Trestles
Pro Wrap

Molly elected to ride her older, thinner boards at Trestles. She needed to throw them around quicker than the higher volume setups she had been working on. She knows what she needs.

A 7.83 was the best single wave but the consistency told the bigger story. A 12.72 heat average is serious output at this level.

The Semi against Erin Brooks was the end of it. Erin has won three in a row now, the last person to do that was Mick Fanning in 2008. Molly went at her but couldn't find the wave to turn the heat.

Another Semi. Fourth in the world. She keeps putting herself in position.

Callum was riding his Juliettes in the lead-up. They were'nt really clicking the way they needed to, so he pivoted and tried the new Utopia Round Tail.

First wave on it, the whole lineup changed. Flatter rocker, different concave, wider nose. It gave him what he needed in the softer, less perfect waves Trestles was offering. The board was sprayed grey and everyone in the competitors area thought it was some sort of new technology. It isn't. It's just grey.

Quarters on its first CT outing. A 7.33 best wave and an 11.03 heat average. He took down local favourite, Griffin Colapinto, and just missed the Semis. He had Yago on the ropes in the last ten minutes, but the wave didn't come.

The Utopia RT drops in three weeks.

Liam opened against Filipe Toledo. Two-time World Champion. Event favourite.

He was torn between two Juliettes heading into the heat. Same dims, but one was a little bit loose and one was stiffer. Darren picked the looser one for more spark. Against Toledo, it worked.

He posted an 8.50 and backed it up with a 6. Toledo is Toledo. You have to outscore him, and Liam did.

A 12.65 heat average is strong. Round 3 was not the result he came for, but the scalp against Toledo and the way he surfed to earn it say more than the round number.

Ethan was surfing really well in the lead-up to the event. When it came to his heat, it went slow. Kanoa did not even stand up in the priority exchange. Ethan had a plan to get all his good waves in priority, and no waves came through.

A 7.67 best wave and a 12.13 heat average. The surfing was there. Kanoa went on to make the Final. When the surfer who beats you finishes runner-up, there is not much more you could have done. That is how it falls sometimes at these events.

Ethan has been consistent all season. The approach does not change. He turns up, surfs properly, and the rankings reflect it. Eighth in the world.

Luke drew the current world number one, Leonardo Fioravanti, in his opening heat. He won it.

That does not happen by accident. A 7-point best wave and an 11.65 heat average backed it up. Round 3 was the exit, but the highlight is that heat with Leo. Two DHD surfers took down the top-ranked and the most decorated surfer at Lowers in their respective clashes.

Luke keeps showing he belongs at this level.