3 minute read

Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright are through to the quarter-finals of the Tahiti Pro as the Australian pair get to grips with the Olympic break at Teahupo'o.

Australian surfers Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright have won their cut-throat elimination rounds to remain in contention after the opening day's action in the Tahiti Pro at Teahupo'o.

But reigning world No.1 Caitlin Simmers from the US bowed out at the famed break which will host the upcoming Paris Olympics surfing tournament.

World No.3 Picklum's day got off to a rocky start when she finished last in her opening-round heat behind American duo Caroline Marks and Sawyer Lindblad.

Lindblad had the single highest-scoring wave of the day, a 9.43, but she was still pushed into the elimination round, where she ousted Simmers.

"That was a moment I've dreamed about forever," said Lindblad.

"Honestly, this is my first time to Tahiti and I was really intimidated by this wave, but I just knew I would hate myself if I let the fear consume me."

Picklum also bounced back from her slow start to oust close friend and rising Hawaiian star Bettylou Sakura Johnson in a low-scoring elimination heat 7.73-6.94.

Two-time world champion Wright enjoyed better waves in her elimination round heat as she downed Frenchwoman Johanne Defay 14.60-13.76 to book her spot in the quarter-finals.

Wright will take on Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb in the last eight while Picklum squares off against local wildcard and Teahupo'o specialist Vahine Fierro.

Wright and Picklum will be back in Tahiti from late July as they chase a first Olympic surfing gold medal for Australia.

In the opening round of the men's compeitition, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater claimed just his second heat win of 2024, beating the defending Tahiti Pro champ Jack Robinson from Australia and Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam.

"There's a lot of technical aspects to the waves right now," said the 52-year-old Slater.

"You can actually take off deeper than people think today because it's giving you one extra pump before you have to stall.

"It's also slow, so people aren't getting a third and fourth score, so whoever gets the best waves in the heat is going to win."

Ethan Ewing and Ryan Callinan were the only Australians to win their opening heats and avoid the elimination round.

With a massive swell on the way, the Tahiti Pro is set to be decided in towering waves.

The next call will be made on Sunday morning (early Monday morning AEST).