Finals day, although small, had a beautiful lefthand bank form at the infamous Maroubra Dunnybowl. Here's Molly Picklum giving it a workout on Finals day. - WSL / Tom Bennett
Kobie Enright and Shane Campbell have won the the Carve Pro; the first event of the Qualifying Series (QS) Aussie leg for 2018. Both competitors had hatchets to bury coming into the event and they will now leave with 1,000 QS points to kick start their 2018 seasons.
In 2017, Enright made it all the way to the Final of the Carve Pro and fell just short in second place to good friend Macy Callaghan. Upon her return to the event, winning was at the forefront of her mind, but she was all too aware of difficulties of overcoming a field of almost 40 hungry QS competitors before getting there.
Kobie Enright is chaired to victory for the first time at the Qualifying Series level. - WSL / Tom Bennett
"Coming second is really tough and I definitely didn't want it to happen again," Enright said. "I'd rather get fifth or first but not second again. The ultimate goal at every event is to win, but this one is sweeter than most. I'm really stoked to take out the first event of the season, I feel like it will put me in a really good stead going into the 2018 season."
In the Final, Tweed Heads native Enright came up against event dark horse Molly Picklum. Picklum was on the ropes early as Enright posted a 7.50 and immediately backed it up with an excellent 8.00 ride. Enright's heat total of 15.50 left Picklum chasing a near perfect 9.75, a score that proved too much, leaving Enright to take her first QS event win and put to bed the unrest over last year's miss.
Enright was on a roll that couldn't be stopped on Finals Day. - WSL / Ethan Smith
"I have seen a fair bit of Molly's surfing recently and was really nervous leading into the final," Enright continued. "She has been ripping all event and I knew it was going to be a tough task. She is still so young and surfs amazingly, I really think she has a bright future ahead of her."
Although she was unable to find a rhythm in the final, young Central Coaster Picklum was thrilled to make the Final in her first WSL QS event appearance. At only 15 years old, it's safe to say that hers will be a name to remember.
Fifteen-year-old Molly Picklum is a surfer to remember. - WSL / Ethan Smith
"I came to this event to try and get some experience surfing against the older girls," Picklum said. "I definitely didn't expect to do very well so to end up in the final with Kobie was a bit of a shock, the small surf over the last couple of days was definitely to my advantage."
Cronulla local and Carve teamrider Shane Campbell, meanwhile, has spent the last three years on the QS tour upping his seed each and every year. After a number of QS seconds over the last couple of seasons, Campbell found himself in top spot for the first time since 2016. Throughout the week at Maroubra, Campbell was a dominant performer, taking down a number of the event favorites along the way, including Harley Ross in the final. 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 Ross, who was left chasing an elusive 7.26 wave score to snatch away his lead.
Shane Campbell lives just down the road in Cronulla and attributed his success to the comfort he feels here in Maroubra. - WSL / Ethan Smith
"Last year I 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."
This was the first Qualifying Series final Harley Ross from the Northern Beaches had been in. Although he was unable to take the win, he was over the moon with the best result of his young career.
Shane Campbell chaired to victory by the Carve boss and former CT competitor and fellow Carve rider Stu Kennedy. - WSL / Ethan Smith
"This is my first QS event final so I'm really stoked," Ross said. "The waves were really suited to me this week which was great. Although it was small, they had a great shape so it was really fun. I'm heading to a QS3,000 in Hawaii next week so I'm stoked to be heading into that with a bit of momentum."
Redemption for Kobie Enright and Shane Cambell at Carve Pro Maroubra
Tom Bennett
Kobie Enright and Shane Campbell have won the the Carve Pro; the first event of the Qualifying Series (QS) Aussie leg for 2018. Both competitors had hatchets to bury coming into the event and they will now leave with 1,000 QS points to kick start their 2018 seasons.
In 2017, Enright made it all the way to the Final of the Carve Pro and fell just short in second place to good friend Macy Callaghan. Upon her return to the event, winning was at the forefront of her mind, but she was all too aware of difficulties of overcoming a field of almost 40 hungry QS competitors before getting there.
"Coming second is really tough and I definitely didn't want it to happen again," Enright said. "I'd rather get fifth or first but not second again. The ultimate goal at every event is to win, but this one is sweeter than most. I'm really stoked to take out the first event of the season, I feel like it will put me in a really good stead going into the 2018 season."
In the Final, Tweed Heads native Enright came up against event dark horse Molly Picklum. Picklum was on the ropes early as Enright posted a 7.50 and immediately backed it up with an excellent 8.00 ride. Enright's heat total of 15.50 left Picklum chasing a near perfect 9.75, a score that proved too much, leaving Enright to take her first QS event win and put to bed the unrest over last year's miss.
"I have seen a fair bit of Molly's surfing recently and was really nervous leading into the final," Enright continued. "She has been ripping all event and I knew it was going to be a tough task. She is still so young and surfs amazingly, I really think she has a bright future ahead of her."
Although she was unable to find a rhythm in the final, young Central Coaster Picklum was thrilled to make the Final in her first WSL QS event appearance. At only 15 years old, it's safe to say that hers will be a name to remember.
"I came to this event to try and get some experience surfing against the older girls," Picklum said. "I definitely didn't expect to do very well so to end up in the final with Kobie was a bit of a shock, the small surf over the last couple of days was definitely to my advantage."
Cronulla local and Carve teamrider Shane Campbell, meanwhile, has spent the last three years on the QS tour upping his seed each and every year. After a number of QS seconds over the last couple of seasons, Campbell found himself in top spot for the first time since 2016. Throughout the week at Maroubra, Campbell was a dominant performer, taking down a number of the event favorites along the way, including Harley Ross in the final. 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 Ross, who was left chasing an elusive 7.26 wave score to snatch away his lead.
"Last year I 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."
This was the first Qualifying Series final Harley Ross from the Northern Beaches had been in. Although he was unable to take the win, he was over the moon with the best result of his young career.
"This is my first QS event final so I'm really stoked," Ross said. "The waves were really suited to me this week which was great. Although it was small, they had a great shape so it was really fun. I'm heading to a QS3,000 in Hawaii next week so I'm stoked to be heading into that with a bit of momentum."
Harley Ross
The Top 12 have been decided at Bombo Beach after a brutal day of eliminations.
The Australian Junior Tour standout claims a huge Round Two win in tricky conditions at Bombo Beach.
Harley Ross-Webster and Macy Callaghan take out the Subway Surf Series in Wollongong.
Carve Pro
Australia's first Qualifying Series event is a wrap after a banger of a day Down Under.
All the action from Day 3 of the Carve Pro.
The young Tweed Heads local will be hoping to finish one spot further than runner-up in 2018 ahead of a classic Final Day at Maroubra.
Shane Holmes and Vittoria Farmer are standouts as the sell fades at the Carve Pro QS1,000.
Another epic day at the Carve Pro at Maroubra.