New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Molly Picklum has advanced to the semifinals of the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Australian Tyler Wright.
Following World Surf League leader Caitlin Simmers’ early exit in the quarterfinals, Picklum has the chance to take the lead if she wins in Peniche for the first time.
The 22-year-old Picklum, from Gosford on the NSW central coast, earned two solid scores to defeat 30-year-old Wright, a two-time world champion. Picklum rode seven waves, scoring 6.83 and 6.10 on her fourth and fifth waves, respectively.
Wright’s highest scores came on her sixth and final waves, with a total of 4.60. In the end, Picklum won with a two-wave total of 12.93, while Wright finished with 7.93.
“I just saw this left, and it was dead flat when we first came down. When I saw that, I thought, ‘This is exciting for me,’” Picklum said.
“I knew Tyler would stick to her strengths and try for the right-hand waves. A left running along the sandbank worked well for me, and I’m happy I found a few good waves. Hopefully, that bank stays there.”
Picklum will now face Florida’s Caroline Marks in the semifinals as she aims for her first final on Portugal’s challenging Atlantic coast.
“You’ve got to stay alert and watch what’s unfolding,” Picklum added. “I feel confident.”