Local teen ousts champ in Bells shock
Giant-killing teenage wildcard Ellie Harrison earned hugs all-round from her elated family after causing one of the biggest upsets in Rip Curl Pro history by knocking out back-to-back defending champ Tyler Wright on a monumental day at Bells Beach.
World No.1 Molly Picklum was also bundled out amid a raft of shock results that threw the event wide open and left Harrison, 18, as the only remaining Australian in the final eight of the women’s event with a new winner set to be crowned.
Harrison, a Barwon Heads local who won her way into the event for the first time last weekend, shocked Picklum to win their heat on day one and took all that confidence and momentum into her second day showdown with Wright.
The two-time world champion produced her best surfing late in the round of 16 clash before Harrison, inspired by hordes of family and friends on the beach at Winkipop, sealed the win to secure a “dream” quarter-final berth with second-ranked Johanne Defay from France.
“Going against Tyler, as soon as I saw the heat come out, I was like, ‘Oh no’,” Harrison said after he breakthrough win.
“I look up to Tyler so much, she’s the nicest person in the water, she gives me compliments, she’s such a cool girl. I had the mentality of I had nothing to lose.
“I just tried to keep my cool. I knew there would be a lot of sitting around. I was just trying to wait for the perfect opportunity to find my position, try and get a big score. I’m glad I got through.
“It’s a dream come true, surfing at Bells … it’s something I have thought about it every year. It’s a little weird, I don’t even know how to react.”
The event was blown wide open after Picklum’s pursuit of her first Bells Beach title also ended in a round-of-16 loss to American Sawyer Lindblad.
Picklum, who had been a favourite to go one better than making the final in 2023, was made to fight for a spot in the round of 16 after coming last in her opening heat on the first day of competition.
The 21-year-old was sent to a sudden-death elimination final showdown to start the second day, with competition shifted to nearby Winkipop for more favourable conditions.
Picklum did just enough to get through, finishing second behind fellow Aussie Sophie McCulloch, before losing to Lindblad in comprehensive fashion.
Picklum shrugged her shoulders after a last-ditch effort failed to net the 9.5 ride she needed to avoid elimination.
McCulloch later lost her round of 16 clash, joining fellow Aussies Wright, Picklum, Isabella Nichols and Sally Fitzgibbons in making Wednesday exits from the event.
In the men’s draw Morgan Cibilic set up an all-Australian quarter-final showdown with Ryan Callinan after taking down Jack Robinson in their Round of 32 clash.
Fellow Aussie Ethan Ewing then defeated another local wildcard, George Pittar from Manly before deteriorating conditions demanded an earlier finish.
