Trials decide final spots in Bells Beach Longboard Classic

THE final spots in the World Surf League (WSL) Bells Beach Longboard Classic have been decided, following the trials event held at Djarrak/Bells Beach earlier today (Tuesday. August 29).

New Zealand surfer Jack Tyro narrowly won the men’s final, while Lucy Small from NSW had an even narrower win on the women’s side of the draw.

Held at Torquay Point, 18 men and 18 women surfed it out to claim the single spot into the event on the WSL’s inaugural World Longboard Tour.

In the men’s final, Tyro and Clinton Guest both scored 6.00 on their first waves, ahead of fellow finalists Jack Roberts and Dallas Rogers.

Guest moved into first place with his next two waves (4.75 and 5.45, respectively), putting Tyro in the position of needing very good scores to take the lead. Tyro’s fifth wave was only judged a 3.00, but he brought it home with a 6.50 ride to seal the win by 1.05 points.

Lucy Small stamped her authority early with a commanding 8.00 ride, leaving Japan’s Kaede Inoue, Point Lonsdale’s Bea Conroy and former Torquay local Mia Waite with a lot of work to do.

Small also scored 6.05 on her third of only four waves but her combined best score of 14.05 tured out to be just enough. Inoue and Conroy racked up good waves as the final progressed, and an excellent 8.15 from Inoue closed the gap to 0.4 but she could get no closer.

Tyro, Small and Inoue will all progress to the Bells Beach Longboard Classic, which will have its first call tomorrow (Wednesday, August 29) at 7.30am.

Other local surfers in the running to secure the wildcard included Will Cousins (Torquay), Matthew Shay (Torquay), John Stephen (Aireys Inlet), Nathan Rivalland (Jan Juc), Emma Webb (Anglesea), Rita Lahtinen (Torquay) and Angela King (Torquay).