MAROUBRA, NSW / AUS, (Sunday, March 5, 2023) –Saffi Vette (NZL) and Mikey McDonagh(AUS) have taken top honours at the 2023 Mad Mex Maourbra Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 rated event. The waves turned it on for our competitors, in an action-packed finals day that saw insane airs and perfect scores.
Saffi Vette took her maiden WSL QS win at the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro, while neither Vette nor Anne Dos Santos (BRA) had ever won a WSL QS event before today was Vette’s day. In a nailbiting finish Dos Santos took off on a wave with 10 seconds remaining requiring a mid rang score the wave didn’t offer Dos Santos any opportunity to chase down the score.
Both women had been consistent in their earlier rounds as they showcased an amazing display of surfing over the 3-day competition.
“I’m so happy to win my first QS today it has been a goal of mine for some time now.” Vette said ” I’ve had such an amazing week here in Maroubra it felt like home, it’s really special to get the win for me and my family, my dad grew up here when he was younger”
In what might go down as one of the heats of the year between two good friends, Dakoda Walters (AUS) and Joel Vaughan (AUS) saw over five 8-point rides. It was Walters who pulled off one of the biggest airs potentially ever seen in a QS event, to score a perfect 10-point ride and in the process injured his leg. As the beach was left speechless with what they had just witnessed, Walters limped on through to the Final. The win did come at a cost for him with the injury forcing him to withdraw from the Final which handed Mikey McDonagh the win.
“I’m stoked to get the win here today, obviously it’s not the way I would’ve wanted to win but it’s a win and a crucial 1000 points.” McDonagh said “I would’ve loved to have had that final with Dakoda. He had been the in-form surfer of the event to get onto the world tour win big moments ”
The win was McDonagh’s second win for the 22/23 WSL QS season with previous event win at the Camplify Great Lakes Pro. The win comes at a massive time of the season with only two events remaning for qualification onto the Challenger Tour.
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.
Webcast from the Mad Med Maroubra Pro can be found via the 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 is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series is also 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.
