Event: Sydney Surf Pro
Location: Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date: 9-14th March 2020
Big Names In The Comp:
Men:
- Adriano De Souza (BRA)
- Griffin Colapinto (HAW)
- Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
- Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
- Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Women:
- Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
- Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Johanne Defay (FRA)
- Carissa Moore (HAW)
The Sydney Surf Pro is receiving more publicity than ever before and event organisers are expecting thousands of spectators to descend on Manly Beach this weekend for the competition. With 10,000 qualifying series (QS) points and $25,000 in prize money up for grabs, surfers from around the globe will be fighting hard for the win.
We’ve broken down who we think will come 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in both the men’s and women’s events below.
3rd)
Ian Gouveia
Country: Brazil
Current WSL Ranking: N/A (QS Ranking: 7th)
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: 9th
Gouveia is relatively short in stature at 5 ft 6 in (167cm) but uses this to his advantage to generate powerful snaps and cutbacks with a low centre of gravity.
Key Strengths:
- Gouveia registered a very respectable 9th (out of 112 competitors) at last year’s Sydney Surf Pro.
- He possesses a very consistent air reverse which can be used to score extra points when the waves are small.
- His aggressive style means he stays busy the entire heat and catches plenty of waves.
Possible Weakness:
- Gouveia is currently battling it out in the second tier of competitive surfing known as the Qualifying Series (QS). The Sydney Surf Pro is vitally important for Gouveia as there are 10,000 QS competition points up for grabs. This added pressure may be a disadvantage for Gouveia.
2nd)
Jadson Andre
Country: Brazil
Current WSL Ranking: #32
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: 2nd
Jadson has one of the best air games in the world. He is becoming somewhat of a world tour veteran with his first QS appearance dating all the way back to 2008.
Key Strengths:
- Jadson is surfing with more confidence than ever before having already registered a 3rd place finish in 2020 in Hawaii at the Hang Loose Pro.
- He is very well supported by the Brazilian community in Sydney which helped him finish 2nd at the Sydney Surf Pro last year.
- Has everything in his repertoire including powerful snaps and cutbacks, as well as big airs.
Possible Weakness:
- Might struggle to differentiate himself late in the competition if too many fellow Brazilians with similar style to him remain in the field.
1st)
Ryan Callinan
Country: Australia
Current WSL Ranking: #14
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: Did not compete
Ryan Callinan has established himself as more than just a rising star in the Australian surf scene. Ryan is now a competitor that demands respect among the best surfers in the world. After finishing 2nd in his hometown of Newcastle a few weeks ago, Ryan will be determined to claim the winner’s trophy.
Key Strengths:
- Very strong stance enables him to ride heavy barrels with apparent ease.
- Has a respectable air game that can be utilised in the smaller Manly Beach conditions
- Fresh from a 2nd place finish in his hometown of Newcastle just a short few weeks ago.
Possible Weakness:
- Hasn’t won an event in a while so hasn’t had that winning feeling in quite some time.
And in the women’s competition…
3rd)
Carissa Moore
Country: Hawaii, USA
Current WSL Ranking: #1
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: Did not compete
Carissa Moore is a true pioneer in women’s surfing. At just 15 years of age Carissa was such a prodigy that she competed in a men’s qualifying tournament event and in her first ever heat scored a perfect 10. Fast forward to 2020 and Carissa has achieved so much in the sport of surfing including 4 world titles, that she is now a force to be reckoned with at any event.
Key Strengths:
- Being a born and bred Hawaiian means that Carissa has surfing in her blood.
- With 4 world titles under her belt Carissa knows how to get herself into the right frame of mind to win.
Possible Weakness:
- Is taking a year of absence from the championship tour in 2020 so may not be as driven to win as in prior years.
2nd)
Tyler Wright
Country: Australia
Current WSL Ranking: #18
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: Did not compete
Hailing from Culburra in NSW, Australia, Tyler grew up with surfing in her veins. At the tender age of 25, Tyler has been on the professional circuit since 2011.
Key Strengths:
- Tyler is full of confidence after returning from a lengthy time off due to illness to register a second place at the lululemon Maui Pro in Hawaii late last year.
- She’s a two-time world champion.
- At 25 years of age she’s at the height of her physical powers.
Possible Weakness:
- Tyler may still lack a little confidence after her brutal post-viral illness that saw her miss 12 months of competition.
1st)
Johanne Defay
Country: France
Current WSL Ranking: #8
Result at Sydney Surf Pro in 2019: 25th
Key Strengths:
- Being from Reunion Island, an obscure island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Johanne has a unique style which is eye-catching to the judges.
- Johanne hasn’t won a WSL event since Uluwatu in 2018 and so is super hungry for another win.
- She will take confidence from her two podium finishes on the pro circuit last year.
Possible Weakness:
- Hasn’t won a WSL event since 2018 so currently lacks that killer instinct to close out an event.