A shark sighting and a total of 11 ‘excellent’ scores were the big talking points on an intriguing day of surf action at the Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks.
Margaret River Pro champion George Pittar and Olympic silver medallist Jack Robinson were among the five Australian men to safely move into Round 3, with Ethan Ewing, Liam O’Brien and Callum Robson joining them.
Only two Round 2 heats in the women’s draw were able to be completed before a nearby shark forced an early end to the day’s action.
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Caitlin Simmers and Vahine Fierro had just five minutes remaining in their heat before jet-skis picked them up and took them out of the water.
“A shark was spotted within 500 metres of the competition zone … and the heat was immediately put on hold in accordance with WSL safety protocols,” WSL tours and competition boss Renato Hickel said.
“Event officials and the water safety team monitored the situation and determined to keep the heat on hold until the next competition day.
“The safety of our surfers and staff remains our top priority.”
In the two women’s Round 2 heats that were able to be fully completed, Australian Sally Fitzgibbons lost to Gabriela Bryan, while Spain’s Nadia Erostarbe defeated Caroline Marks in a tight battle.
Steph Gilmore, Isabella Nichols, Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright will be among the Australian women in action when competition resumes.
Griffin Colapinto, Yago Dora and Jordy Smith were among the big-name casualties in round two of the men’s competition.
But there were no such problems for Robinson, who had endured a tough start to the season but dominated his heat against Alan Cleland (15.07 to 7.33).
Robinson bombed out early at Bells Beach and at the Margaret River Pro.
But with his knee injury from last year now well and truly behind him, Robinson was able to shine in the five-foot conditions.
“It feels like home, I feel a lot of love here,” Robinson said.
“I knew Al was a dangerous competitor. I just wanted to go and get a couple of tubes behind the rock.
“It’s really a six-month recovery process for this thing (injury), and now I’m past six months.
“It’s just kind of freeing myself up and freeing my mind up to go be myself out there, that’s the main thing.”
Other big names to make it through to the third round included Brazilian trio Italo Ferreira, Gabriel Medina and Filipe Toledo.
The total of 11 scores in the excellent range for the day – which is any wave eight points and above – was a record for the season so far.
