Merewether surfer Morgan Cibilic survived small conditions to progress to round three of the Burleigh Pro on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The teenager, who won a World Surf League junior event on the Gold Coast last year, was second in his four-man, round two heat with a two-wave total of 9.2 – 2.1 clear of third place – at the 1000-point qualifying series event.
“It’s so good to be back here again on the Gold Coast, the weather is perfect and the water is beautiful,” Ciblic said. “The forecast is looking like it’s going to be fun over the weekend, it would be sweet to have another event with good waves so I’m hoping for that perfect Burleigh Point and maybe even a few barrels.”
Also on Friday, 2016 winner Tom Reilly claimed the 44th Bar Reef Boardriders Australia Day Classic. Casey O’Sullivan and Jye Byrnes filled the placings and Amy De Lore won the women’s.
Jake Sylvester was fifth in the men’s and will be among those chasing wildcards into next month’s WSL events at Surfest on Saturday at Birubi Beach. Sylvester, Jesse Adam and James McMorland are past trials winners in the 24-man field hunting the 6000-point QS event wildcard. One wildcard each in the women’s, pro juniors and cadet events are also up for grabs.
On Thursday, Merewether’s Ryan Callinan was among the elite surfers to complete a three-day Olympic Readiness Camp at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre at Casuarina. Merewether’s Philippa Anderson was also invited but could not attend.
Newcastle’s four-time world champion Mark Richards also attended and was named on the national selection panel.
