WOMEN SHINE ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE VISSLA CENTRAL COAST PRO PRES. BY SLIMES AT AVOCA.

AVOCA BEACH, CENTRAL COAST (Thursday, March 8, 2018): The second day of the Vissla Central Coast Pro pres. by Slimes Boardstore saw the seeded rounds of the women�s division hit the water as they attempted to book themselves a spot into round three.

Sarah Baum (ZAF) continued to build on her incredible round one performance, throwing down one of the biggest snaps seen all event. Baum nailed one giant fins free snap on a left-hander rip-bowl to post herself an excellent 8.00 wave score and take out her heat convincingly.

�It feels good to get a second heat win on the trot,� said Baum. �I was going to surf on the bank straight out the front of the event structure, but I noticed it backed right off just before my heat, so I changed my approach and surfed to the north slightly. It worked in my favour as there was no one there with me and I could get a few waves to myself. Being a goofy-footer I�m always going to prefer the lefthanders.�

Local threat Kirra-Belle Olsson (Avoca, NSW) showed her local nous as she went to town on a punchy left bowl. The strong goofy-footer executed a chain of mammoth snaps to lock in an 8.00 wave score and take out her heat ahead of fellow event standout Tarnea O�Meara.

�That little left rip-bowl has been really fun on the right tide, so I knew I wanted to try and post a decent score or two out there,� said Olsson. �It�s always great having an event in my own backyard as you�re super comfortable with the break and you don�t need to break the routine. It would definitely be a goal to post a good result here.�

Hailing all the way from Western Australia, Mia McCarthy (Margaret River, WA), made her cross-country voyage worthwhile, taking out the final heat of the day. McCarthy put on a decent display of power, style and grace as she posted a respectable 11.20 heat total. McCarthy will meet Japanese duo Amuro Tsuzuki and Natsuki Suda as well as Olsson when the women�s division recommences.

�There are some really fun waves here and everyone is surfing so well, so I�m stoked to get through,� said McCarthy. �It�s a good feeling to make it into round three and keep the momentum going. I just want to keep having fun and getting as many good waves as I can.�

Day three of the Vissla Central Coast Pro pres. by Slimes Boardstore will kick off at Avoca from 8am tomorrow.

The elite five-day World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 rated competition will take place from 7 � 11 March 2018.

Over 200 male and female surfers will compete in the event, which will see over 18 different countries represented in both divisions.

Previous event champions include CT surfer and local Adrian Buchan, former World Championship Tour surfer Justine Dupont (France) and former US Open of Surfing champion Hiroto Ohhara (Japan).

Local Central Coast competitors in the event include Lennox Chell (Avoca), Caleb Tancred (Avoca), Shane Holmes (Shelly Beach), Troy and Jamie Skillin (Norah Head), Kirra-Belle Olsson (Avoca) and Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach).

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.

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

**Vissla Central Coast Pro pres. by Slimes Boardstore**

**Location: Avoca Beach

Date: March 7th � 11th, 2018**

*Imagery: Ethan Smith*