Australian star Molly Picklum has headlined the women’s surfing casualties on a short-but-sharp day of high-ranking carnage at the Fiji Pro.
World No.1 Gabriela Bryan was also eliminated, handing the rankings lead to Hawaiian great Carissa Moore ahead of the quarter-finals at Cloudbreak.
While only four heats were run in Monday’s three-to-five foot conditions to complete the women’s second round, they had a major impact at the top of the rankings.
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It meant Moore’s four closest challengers have all been eliminated in Fiji ahead of the quarters. World No.6 Caitlin Simmers is not competing because of injury.
Moore, the five-time world champion, won her Round 2 heat last week.
But Picklum’s compatriot Isabella Nichols rose one place to ninth on the rankings with her Monday heat win.
Picklum, the reigning world champion and defending champion at Cloudbreak, fell to Brisa Hennessy – the first time the Costa Rican has made the quarter-finals this season.
A promising wave arrived seconds too late for the Australian, who lost the lowest-scoring heat of the day 8.57 to 5.67.
Picklum is yet to win an event this season after eight events and is fourth on the rankings.
Yolanda Hopkins from Portugal started the day by taking down Bryan 10.17 to 9.93. Hopkins had lost her previous two heats against Bryan this season.
Nichols beat Spanish friend Nadia Erostarbe and she will face Hopkins in the quarters – the only Australian still alive in the women’s draw.
The result meant Nichols and Erostarbe switched places on the rankings, with the Spaniard dropping to 10th.
“Looking at the scheme of the year, I feel like this was the most pivotal heat for me,” said Nichols, who was third last month month in Tahiti.
“If I didn’t make this heat, then my year could go one of many ways.”
American Lakey Peterson was the only higher-ranked surfer to win her heat on Monday, dispatching Portuguese rookie Francisca Veselko.
Competition was called off for Tuesday and the next call will be on Wednesday.
