JACK Robinson and Isabella Nichols have made it a double triumph for Australia with thrilling victories in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.<\/p>\n
Paris Olympics silver medallist Robinson left it late before edging out Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi 14.14 points to 13.87 in the men’s final at Bells Beach\/Djarrak today (Sunday, April 27).<\/p>\n
“Far out, man, it’s just a surreal feeling,” Robinson said.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a special week, I’ve had my whole family here.”<\/p>\n
Nichols claimed the biggest victory of her career by downing young Brazilian star Luana Silva.<\/p>\n
Nichols threw down the gauntlet with a big early score of 8.33 points and backed it up to win 16.26-12.67.<\/p>\n
Nichols’ title triumph came after the 27-year-old only made her way back on to the World Surf League’s Championship Tour (CT) this year.<\/p>\n
She advanced all the way to the final of this month’s El Salvador Pro – after making the heartbreaking decision to miss her twin sister Helena’s wedding – then went one better today at the famous Victorian break.<\/p>\n
“The process for this win has honestly been a 15-year process,” Nichols said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been coming here since I was 15 years old.<\/p>\n
“All the trips down here, three times a year to come down and work on my technique and it’s all paid off.<\/p>\n
“To have a bell, honestly this does not feel real.<\/p>\n
“I’m speechless.”<\/p>\n
Nichols’ only other victory on the CT came three years ago at the Margaret River Pro.<\/p>\n
The Hawaiian-born Silva, 20, won the world junior title this year, the same event that Nichols saluted at back in 2016.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Sunday, Nichols took down her celebrated countrywoman and two-time world champ Tyler Wright in the semis.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old Robinson left it late before sneaking past American Griffin Colapinto in the second semi and into the title match-up with Igarashi.<\/p>\n
Robinson’s final 7.17-point wave saw him edge ahead 14.67-14.33.<\/p>\n
The Aussie started his day with a 15.94-14.57 victory over American Jake Marshall in the last quarter-final.<\/p>\n
After a thrilling run through the event, Australian wildcard Morgan Cibilic had no luck in a low-scoring semi-final loss to Igarashi, where decent-sized waves were at a premium.<\/p>\n
Cibilic only caught his second wave of the heat in the final minute and fell, gifting victory to Igarashi, 10.27 points to 5.37.<\/p>\n
“It is what is at the end of the day – you can’t argue with the ocean,” said a philosophical Cibilic.<\/p>\n
“But it is pretty brutal.”<\/p>\n