• 2023 Challenger Series Season Off and Running On The Gold Coast
• Erin Brooks and Aiden Masencamp Dominate Day 1
• Sheldon Simkus Leads Local Charge at Snapper Rocks
• Competitive Veterans Assert Authority on Early Rounds of Competition

Fifteen-year-old phenom Erin Brooks (CAN) made her Challenger Series debut today at Snapper Rocks and her performance did not disappoint. The exciting young goofy-footer took a dominant win in the last heat of the Round of 48 to book herself a spot in the Round of 32. Brooks’ speed and flow on her backside was the perfect match for Snapper Rocks as she blasted her way down the line to post an impressive two-wave total of 13.37 (out of a possible 20). She will now compete in Heat 8 of the Round of 32 where she will take on Isabella Nichols (AUS), Sawyer Lindblad, and local hopeful Kobie Enright (AUS).

“I’m just trying to learn how to surf heats and get some experience so getting a heat win is a bonus really,” Brooks said. “It’s also my first time surfing Snapper in a contest and I had such a great time. It’s such an amazing wave and having no one out is a dream. Getting another heat out here is so exciting because it means more perfect waves with no one out.”

South African surfer Adin Masencamp (RSA) looked right at home on the long walls of Snapper Rocks. Masencamp got his campaign off to the perfect start, snagging a set wave in the opening minute and surfing it excellently to post an 8.00 point ride (out of a possible 10). He then backed it up with a 7.17 for a heat total of 15.17, the highest of the opening day.

“It was pretty awesome to get that first wave – we were all hustling for it,” Masencamp said. “It was pretty slow out there so I knew I needed to get a quick start. I then backed it up which felt pretty good. It’s so perfect out there that it’s hard not to go for every wave. Once I got those two scores I took off on a few and had a bit of fun. It was amazing to be out there and to have this platform. This is one of the best waves in the world so it’s pretty awesome to have this event. This is really special to be out there with no one out.”

Other up-and-comers who stood out on Day 1 of competition at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro included Ellie Harrison (AUS), Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN), Moana Jones-Wong (HAW) and John Mark Tokong (PHL) who is the first Filipino competitor on the Challenger Series. European Regional Qualifying Series winner Yolanda Hopkins (POR) also took a convincing win on Day 1 to progress into the Round of 32.

Current WSL World Junior Champions Jarvis Earle (AUS) and Francisca Veselko (POR) also progressed through their opening heats to move into the seeded rounds at Snapper Rocks.

2022 Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro runner-up Sheldon Simkus (AUS) picked up where he left off at Snapper Rocks, posting an excellent 8.50 on his opening wave. Simkus then backed it up to take a comfortable heat win, displaying his strong connection with the waves at his local break, a spot where he is regarded as one of the best.

“I just felt like it was another day down at my local spot,” Simkus said. “It’s a beautiful day down here and the waves are great. It’s been an awesome few weeks of waves here on the Gold Coast and it looks like the next few days are going to be really fun which is great for the contest. Knowing it’s going to be good is a great incentive to keep making heats and keep getting empty-pumping Snapper. It’s such a good community we have here and it’s so based around the ocean so having this event here is really important, especially for all the kids who come down and see it all. Hopefully, I can make it to Finals Day and give them all something to cheer about.”

Other local hopefuls who progressed through the opening day of competition include Kobie Enright (AUS) and Sierra Kerr (AUS). They both made late charges in their heats to move into second spot and advance to the Round of 32.

Former CT star Silvana Lima (BRA) was the standout performer of the women’s Round of 48, surfing with speed and power to earn a 14.57 two-wave total that included an excellent 8.00 ride on her first wave. Lima has a great history with Snapper Rocks having posted a perfect 10 here in the past with a massive air-reverse. Lima will be hoping for more impressive performances as she looks to get her re-qualification campaign off to a perfect start.

“I have a great history with this place and it feels great to be back,” Lima said. “There are a lot of Brazilians living here on the Gold Coast so there is always great support. It is also one of the best waves in the world so it is always a pleasure to compete here. I felt good in that heat but feel like I can give more so I’m looking forward to getting more heats in perfect waves.”

Japanese representative Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) has had success at the Challenger Series level before with a win at the U.S. Open of Surfing back in 2015 but has struggled to find another major result since. Ohhara has aspirations to represent Japan on the elite Championship Tour. He got his qualification campaign off to a great start, comfortably winning his Round of 80 heat with a two-wave total of 14.33. Ohhara’s frontside rail game and technique looked to be a perfect match for Snapper Rocks. He’ll now shift his focus to the Round of 64 and his matchup with past and present CT competitors Caio Ibelli (BRA), Conner Coffin (USA) and Lucas Silveira (BRA).

The next call for competition to recommence will be tomorrow, Wednesday, May 10, at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:35 a.m. start.

For highlights from today’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM competition, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Another local to watch out for on Day 1 of competition is reigning event runner-up Sheldon Simkus (AUS) who will hope to repeat his form from 2023 when he comes up against Luke Thompson (RSA), Daiki Tanaka (JPN) and fellow Australian George Pittar (AUS) in Heat 3 of the Round of 80.