PHILLIP Island really turned it on again for a major surfing event at the weekend when the WSL Phillip Island Pro QS1000 event, presented by Bass Coast Shire Council, wrapped up in awesome Cape Woolamai conditions.
It followed two days of challenging waves at the Penguin Beach, on the southwest side of the Island, underscoring the Island’s versatility in hosting ocean sports events.
And coming through in the end to stamp his mark as a rising star of the sport was Phillip Island local Rylee Duell who placed second in the Victorian Indigenous Invitational, surfed in conjunction with the Qualifying Series event.
But the focus was on the pro surfers and in the main events, it was Victorian Tully Wylie (Bells Beach) and Nyxie Ryan from Lennox Head in NSW who came out on top.
Local surfing identity and former CEO of Surfing Victoria, Max Wells, was delighted.
“They’ve absolutely loved it,” he said of the competitors.
“First off, they’ve surfed in really challenging conditions at the Penguin Beach and the very best have won through to the finals here at Woolamai today where the conditions turned offshore, and we’ve had some good, big waves to test them in the finals.
“That’s what Phillip Island can do, provide good waves in almost any conditions and we’ve proved that again here this week,” said Wells.
After two consecutive days at the protected Penguin Parade Beach, the event shifted back to its primary location of Cape Woolamai with light offshore winds and a solid 4-5ft swell.
After showing himself as being the inform surfer over the first two days, Tully Wylie had a brutal road to the final facing off against former World Number 7 Nathan Hedge (Merimbula, NSW) in the Semi Finals.
Some smart competitive surfing saw Wylie take the win and move through to the Final against close friend Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc, VIC).
The final was a tight affair with both surfers locking in mid-range scores throughout the heat.
Ultimately it was Wylie who took the win with an 11.00 heat total to Huxtables 10.60 total.
“It’s a pretty special day. Getting my first QS win and be surfing against my best mate was pretty cool,” said Wylie.
“There was a lot of paddling out there today, but it’s what we train for and I felt really comfortable in the water.”
Competitors will now head to Taiwan for the Taiwan Open of Surfing which starts on November 13.
“It’s a real confidence boost for me going into the Taiwan event next week. I try and use these events as a learning experience which I think I did this week.”
On the Women’s side of the draw, it was Nyxie Ryan of Lennox Head who dominated the final day looking right at home in the thumping swell.
Ryan finished with a heat total of 15.00 to give her the win over Zahlia Short (Woolongong, NSW) who finished on a heat total of 2.55 points.
“I’m super stoked to take the win here at Phillip Island. We had such good waves!” said Ryan
“I had a couple of wins earlier in the year but it’s great to get another win ahead of the bigger events early next year.”
“When I arrived, the surf looked so big. But when I was out there it felt like the waves just kept coming to me which allowed me to get a couple of good scores, so I’m stoked.”
With the win, Ryan shifts into number 6 on the Australia/Oceania Qualifying Series.
Wylie also made a large leap, now sitting in 15th position.
The finals day also saw the Victorian Indigenous Invitational completed, with the top Victorian Indigenous surfers battling it out in the pumping waves.
Steffan Krasna (Melbourne) came out on top finding a long running right hander. Finishing in second place was up and coming surfer Rylee Duell (Phillip Island).
Anthony Hume (Torquay), Deegan Searle (Mornington Peninsula) and Tyler Duell (Phillip Island) finished in third, fourth and fifth respectively.
The surfing concludes on Sunday, November 6 with the running of the Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle.
Full results can be found at www.worldsurfleague.com
The Phillip Island Pro is presented by Bass Coast Shire Council and supported by the Victorian Government, Phillip Island Nature Parks, QUIT Victoria, Cancer Council Sunscreen and Surfing Victoria.
