Nikki Van Dijk solidified her spot on next year’s championship tour (CT) by claiming a final win in the 2018 Port Stephens Toyota Pro at Birubi Beach on Tuesday.
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All week the CT competitor from Phillip Island was the name to beat, building momentum through each heat of every round and Tuesday’s final against the Central Coast’s Macy Callaghan was no exception.
Van Dijk found the scores she needed and claimed a second QS6000 win for the season with a two-wave total of 14.56.
“This feels really incredible,” Van Dijk said. “I started the year off with a win at the Vissla Sydney Surf Pro and then finished one of here, which is awesome. Two wins in Australia is super special.
“It’s been such a great week surfing against all of these girls, I was pushed so much in every heat. It is a really good warm up before I head to Maui for the final CT event of the year – it could be just the confidence booster I need.”
Callaghan’s final appearance was enough to put her into sixth place on the QS rankings and onto the CT as a full-time competitor in 2019. Joining her is Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy.
Philippa Anderson (Merewether) and current CT competitor Sage Erickson (US) missed the QS cutoff and will not be surfing on the CT in 2019.
On Sunday, Avoca teen Caleb Tancred claimed a maiden QS title when he defeated lifelong friend and rival Mikey McDonagh from Lennox Head in the final of the Men’s QS1000.
More to come.
