IN a huge week of surfing in Port Stephens the region showcased its great beaches for surfing and the region turned on great conditions for the Pro.

The finals of the Port Stephens Pro saw a change of venue from Birubi Beach to One Mile Beach.

The two beaches, while on the same part of the East Coast Of New South Wales can offer up very different conditions.

Jackson Baker and Kobie Enright took out impressive victories at the Port Stephens Pro which was the second event of the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS).

The three-day event saw an array of conditions with competition wrapping up in fun, two-to-three foot waves at One Mile Beach.

Fresh off a fifth-place finish at the recent Great Lakes Pro, Jackson Baker came into the Port Stephens QS1,000 with one thing in mind – winning.

In the final, Baker came up against the form surfer of 2021 Jordan Lawler in what was set to be a blockbuster and the pair didn’t disappoint.

Lawler was unable to conjure the form he showed earlier in the day while Baker posted an excellent two-wave total of 16.70 to claim his fourth QS victory.

“Four wins from four finals feels pretty good,” Baker said.

“But I think it just adds more pressure for the future if I make a final. It’s been such a great couple of weeks to be back competing.”

Baker started working last year and got a dose of the real world.

He is now enjoying being back in competitive surfing.

Baker hopes to keep the momentum going, and has the wildcard entry into the Championship Tour event in his hometown of Newcastle.

After solid results at last week’s Great Lakes Pro, Kobie Enright and Philippa Anderson had the momentum on-hand, when the QS landed in Port Stephens and it was obvious from the get-go.

Enright started the heat strongly, posting an excellent 8.17 on her first ride backing it up with a further demonstration of her powerful frontside hacks, leaving Anderson to chase down the lead.

Although Anderson posted an excellent score of her own, she was unable to back it up leaving Enright to take the second QS victory of her young career.

Kobie will now head to the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro, a place she has tasted victory before, sitting 14th on the rankings.

“I was just super happy to make it to the final so to win feels amazing,” Enright said.

“I got to fall in love with surfing again and enjoy all of this.

“It’s been an awesome event getting to surf such a great point break like this.

“I’m from a right-hand point so definitely feel comfortable out there. I’m looking forward to heading to Maroubra with a win under my belt and having that confidence.”

It was unfortunate that in this year’s Port Stephens Pro the local surfers were knocked out early on, but they are still out there and there is more competitive surfing to come.

Ethan Smith told News Of The Area, “The QS runs from January through to July 2021 with each region having an allocation of surfers that can qualify for the CS through their regional tour.”

Athletes will be able to roll over points from 2020 QS events into the current season.

Australia/Oceania will receive an allocation of ten men’s and eight women’s spots onto the Challenger Series based on the regional QS rankings.

 

By Marian SAMPSON