Sierra Kerr (Tweed Heads, NSW) and Jordy Lawler (Narrabeen, NSW) have claimed victory at the 2024 Camplify 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 clean waves in the one-to-two foot range.
Men’s winner Jordy Lawler (AUS) had to pull on all of his experience to clinch with some incredible progressive maneuvers to take the win over Northern Beaches athlete Winter Vincent (AUS), with the pair going blow-for-blow in their 30-minute match-up alongside French athlete Justin Becret (3rd) and local grommet Jimmi Hill (4th).
Jordy dominated the heat with a pair of 7’s and one of the highest heat totals of the event (14.84 out of a possible 20).
“I’m stoked,” said Jordy. “The waves were pretty tricky but sort of cleaned up in the end and it was nice to have a final with a bunch of young blokes!” He then continued to talk about Port Stephens saying “It’s so lovely around here the coastline is just go pretty,” whilst having a giggle.
The women’s Final saw World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) take top honours over previouse QS event winner (Gold Coast Open) Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW), Long Reef’s finest Gabi Spake and South Coast young gun Oceanna Rogers (Shellharbour, NSW).
All women surfed great but after Kerr, daughter of former professional surfer Josh Kerr, locked in a 7.5 it left the others chasing some big numbers. Kerr now leaves Port Stephen’s with an extra 1000 points as she now shifts her focus to the Ryde Central Coast Pro QS 3,000.
“I’m frothing,” said Kerr. “I finally won my first QS in the ocean, my previous qs win came in the wave pool, so it was good to do that. It was just heaps of fun!”
Runners-up Winter Vincent and Nyxie Ryan both fell agonisingly short of winning at Birubi but leave in better positions on the rankings than when they arrived. For Sierra Kerr and Jordy Lawler, it’s time to keep that winning streak going as competitors will now shift their focus to the Central Coast ahead of the Ryde Central Coast Pro QS 3,000, which is set to commence on Monday, March 4.
2024 NSW Pro Surf Series Event Schedule
Event 1: Camplify Port Stephens Pro (Mens and Womens) QS1000 – Thursday 22nd Feb: Friday 23rd Feb
Event 2: Ryde Central Coast Pro (Mens and Womens) QS3000 – Monday 4th March: Friday 8th March
The 2024 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 Central Coast Council, Port Stephens Council, Camplify, PRD Real Estate, URBNSURF Surfers Rescue 24/7, WSL and Surfing NSW.
All events will be webcast through worldsurfleague.com and the WSL App.
All event news, images and highlight clips will be housed at surfingnsw.com.au in the coming weeks.
For more information on these events head to worldsurfleague.com or check the free WSL App.
