Holly Williams and Soli Baileyhave claimed victory at the 2023 Surfers Rescue 24/7 Port Stephens Pro, World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 event. Both surfers prevailed over a massive field in challenging surf as Birubi delivered another day of semi-clean waves in the one-to-two foot range.
Men’s winner Soli Bailey (AUS) had to pull on all of his experience to clinch the win over Gold Coast upstart Ty Richardson (AUS), with the pair going blow-for-blow in their 30-minute match-up. Richardson dominated the heat, posting the highest single wave score of the event, with an 8.14 (out of a possible 10) for a series of whipping frontside hacks. Bailey needed a mid-range seven to take the lead, and with only 30 seconds left, the former Championship Tour surfer found a wave, laid a hack, then backed it up with a frontside air-reverse to get the score and take the win. After taking some time away from competition, this win could be the momentum builder Bailey needs to return to the Challenger Series in 2023.
Representing the Yaegl people of Bundjalong Country, this is a particularly special event for Bailey to have under his belt, winning a QS in a location that holds culturally significant history to the Traditional Custodians of the area, in the heart of Worimi Country.
“You don’t always want to win like that, but it’s so good when it happens,” Bailey said. “I had this feeling the whole event, but in particular in the final, that it was just going to happen – I just kept telling myself that it’s going to happen. When I took off on that wave at the end, I lost all my speed on the first turn and started to think that this would not be a 7.50, so I had to throw it up into the wind and luckily pulled it off. Ty (Richardson) put me against the wall from the start – he’s a really bright light in the future of Australian surfing; he’s got a great competitive brain and the surfing to match, so he has a bright future. I’m so stoked to get this win.”
The women’s Final saw QS veteran Philippa Anderson (AUS) take on Sunshine Coast up-and-comer Holly Williams as both women sought to solidify their spot in the top 10 on the Australia / Oceania regional rankings. Anderson held the lead for the majority of the heat but it was Williams’s patience that paid off in the end as she took the lead in the last five minutes and then consolidated with the highest single ride of the heat on the last wave of the heat. William leaves Port Stephen’s with an extra 1000 points to her name as she heads to Maroubra to defend her 2022 win at that event.
“I’m beyond happy right now,” Williams said. “I just had a bit of a moment to myself on the beach to let it all sink in and it feels amazing. After the last event, I came into this event with a different mindset and wanted to just focus on having fun and enjoying myself. Now I know that works for me I can’t wait to take the same attitude into the last few events of the leg and know that anything is possible. In the end, I knew there hadn’t been a set for a while and that I just needed to pick the right wave and surf it well – I managed to do that and get the win – I’m lost for words.”
Runners-up Ty Richardson and Philippa Anderson both fell agonisingly short of winning at Birubi but leave in better positions on the rankings than when they arrived. For Anderson, the second-place finish will set her up for an assault on the Challenger Series in 2023, whilst, for Richardson, his QS final result is the best of his young career.
Competitors will now shift their focus to the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney ahead of the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro QS 1,000, which is set to commence on Friday, March 3.
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian surfers to gain ranking points and prize money in the WSL Qualifying Series. The series also creates a NSW coastal road trip for all to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and enjoy NSW surfing culture.
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series 2023 is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
The Surfers Rescue 24/7 Port Stephens Pro QS 1,000 was available to watch thanks to Mad Mex via live webcast through worldsurfleague.com, the WSL App, 7plus, mySurf.tv and Surfing NSW socials.
Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series 2023 Event Schedule
Event 1: Camplify Great Lakes Pro QS3000: Tuesday 21st – Friday 24th Feb
Event 2: Surfers Rescue 24/7 Port Stephens Pro QS1000 – Monday 27th Feb: Wednesday 1st March
Event 3: Mad Mex Maroubra Pro QS1000: Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th March
Event 4: Men’s Vissla Central Coast Pro presented by Mad Mex QS3000, Women’s Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro presented by Mad Mex: Monday 13th – Saturday 18th March
The 2023 Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series will be proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Sisstrevolution, Destination Sydney Surrounds, Randwick City Council, Central Coast Council, Mid Coast Council, Port Stephens Council, Barrington Coast, Mad Mex, Camplify, Storage King, Avoca Beach Hotel, Southend Hotel, PRD Real Estate, Surfers Rescue 24/7, #NoTxtNoWrecks, WSL and Surfing NSW.
