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Women's Top Seeds Hit The Water on Day 3 of The Phillip Island Pro QS 3,000
WSL
Competition has continued today at the Phillip Island Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000, with Day 3 seeing the women's top seeds hitting the water at Cape Woolamai after the completion of the men's Round of 64. Some of the Asia Pacific region's best up-and-coming surfers were treated to more epic conditions with super clean waves in the four-to-six foot range.
Former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Sophie McCulloch (AUS) continued her incredibly strong return to competition, posting the equal highest two-wave total of the event so far with a 16.35 (out of a possible 20). McCulloch's wave choice was on point, picking off the corners and laying into the faces with fast, aggressive hacks, even posting a 9.35 (out of a possible 10) single wave on her way to victory.
"That one was nice; I knew it was a bomb," McCulloch said. "I wasn't sure how much that wave was going to open up, so I laid everything I could into that first turn. Then I came out of it, looked up, and it gave me one more. I'm just happy to be here - the waves are pumping, and the weather is nice, so it's been a good day."
Chinese Olympian Siqi Yang (CHN) made her first competitive appearance in Australia and made her presence felt early, posting an excellent 8.00 point ride on her way to the Round of 16. In only her second-ever WSL QS appearance, Yang is hoping to make history with the best-ever result from a Chinese competitor at the QS level.
Japanese duo Kana Nakashio (JPN) and Sara Wakita (JPN) kept their Challenger Series qualification hopes alive today as they each booked a spot in the Round of 16 at the Phillip Island Pro. Current Asia regional rankings leader Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) also progressed into the Round of 16 as she looks to secure the top spot in the region heading into the 2025 Challenger Series. With Sumomo Sato (JPN) getting eliminated in the last heat of the day, both Nakashio and Wakita have a big opportunity to move into qualification with a solid result this week.
"The waves were getting really big out there," Nakashio said. "It was really hard work, so I'm glad I was able to find some good waves and post a winning score. I know I need to keep making heats to move up the rankings, so I'm happy to make that one. I just need to keep it going now."
Earlier in the day, Victorian standout Xavier Huxtable (AUS) put on the best performance of the men's Round of 64 remaining heats, posting a solid heat total of 14.50 in the opening heat of the day. Huxtable's experience at Cape Woolamai showed as his wave selection gave him an easy win and a spot in the Round of 32.
"It's cooking out there - there's some incredible waves," Huxtable said. "I got to watch all my mates surf yesterday, and I just wanted to get out there. But having the first heat of the day today seemed to work out pretty well for me. I love competing here on Phillip Island; I live in Victoria, so it's nice to have the QS close to home."
Huxtable's fellow Victorian hopefuls Ellie Harrison (AUS) and Nikki van Dijk (AUS) also progressed through their Round of 32 heats today as former CT competitor van Dijk looks to get her comeback off to the perfect start with a win at her home break of Cape Woolamai.
"It was really nice to get out there and find some fun waves," van Dijk said. "It's pretty solid and a lot of work, but they're really fun when they come. It's so nice to be competing at home and enjoying this beautiful autumn weather we still have. I'm just super grateful."
QS journeyman Billy Stairmand (NZL) looked comfortable at his home away from home of Phillip Island, posting a 13.25 two-wave total to take a convincing heat win in the Round of 64. Stairmand's backhand was on point as always, with the natural footer finding plenty of turn sections and time in the tube.
"My mum used to live on Phillip Island, so I have spent some time here -- It's really good to come back and reconnect with some friends and family," Stairmand said. "There was a really good left out there coming from Raglan. I really love lefts. I caught a good one straight away and just built from there, so it was a great heat win for me."
The 2025 Phillip Island Pro QS 3,000 will run at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, in the Bass Coast Shire Victoria, from March 17 - 22, 2025.
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