Australian surfers Jack Robinson and Molly Picklum have advanced to the World Surf League (WSL) title deciders, solidifying their positions in the high-stakes finals scheduled for next month.
Robinson, the Olympic silver medallist, secured his spot with a dramatic win in the Round of 16 at the Fiji Pro on Friday. His compatriot, Picklum, also made waves by securing her second consecutive appearance in the season-ending showdown, set to take place at Lower Trestles in California.
Ethan Ewing, currently ranked fifth, also kept his finals hopes alive with a decisive victory over fellow Australian Ryan Callinan, ensuring his place among the top eight competitors.
Robinson, who holds the world No. 3 ranking, needed to advance to the quarter-finals to guarantee his finals spot. He achieved this with a narrow victory over Sydney surfer Connor O’Leary, who now competes under the Japanese flag. Robinson, trailing until the final minutes, capitalized on a critical error by O’Leary, who fell on a key wave. Robinson scored a 5.67 for a total of 12.34, narrowly surpassing O’Leary’s 11.50.
“It feels incredible to be here,” Robinson expressed after securing his place. “It’s special to be in the finals for the third consecutive year; this is where I’m meant to be.”
Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, who was given a wildcard entry for what may be his final tour appearance, praised Robinson’s performance. “Jack is exceptional in high-pressure situations,” Slater noted. “He consistently excels when everything is on the line.”
Robinson has the opportunity to assist Ewing by defeating Yago Dora in their upcoming quarter-final clash. Dora’s victory over Gabriel Medina, who was knocked out of contention, positions him as a significant threat in the finals race.
In other developments, World No. 1 John John Florence was unexpectedly eliminated by Hawaiian Imaikalani deVault but had already secured his spot in the California finals. Second-ranked Griffin Colapinto is also set for the WSL finals.
On the women’s side, Molly Picklum emerged victorious in the elimination rounds earlier on Friday. The Australian, who recently competed in the Olympics in Tahiti, secured her place in the finals by defeating French competitor Johanne Defay. Picklum’s impressive 6.73-point wave and a strategic move to avoid Defay’s attempts to re-enter the lineup were pivotal.
Picklum will face Canadian wildcard Erin Brooks, who has already defeated Gabriela Bryan and world No. 1 Caitlin Simmers in her WSL debut. Despite being out of the final-five contention, Tyler Wright made an impact by defeating reigning WSL and Olympic champion Caroline Marks to reach the final four.
The stage is set for an exhilarating conclusion to the WSL season, with Robinson, Picklum, and their peers preparing for the ultimate showdown in California.
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