Dad and daughter duo Josh and Sierra Kerr continued their fairytale run through the QS 5,000 in Nias as Lagundri Bay continued to throw up world class stand up tubes.
The conditions over the past few days have provided quite the juxtaposition to the ‘Q grind’ term we often associate with the third tier of the WSL.
Tuesday’s display was already one for the books as Xavier Huxtable scored a perfect heat for two jaw dropping stand up tubes. Other highlights included Kobi Clements’ 10 and the staggering amount of nine points rides that went down. You know the waves are all time when people are finishing third in a heat and losing with a heat total of over 18.
It almost looked easier to make the tube then to fall and that is a testament to the quality of surfers on the QS.
While Tuesday only featured the men, the women also got their turn to impress on Wednesday. A lot of the women’s field opted for turns and sat slightly further on the shoulder, but there was a core crew of ladies who packed some crazy tubes.
Sierra’s heat total of 19.87 was the highlight. She started her round of 32 heat by gliding in from deep and threaded the Nias tube with an ease way beyond her years. Recent clips of her and Josh taking on heaving rights in Krui was already proof that she can mix it with the best of them in waves of consequence. It came as no surprise that her first ride of the heat was a 10.
The 17-year-old then backed it up with a 9.87. While Sierra is still in her infancy in competitive surfing, it surely won’t be long before she is competing on the CT and with her barrel riding skills she will be an instant threat against the best in the world.
The Kerr’s fairytale run continued as Josh watched from the channel during Sierra’s heat and then took to the action himself riding a Draft Surf twin fin – a new alternative craft venture which he has just launched.
In his round of 16 heat, the veteran caught four waves and got blown out of four tubes. That twin-fin glided through the tube with ease and allowed him to pump up and over the foam ball. His 17.24 heat total was enough to win the heat and shows he can still mix it up with the best up and coming surfers in the world.
Other highlights during the day included Willow Hardy’s 10 for an expertly weaved backside tube and Made Joi’s 10 point ride.
Manly-born surfer Winter Vincent put together a heat total of 18.54 and he put it best post-heat, when he said: ‘This is probably better than some of the CT events I’ve watched.’
Despite the raw nature of the broadcast, it poses the question as to why the WSL is yet to lock in a regular CT contest in Indo.
The event is set to conclude today with Sierra Kerr still competing in the women’s quarter finals and Josh Kerr up in men’s semi-final heat one.
