Men’s Top Seeds Hit the Water on Day 2 of Gold Coast Pro

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland, Australia (Sunday, April 28, 2024) - Competition has continued today at  the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM, Stop No. 1 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Challenger Series (CS). All 16 heats of the men’s Round of 64 ran today, bringing the event's top seeds into the action while Snapper Rocks continued to deliver clean surf in the two-to-three-foot range.

Former CT Surfers Flex in Round of 64 of Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro

Deivid Silva (BRA) seems to have put a shakey competitive start to 2024 behind him with an impressive showing in his opening heat at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro. Silva’s lightning-quick backside attack was well and truly on display as he smashed his way down the line for an excellent heat total of 16.60 (out of a possible 20), the highest of the event so far. He will now shift his focus to the Round of 32, where he will do battle with Mihimana Braye (PYF), Joao Chianca (BRA) and Jarvis Earle (AUS). 

Reigning Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro event winner Samuel Pupo (BRA) started up where he left off at Snapper Rocks, winning a super tight match-up with countryman Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Aussie duo Joel Vaughan (AUS) and Sheldon Simkus (AUS). Pupo, who has just been relegated from the CT, is also carrying a foot injury, but you couldn’t tell as he threw down a 13.27 two-wave heat total to edge out his opponents and take the win. 

“That was such a close heat,” Pupo said. "I didn’t want to come back as the defending winner and lose in the first round, so I’m happy I got the win. I just got stitches taken out of my foot, and it’s still very sore, but I think it’s helping me stay present and focus on each wave; this is a good mindset to have.”

Jacob Willcox (AUS) is one of the relegated surfers whom no one saw returning to the Challenger Series in his rookie season. The exciting young goofy-footer put the disappointment behind him to claim a decent win in the Round of 64 on the Gold Coast. 

Former Championship Tour (CT) competitor Nat Young (USA) made his intentions clear in his first heat of the season, posting a 9.33 single wave score (out of a possible 10) to take a commanding lead and progress into the Round of 32. Young earned the highest single wave of the event so far for an incredible series of vertical backside snaps as he looks to rejoin the elite CT by year's end. 

“It was a slow heat to start,” Young said. “I was having flashbacks to this event last year where I had a slow heat, so I just had to sit there and be patient. I didn’t have priority when that wave came, but it looked nice, and when I took off, it just lined up. Every turn I did, I’d look back up, and there was another section, and it just kept going. It felt nice to get a wave like that, for sure. Last year, I needed a bit of a break and ask myself if I still love doing this and if I have everything that it takes to compete at the highest level. I do love it, and I think some time away was good. I’m excited to be back, and being excited is what you need. This is one of my favorite places in the world, and I hope I’m back here on the CT next year competing at Snapper at the top level.”

Oscar Berry Claims Heat Win of His Career on Home Soil 

Gold Coast youngster Oscar Berry (AUS) claimed one of the most memorable heat wins of his young career today, overcoming 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 2024 form surfer George Pittar (AUS) and Floridian Michael Dunphy (USA). Berry found the best wave of the 30-minute matchup and didn’t waste it, laying down multiple powerful and critical turns to win the heat with a two-wave total of 12.40. Pittar progressed to second place, while Slater and Dunphy were eliminated from the competition. 

“It’s not my fault I won, I got the good waves,” Berry said. "That was pretty crazy. It was actually scary to be out there in the water with him [Kelly Slater], to be honest. It was cool, though. We all made a few mistakes in that heat. I’m just glad I got a couple of good waves and did a few carves. It was a pretty surreal experience, though.” 

Unfortunately for the local crowds, Coolangatta hopeful and former Gold Coast Pro runner-up Sheldon Simkus (AUS) was eliminated in the Round of 64 today. Berry will fly the Gold Coast flag along with a handful of the women in the draw as competition continues.

Challenger Series Newcomers Step Up at Snapper 

North Coast New South Wales duo Dakoda Walters (AUS) and Mikey McDonagh (AUS) looked right at home in the point-break reelers of Snapper Rocks, both progressing through their Round of 64 matchups. Walters surfed his maiden CS level heat and looked super comfortable, throwing huge variation at each wave to earn a 15.16 two-wave total on his way to the Round of 32. 

“I’m stoked,” Walters said. “There was a real difference between the good waves and the bad ones, so I was focused on getting the good ones and getting them early. Luckily, a good one came quickly, and I was in the right spot. It’s a big step up from the Qualifying Series to the CS. Everything is bigger, and the level is just higher. It’s really cool, though; there’s a lot of people here, and it’s cool to surf in front of a crowd.” 

Barbados representative Josh Burke (BRB) surfed in the opening heat of the day and continued his impressive form from Day 1, finding a long tube on the first wave surfed of the day, then backing it up on his following waves with quick frontside snaps and lofty air-reverses. Burke looks in ominous touch with Snapper Rocks and it was too much for his opponents Mihimana Braye (PYF), who progressed in second, and Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Adin Masencamp (RSA) who were eliminated. 

Another low seed who continued his run from Day 1 was Charly Quivront (FRA), who posted a 15.00 point heat total, again, one of the highest of the day, to win his heat and progress into the Round of 32. Quivront is competing at the CS level at Snapper for the frist time and he is loving the opportunity as he progresses with countryman Maxime Huscenot (FRA) whilst Frederico Morais (POR) and Edgard Groggia (BRA) were unable to find their way into the Round of 32. 

“I’m so happy to surf these waves,” Quivront said. “Surfing Snapper, when it’s like this and with no one out, is amazing. This is my first time surfing this event, and I’m lost for words, really. For the last few years, I have focused on free surfing, which has been giving me a lot of freedom and the opportunity to surf good waves, but it’s nice to be back in competition, getting the competitiveness flowing and doing it in waves like this is amazing.”

The next call will be tomorrow, Monday, April 29, at 7:45 a.m. AEST for a possible 8:00 a.m. start.

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Round of 64 Results:

HEAT 1: Josh Burke (BRB) 14.33 DEF. Mihimana Braye (PYF) 11.77, Adin Masencamp (RSA) 10.10, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 7.77

HEAT 2: Levi Slawson (USA) 10.44 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 9.90, Luke Slijpen (RSA) 8.04, Nolan Rapoza (USA) 5.77

HEAT 3: Deivid Silva (BRA) 16.60 DEF. Tiago Carrique (FRA) 12.00, Taro Watanabe (USA) 11.50, Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 10.10

HEAT 4: Jarvis Earle (AUS) 11.63 DEF. Jackson Bunch (HAW) 9.63, Shion Crawford (HAW) 8.80, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 7.90

HEAT 5: Charly Quivront (FRA) 15.00 DEF. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 13.56, Frederico Morais (POR) 12.77, Edgard Groggia (BRA) 12.67

HEAT 6: Nat Young (USA) 14.00 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 12.10, Alister Reginato (AUS) 11.00, Rafael Teixeira (BRA) 9.70

HEAT 7: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 14.40 DEF. Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.23, Jett Schilling (USA) 11.00, Gatien Delahaye (FRA) 4.50

HEAT 8: Dakoda Walters (AUS) 15.16 DEF. Mikey McDonagh (AUS) 12.84, Leo Casal (BRA) 10.84, Kauli Vaast (FRA) 4.83

HEAT 9: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.17 DEF. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.73, Joel Vaughan (AUS) 12.16, Sheldon Simkus (AUS) 12.00

HEAT 10: Mateus Herdy (BRA) 13.80 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 10.60, Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 9.94, Ryan Huckabee (USA) 8.53

HEAT 11: Jacob Willcox (AUS) 14.83 DEF. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 13.64, Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.53, Owen Moss (USA) 9.20

HEAT 12: Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.60 DEF. Lucas Silveira (BRA) 11.27, Winter Vincent (AUS) 9.13, Eli Hanneman (HAW) 8.83

HEAT 13: Kyuss King (AUS) 10.76 DEF. Dimitri Poulos (USA) 10.70, Lucca Mesinas (PER) 8.34, Kade Matson (USA) 8.10

HEAT 14: Oscar Berry (AUS) 12.40 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 11.83, Kelly Slater (USA) 10.84, Michael Dunphy (USA) 9.70

HEAT 15: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.94 DEF. Kai Odriozola (ESP) 11.40, Joan Duru (FRA) 9.53, Kian Martin (SWE) 4.10

HEAT 16: Ian Gentil (HAW) 10.83 DEF. Dylan Moffat (AUS) 10.00, Luke Thompson (RSA) 9.17, Justin Becret (FRA) 7.27

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Round of 64 Results:

HEAT 1: Josh Burke (BRB) vs. Levi Slawson (USA) vs. Tiago Carrique (FRA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)

HEAT 2: Mihimana Braye (PYF) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Jarvis Earle (AUS)

HEAT 3: Charly Quivront (FRA) vs. Nat Young (USA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Mikey McDonagh (AUS)

HEAT 4: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) vs. Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) vs. Dakoda Walters (AUS)

HEAT 5: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Lucas Silveira (BRA)

HEAT 6: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)

HEAT 7: Kyuss King (AUS) vs. Oscar Berry (AUS) vs. Kai Odriozola (ESP) vs. Dylan Moffat (AUS)

HEAT 8: Dimitri Poulos (USA) vs. George Pittar (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Women’s Round of 32 Matchups:

HEAT 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Bella Kenworthy (USA) vs. Zoe Benedetto (USA) vs. Yolanda Hopkins (POR)

HEAT 2: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) vs. Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW)

HEAT 3: India Robinson (AUS) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR) vs. Zahli Kelly (AUS) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)

HEAT 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Anon Matsuoka (JPN) vs. Laura Raupp (BRA)

HEAT 5: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Sarah Baum (RSA) vs. Kobie Enright (AUS) vs. Maud Le Car (FRA)

HEAT 6: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Rosie Smart (AUS) vs. Sara Wakita (JPN)

HEAT 7: Alyssa Spencer (USA) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS) vs. Tessa Thyssen (FRA) vs. Philippa Anderson (AUS)

HEAT 8: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR) vs. Sol Aguirre (PER) vs. Sophia Medina (BRA)