a lot with my coach Andy King along with Seth Moniz and Gabriel Medina, which is really fun and really pushing my surfing and forcing me to go harder which is great.”

CT rookie Isabella Nichols (AUS) has marked the highest placing in her career so far with a Quarterfinal entry. Nichols eliminated World No. 3 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Round of 16 and will now face seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the first Quarterfinal matchup.

“The start of that heat I was really going about it the wrong way,” Nichols said. “I was taking off on the wrong waves and bogging my rails, and I kind of had to actually give myself a pep-talk. Once I worked out the scores were coming from big turns out the back, I realized these are the conditions I love and if I found a wave to open up on that was all the opportunity I’d need. I love surfing against Tatiana (Weston-Webb) as I’ve surfed the most against her and she beats me every time, so she definitely pushes me more than anyone so it was exciting to come up against her. I have never surfed against Steph (Gilmore) so I’m really excited to come up against her when competition recommences.”

After a disappointing end to the 2019 season, perennial title hopeful Lakey Peterson (USA) is still yet to put herself in the World Champion conversation in 2021 after backing up a 5th at Maui with an equal 9th at Merewether today. Peterson was unable to find a rhythm against the lethal backhand attack of Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and will head to the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic looking for no less than a Quarterfinal finish as she looks to get her 2021 season back on track.

Conor O'Leary Photo: WSL/Meirs

O’Leary Celebrates Connection To His Japanese Heritage with Updated Jersey

Connor O’Leary (AUS) narrowly escaped elimination in the final heat of the men’s Elimination Round, dispatching CT rookie Matthew McGillivray (ZAF). O’Leary and Michel Bourez (FRA) now advance to the Round of 32 where they will face Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Griffin Colapinto (USA), respectively.

Throughout his heats in Newcastle, O’Leary has sported a jersey with dual flags: Australia, representative of his home country, and Japan, representing his Japanese heritage. The Japanese flag is also a tribute to his mother, Akemi, who passed a love of competitive surfing down to her son alongside the knowledge and appreciation of his Japanese heritage.

"My mum is Japanese and I have a deep connection to the culture, country, and its people – especially the fans in Japan,” said O’Leary. "Australia will always be the country I represent because I have grown up here and lived here my whole life, but the other half of me is Japanese."

The gesture of the dual flags is just one way to show how proud he is of his Japanese heritage.

"My mum has a huge surfing background, she used to compete back in the day when she was in her 20s and 30s at a professional level. Dad also surfed, but not competitively," continued O'Leary. "It hopefully inspires a lot of young Japanese athletes. The sky is the limit."

Leonardo Fioravanti Photo: WSL/Meirs

Near-Perfect Score for Fioravanti, Wright and Wilson Escape Early Elimination

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) flew out of the Elimination Round with the highest single-wave score of the event so far, a near-perfect 9.00 (out of a possible 10), and the best combined, two-wave total of the men’s heats so far, a 15.67 (out of a possible 20). Fioravanti in first and Conner Coffin (USA) in second, Jadson Andre (BRA) was eliminated in equal 17th place.

Olympic qualifiers Owen Wright (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) found success in the first and second heats of the Elimination Rounds, respectively. Wright’s opening heat saw injury replacement Matt Banting (AUS) lose in third, while Wilson’s heat sent Mikey Wright (AUS) out of the event.

Watch LIVE
All the action from the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow, Wednesday, April 7, at 6:45 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:05 a.m. start.

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 13.00 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 6.63, Malia Manuel (HAW) 3.67
HEAT 2: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.34 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.00, Sage Erickson (USA) 5.30

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 10.93
HEAT 2: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 14.10 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.53
HEAT 3: Keely Andrew (AUS) 14.23 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.23
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.30 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.74
HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.93 DEF. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.34
HEAT 6: Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.60 DEF. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.23
HEAT 7: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 10.83 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 8.33
HEAT 8: Caroline Marks (USA) 8.66 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 7.93

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA)
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)
HEAT 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA)

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Elimination Round 2 Results:
HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.77 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.66, Matt Banting (AUS) 11.00
HEAT 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.80 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 10.90, Mikey Wright (AUS) 8.67 HEAT 3: Michel Bourez (FRA) 13.34 DEF. Connor O'Leary (AUS) 11.33, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 8.43
HEAT 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.67 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 12.33, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.40

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Connor O'Leary (AUS)
HEAT 2: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
HEAT 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
HEAT 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
HEAT 7: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 8: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 10: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

GB Surfing

GB Surfing

Photo: Sharpy

The Scottish Surfing Federation (SSF) has confirmed today that the postponed qualification event for the GB Surfing Team (who will go to the Olympic qualifiers in May) due to take place last year, has been given the green light by authorities to take place in Thurso on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April 2021.

The event will bring the home nation surfing federations of England, Scotland and Wales together as their surfers (4 men and 4 women from each federation) battle it out for the 6 spots on the GB Team going to the Olympic qualifier in May ahead of surfing making its long-awaited debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer.

This special event, the first time it has taken place in Caithness since the 80s and the first time the event has been back in Scotland since 1992 will be hosted by the SSF with support from the local North Shore Surf Club. It will be one of the first events to take place this year as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

The event will follow Government guidance and will be subject to very thorough and stringent Covid-19 protocols.

This elite sport event which is part of the 2020 Olympics qualification pathway will be closed to spectators but the surfing action will be broadcast via a live stream on the Scottish Surfing Federation’s website: thessf.com

Jason Simpson, chairman at the Thurso based North Shore Surf Club said: “The event is a welcome boost for our newly built surf club hut at Thurso-East as the revenue provided from the Scottish Surfing Federation for the use of the facility at events like this is important for the building’s upkeep and maintenance. We are also very proud to have so many NSSC athletes represented on the Scottish team and are excited to see if any of them can make it onto the GB Olympic Surfing Team.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland said: “We are delighted to be supporting the British Surfing Championships & British Cup as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21. Scotland offers the perfect stage for sport and the Thurso coastline will provide a dramatic backdrop to this Team GB qualifying event.”

William Watson, president of the Scottish Surfing Federation said: “This event would not be possible without the support of our main sponsors who we would like to give a huge thanks to: Highland Council, Caithness & North Sutherland Fund and EventScotland as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

Event Organiser, Pat Kieran MBE, said: “This event will be unlike any other in previous years with the new normal we are now living in. However, we are delighted to be able to offer surfers across the UK this opportunity and have been working very closely with the SportScotland Institute of Sport who are guiding us through the very stringent path for government approval to allow this to happen.”

Iona McLachlan, who is the current Scottish Women’s Champion and the owner of local surf school North Coast Watersports based out of Dunnet, said: “It has been a real shame that other surfing competitions have not been able to go ahead due to Covid, so it will be really exciting to get the chance to compete again.”

Andrew MacKay of the Pentland and Caithness Collection Hotels, said: “SSF events have been hosted at our hotel annually for the past few years, so the return of competitive surfing to Thurso; albeit a smaller event with many restrictions; is a welcomed boost for our businesses and we look forward to looking after the travelling elite surfers that will participate, whilst also ensuring they are Covid safe and fed, whilst being able to adhere to the sporting quarantine rules throughout the competition until their departure.”

Easter kegs

Easter kegs

Got a few minutes for some hollow French kegs, straight out of Hossegor, hell yes you have. Featuring Joan Duru, Miky Picon, Patrick Beven, Sam Piter, Noe & Tom Ledee, Jao Errera and more.

JustForNow

JustForNow

Ryan Callinan is lucky to still have surfing on his doorstep at Merewether as an escape from coronavirus isolation that has plagued the planet. Let's move on from that negativity and delve into this beautifully shot edit with Newcastles finest Mr Callinan.

Insta VS Reality

Insta VS Reality

Surviving an Irish winter isn't all sunshine and barrels... You have to put in the hard years surviving endless howling onshores, rogue tides, ever changing winds, freezing sideways hail...The stuff you don't see on Insta... But when it comes together it is on!

G Man runs us through his life of Insta vs Reality in EP 1. The first of a five part series.

Produced & filmed
Clem Mc Inerney

Additional footage
Ray McDaid

Music
‘It’s Alright’
Enda Gallery (fka Delush) feat Strange boy

Claymation
Loopina Creative studio

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Rip Curl Newcastle Cup

Pictured: Hometown hero Ryan Callinan (AUS) tops opening day at the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona with the highest heat total. Credit: © WSL / Miers

The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), opened with the completion of men’s and women’s Seeding Round 1 in small and tricky conditions at Merewether. What lacked in the way of waves on Day 1 was made up for with incredible performances as the world’s best returned to CT competition in Australia for the first time in almost two years.

Local Hero Ryan Callinan Secures Highest Heat Score of Opening Day

Local favourite Ryan Callinan (AUS) got his hometown campaign off to a flying start by winning his opening round heat with the highest two-wave combination of Day 1. Callinan put on a perfect display of local knowledge, finding the best wave of each set and improving on each ride with his technical backside prowess to post a 15.26 heat total (out of a possible 20) to progress into the Round of 32. 

“We get really good crowds around the world who are always so supportive, but when it’s your home crowd there’s something so special about it,” Callinan said. “These aren’t the waves we have come here for, but it was still really fun and to be back competing and to find some decent scores. It’s so good to have these fans here. They bring such a good vibe to the event even if the conditions are sub-par. I’m really embracing it as it is such a special experience for me.” 
Callinan’s fellow locals, Morgan Cibilic (AUS), and wildcards Jackson Baker(AUS) and Philippa Anderson (AUS), also found success today and will progress into the third round with solid performances. Merewether-transplant Julian Wilson (AUS) will come back in the Elimination Round as he looks to enjoy the same success he did at this beach in 2020 when he won Newcastle Surfest. 

John John Florence. Credit: © WSL / Dunbar

World No. 1 John John Florence Brings Winning Momentum To Newcastle

Current World No. 1 John John Florence (HAW) has lauded the world over for his performances in big surf and waves of consequence, but today at Merewether, the two-time WSL Champion showed he has what it takes when the waves are small. Florence opted to ride a carbon-fiber constructed board in the tough conditions, which looked to work perfectly as he laid down his trademark rail-carves to post the second-highest two-wave combination of the day. Florence’s 14.56 (out of a possible 20) sees him move directly into the Round of 32 and slates him as a bigger threat than expected when surfing makes its Olympic debut later this year.

“The first heat back is always nerve-racking, but to be honest, I was more nervous a few days ago,” Florence said. “Yesterday I had a good warm-up surf and that made me a lot calmer coming into today. The small waves make it harder for sure but my equipment works well in weaker surf like this and small waves are an area I’ve been working on over the last few years, it also has a lot to do with coming in with the right mindset. I have fun in waves like this because it’s different to what I’m used to which keeps it interesting.”

Caroline Marks. Credit: © WSL / Dunbar

Caroline Marks Dominates Merwether on Day 1

Caroline Marks (USA) dominated Day 1 with the highest single-wave score of the event so far. Marks garnered an excellent 8.00 point ride (out of a possible 10) for a series of critical backhand snaps all the way to the beach. Marks’ success sent Brisa Hennessy (CRI) to Elimination Round 2.

“It’s so good to be back competing in Australia,” Marks said. “It’s been a few years, so it’s great to be back, as it’s definitely one of my favorite places in the world. It was definitely stressful getting here, but I’m happy to be healthy and back doing what I love. I’ve missed competing so much.”

Fellow Olympic qualifier and four-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore(HAW), was also a top-performer. Moore put on a power surfing clinic in her opening heat at Merewether, carving her way to an early win over Anderson and Sage Erickson (USA).

Moore wasn’t the only multiple World Title holder to find success in Round 1 with Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) also taking a solid victory in the smaller-than-hoped-for surf. The seven-time WSL Champion looked fired up as she kept busy all heat to overcome Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and Johanne Defay (FRA) in Heat 4 of Round 1.

Sally Fitzgibbons: © WSL / Miers

Sally Fitzgibbons Makes Strong Start on Road To the Rip Curl WSL Finals

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) set an impressive benchmark in the opening heat of women’s Round 1. The current World No. 3 posted a 14.00 point heat tally, which included a near-excellent 7.83 score (out of a possible 10) for her heat win. Like Florence, Fitzgibbons is renowned for her big wave surfing but her performance in today's fun peeling smaller waves reminded all just how good she surfs on the smaller days.

“I’m frothing! It’s so nice to be back competing and with a crowd on the beach, especially an Aussie one,” Fitzgibbons said. “Heat 1 is always exciting, so I definitely had a lot of energy going into that one. My preparation was good and I had a great free surf leading into that heat, so I was trying for some progressive moves that didn’t quite come off but I’ll definitely be trying for more of them in my next heat.”

Prior to the competition getting underway at Merewether, surfers and fans were treated to a moving Acknowledgement of Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Kevin McKenny of Wandiyali Group with Jackie Allen performing the National Anthem in Awabakal language, and Perry playing the didgeridoo. The words and Smoking Ceremony acknowledged that the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup is taking place on the land of the Awabakal People.

Watch LIVE
All the action from the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners. The next call will be tomorrow, Friday, April 2, at 7:15 a.m. AEDT for a possible 7:35 a.m. start.