Molly Picklum Misses Chance In J-bay As Connor O’leary Claims First Wsl Win

The Australian prima Molly Picklum has agonisingly missed retired connected different World Surf League triumph successful South Africa, but nan Australian-born goofy-footer Connor O’Leary has claimed triumph successful nan men’s final.

Picklum was disappointment pinch herself for not riding 1 past activity that mightiness person sealed a last-gasp last triumph complete her American rival Gabriela Bryan.

In nan closest of showdowns, Bryan took a constrictive lead successful their duel astatine Jeffreys Bay connected South Africa’s Eastern Cape connected Friday pinch conscionable 90 seconds left, scoring 6.93 erstwhile needing a 6.68.

It near Australia’s WSL leader Picklum small clip for a consequence arsenic she looked to gain a humble people of 5.93 to seal back-to-back victories successful nan J-Bay aft her triumph successful Saquarema, Brazil, past month.

But Picklum, nan 22-year-old from Gosford, hesitated erstwhile looking for nan perfect activity to transportation her to victory, failing to drawback a mates of imaginable chances to thrust successful nan last infinitesimal successful a bid for glory.

When her clip ran retired to respond pinch what would person been her seventh effort of nan final, nan Australian splashed nan waters successful disgust astatine having mislaid nan last by a specified 0.26 points, 13.60 to 13.34.

Picklum’s consistency intends she still leads nan WSL standings connected 61,145 points, up of Hawaii’s Bryan, who was lifting her 3rd title of nan play to put her connected 58,595 points.

In nan men’s event, Japan’s O’Leary took retired his first WSL title.

The Australian-born O’Leary had nan event’s only 10-point thrust successful nan semi-finals arsenic he knocked retired three-time J-Bay victor Filipe Toledo, earlier beating different Brazilian, world No 1 Yago Dora, successful nan final.

O’Leary only rode 3 waves but racked up scores of 8.17 and 7.50 successful his 2nd and 3rd runs, giving him a two-wave full of 15.67 of a imaginable 20, good clear of Dora’s 14.23.

“All nan stars aligned for this one, truthful I’m stoked. It felt bully to person truthful galore group cheering for me, and past to execute for them,” O’Leary said.

“I intended to do immoderate of nan champion backhand surfing you’ve ever seen, and to compete pinch a chap goofy successful nan final, hopefully it inspires different goofy-foot surfers that they tin compete against nan champion successful cleanable right-hand constituent breaks.”

The circuit moves connected to Tahiti adjacent month, pinch nan finals to beryllium staged successful Fiji betwixt 27 August and 4 September.

Picklum, Byran and American Caity Simmers person qualified for nan women’s event, while only Dora has sealed his spot successful nan men’s competition.