QUARTERFINALISTS DECIDED AT VISSLA GREAT LAKES PRO PRES. BY D’BLANC.

**ABOVE:** Davey Cathels' competitive experience paid off today as he amassed one of the highest two-wave heat-totals of the event thus far 17.75 out of a possible 20.

**IMAGE CREDITS:** Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

BOOMERANG BEACH, GREAT LAKES (Saturday, 10 February 2018): The Vissla Great Lakes Pro pres. by D’Blanc QS1,000 event ran through a big day of action that saw top seeds and big names battle it out for a chance to feature on final’s day tomorrow. The wind swung around and blew in all directions today, but the competitors stepped up and put on a show with aerials, carves and ripping turns.

Meah Collins (USA) was the form surfer of the day on the women’s side of the draw. Collins consistently posted excellent scores, even netting an 8.00 for a one maneuver wave after executing one of the biggest turns of the event on a tricky section. She has advanced to the Quarterfinals where she will face Sarah Baum (ZAF) when competition resumes tomorrow.

“I knew today was a day where you needed the right waves, so I tried to use my priority wisely and it worked out,” Collins said. “I had a bad year last year and didn’t seem to make as many heats as I’d like to, so I’ve been working hard and I am glad that it’s working here. Hopefully, I can keep the roll going tomorrow and into the up and coming QS6,000 events at Newcastle and Manly.”

Californian Alyssa Spencer (USA) booked a spot in the Quarterfinals after an impressive Round Three heat win that saw Philippa Anderson (AUS) also advance in 2nd position. Spencer has been competing in Australia since early January and will be looking to secure her best QS result of the year by advancing through tomorrow’s Quarterfinals, to better her 5th place at the Carve Pro.

“I’ve been loving my time in Australia,” Spencer said. “We have had some great waves and I made some great friends too. It’s been busy, there have been so many events back-to-back, but I’ve seen so much and had so much fun. After Manly though I am really looking forward to spending some time at home.”

Winner of last week’s Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro Jackson Baker (AUS) was on fire again at Boomerang Beach. Baker advanced into the Quarterfinals after taking first place in a stacked heat that featured Sheldon Simkus (AUS), Dean Bowen (AUS) and Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), with Simkus also advancing in 2nd position.

“In the past, after I’ve won or had a good result I’ve lost first heat at the next one, so it feels really good to be through to the Quarters,” Baker said. “I broke my favourite board this morning, it would have been perfect for out there this afternoon, but this backup board seemed to work - so I’m happy. I feeling confident heading into the Burton Automotive Pro at home in Newcastle which was the goal of competing in these QS1,000s. That heat was so stacked — I saw the lefts and was worried that Bowen and Hiroto would blow up, lucky for me I survived and can come back to compete again tomorrow.”

Former WSL Championship Tour Competitor Matt Banting (AUS) is looking like he has not taken a backward step, despite sitting out the best part of two years with back-to-back injuries. The Port Macquarie local launched and landed big aerials, executed precision snaps and carves to drop near-perfect scores and book a Quarterfinal berth against Sheldon Simkus.

“Yesterday before my heat I had butterflies and I was nervous, but today I didn’t so I’m just working on building back up my surfing and experience,” Banting said. “The 20-minute heats go so fast and all the guys surf so good, so I had to be on my game. Winning yesterday and then another heat win today feels incredible, it’s the best feeling. We’re so lucky to be able to travel the world and surf and compete and I’ve been working hard to get back to this level. I’m fitter than ever so now I just need to keep surfing and preparing to hopefully get back on the Championship Tour. If it happens this year, great, if not, I’ll be back and next year and the year after because I believe I still have what it takes."

Another former CT surfer who lit up the line-up at Boomerang today was Davey Cathels (AUS). Cathels only lives a few hours down the coast at North Narrabeen and has spent plenty of time enjoying the waves at Boomerang in his surfing life. The competitive experience paid off today as he amassed one of the highest two-wave heat-totals of the event thus far 17.75 out of a possible 20.

“I’m happy with that heat! An 8.50 and a 9.25, I’ll take that!” Cathels said. “The wind puffed up and it made it better and all the guys were ripping. It’s crazy to see the level of surfing here, it feels like it is a QS6,000, which is why I’m here. It’s good to get some practice heats before the big events coming up.”

Other up and coming Vissla events:

**Vissla Sydney Surf Pro**, Manly Beach February 24th – March 4th, 2018

**Vissla Central Coast Pro pres. by Slimes**, Avoca Beach March 7th – 11th, 2018

The Vissla Great Lakes Pro pres. by D'Blanc will commence each day from 7:30 am with the call for the day's schedule and location confirmed via the event hotline at 6:45 am. The event hotline number is **0458 247 212** which will leave a voice recorded message each morning of the event.

The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian and international surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series. The Series also creates a NSW coastal road trip for all to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and enjoy NSW surfing culture.

More information on accommodation and the event series will be housed at nswprosurfseries.com

The 2018 NSW Pro Surf Series will be proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Randwick City Council, Central Coast Council, Destination Tweed, Mid Coast Council and Tourism, NBN, Toyota, Coastalwatch, World Surf League and Surfing NSW. #visslanswprosurfseries