Pittwater Online News

March 8 - 14, 2020: Issue 441

Sarah Baum and Luccas Mesinas take out the AirAsia Trials at the 2020 Sydney Surf Pro. + 2020 lifeline challenge results

MANLY BEACH, SYDNEY
Saturday, 7 March 2020

Sarah Baum (ZAF) and Luccas Mesinas (Peru) have taken out the AirAsia Sydney Surf Pro Trials and will feature in the new World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series alongside some of the world’s biggest and best surfers when the event kicks off from tomorrow.

Sarah Baum (ZAF) has added another accomplishment to her already stellar year, taking out the Women’s division at the AirAsia Sydney Surf Pro Trials. Having already taken out the 2020 Carve Pro and the Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro, as well as a runner-up at the Mothernest Great Lakes Pro, Baum used the same powerful display of surfing to get the upper hand against her the international finalists. Baum found a handful of punchy left-handers that allowed her to unleash a barrage of powerful forehand snaps and carves and finish the final with a heat total of 9.85. Baum will surf in round one tomorrow.

“This year feels like a total dream so far. It’s amazing. I can’t believe it,” said Baum. “I think I have the same momentum and routine as the start of the year and the results have been coming my way. I love the bank here with the lefts on offer and I was so excited to surf it when I turned up this morning. I don’t know why the results have come my way this year, I think I just woke up one morning and my mindset and mentality changed and the belief in myself skyrocketed. I figure I have nothing to lose in this event now, so I’m going to just go out there and go hard and have as much fun as I can.”

Sarah Baum - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

Despite getting a fifth-place finish at the Corona Open China and a ninth place at the Pro Taghazout Bay in Morocco, Luccas Mesinas (Peru) was still unsure if he would have a high enough seed to gain entry into the Sydney Surf Pro. However, the pressure was lifted when Mesinas took out the AirAsia Sydney Surf Pro Trials ahead of some fancied opposition. Mesinas surfed to his strength in the final, catching a handful of fast lefts that allowed him to nail a chain of giant backside snaps and finish the heat with a 13.00 two-wave heat total and earn himself a spot into round two.

“I’m really thankful to be in this event as I wanted to be in this event all week,” said Mesinas. “I prefer lefts, so to see little lefts here for the trials really suited me. I think me using my backhand is definitely an advantage and I chose to focus on that. I hope I can follow it up with a good result in the event. I think I’m currently fifth place on the QS, so I really want to improve on that and hold onto a decent spot on the rankings.”

Luccas Mesinas - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

Elliot Paerata-Reid (NZL) finished in the runner up position behind Mesinas and as a result, earned a spot into the first round of the Challenger Series.

Elliot Paerata-Reid - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

The 2020 Lifeline Challenge was taken out by NB Secondary College in the Girls division with a solid display of impressive surfing to finish the heat with a decent 42.18 heat total.

The Boys division of the 2020 Lifeline Challenge was taken out by NBSC Balgowlah and who gained the edge in the high scoring final, finishing with a mammoth 65.83 team score for their efforts ahead of NBSC Freshwater by a 2.24 margin.

2020 Lifeline Challenge - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

The Sydney Surf Pro WSL Challenger Series event will run from March 8 through 14, 2020. Please visit WorldSurfLeague.com or download the free WSL App for more information on the Sydney Surf Pro Junior and the newly announced WSL Challenger Series.

The Sydney Surf Pro couldn't happen without the support of Destination NSW, Sydney, Northern Beaches Council, Hotel Steyne, Harvey Norman, Boost, Air Asia, Bonsoy, Bond University, The Drop Festival, SurfAid, Surfing NSW and WSL.

RESULTS:

Air Asia Sydney Surf Pro

Men