Kerr and Earle ride high at WQS event at URBNSURF

AUSTRALIA’s two most recent World Junior Champions, Sierra Kerr and Jarvis Earle, claimed victory at the BYD Pro World Qualifying Series (WQS) 3000 surfing event at URBNSURF over the weekend.

More than 120 of the best surfers from across the Australia/Oceania region put it all on the line pumping waves, delivering non-stop action for the supporters in attendance and those watching via livestream.

Kerr and Barwon Heads local Ellie Harrison faced off in the women’s final in a dynamic and entertaining display of power surfing.

As scores built up throughout the heat, it all came down to the final wave for Kerr after Harrison dropped a whopping 8.67 (out of a possible 10 points) on her final wave.

Needing an 8.51, Kerr was able to rip through her first turn with aggression and slice down the line to deliver an 8.63 ride and a long-awaited victory.

“I can’t really believe it. It was a crazy ending,” Kerr said.

“I didn’t know really what score I needed. It was kind of a high score, so I was like let’s surf like Sierra and just have some fun, and I got it done.

“It’s just starting to click, so that’s super good. A WQS win; I’m frothing.”

Earle and Sunshine Coast local Alister Reginato sliced their way through the first few rounds of the field to put themselves in the box seat for a QS victory in the men’s final.

Opening the final with a 9.50, the equal highest score of the day, Earle looked unstoppable as he pushed his backhand re-entries beyond vertical.

Reginato was unable to tap into his previous fire, and both surfers threw together medium sized scores, before Earle delivered some more magic in the form of a huge 9.37-point ride.

Earle’s heat total of 18.87 (out of a possible 20 points) was the biggest of the entire event.

“I’ve had a bit of a rough competition run lately so it was good to come down to the pool and get some reps in and come away with the win. I’m so stoked,” Earle said. “I came second last year so it was really good to do one better.

“There’s so much depth in the talent of Australia right now. All the regional QS’s are stacked and I’m stoked to come away with the win at such a tough event.”

The win puts Earle into the top four on the Australia/Oceania rankings, within the cut line for the 2024

Challenger Series, while Kerr moved into seventh place and has already guaranteed her spot.