Nyxie Ryan and Alister Reginato make amends for 2023 disasters at Gold Coast Open
Some of Queensland’s top young surfers have flocked to Burleigh Heads for the 2024 Gold Coast Open, including teen sensation Isla Huppatz. See the the final day action and winners.
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Lennox Head’s Nyxie Ryan and Sunshine Coast’s Alister Reginato have made winning starts to 2024 at the Gold Coast Open surfing championship on Sunday.
On the third and final day, Ryan and Reginato left it all in the surf to start the year off in the best way possible.
They competed in the quarters, semis and final on Sunday in three to four foot waves.
Ryan held on to claim the women’s title against fellow Australian Ellie Harrison in a tight final by 1.80 points.
The 20-year-old said the sport was growing stronger with the younger competitors coming through.
“The conditions were really good for this event compared to the last couple of years,” she said.
“It’s great seeing all the younger girls coming up, I feel kind of old here now and I’m only 20 though so I still have a few more years.
“The level is getting higher and higher every year.”
Starting the day in the No. 4 heat in the quarter-finals, Ryan breezed through before being too strong for Brazilian opponent Anne dos Santos in their semi-final.
Dos Santos ended Gold Coast junior Isla Huppatz’s Open in the quarter-finals earlier on Sunday.
Ryan’s win has also given her a welcome boost.
The Lennox Head surfer has lifted her ranking to 13th as she also chases a spot on the Challenger Series.
Ryan learnt from her mistakes in the 2023 Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro where she was knocked out in the quarter-finals and finished fifth overall.
She also finished 25th in the 2023 Gold Coast Open Surfing championship, being knocked out by fellow Australian Charli Hurst.
In the Gold Coast Open men’s event, Reginato was second into the waves of the final against fellow Sunshine Coast training partner Cooper Davies, taking out the title by 2.40 points.
Reginato said it was great to battle it out for the title against his great mate.
“It was unreal, this is probably the hardest (World Surf Leage Qualifying Series) 1000 in the world,” Reginato said after the win.
“The level in Australia is unreal and coming up against one of my best mates is pretty surreal.
“We did a scissor, paper, rock competition before the first heat which he won so he got first choice of the wave.”
The Maroochydore local took on some intense waves as he battled through the quarters, semis and final.
Reginato has taken a step closer to competing for a spot on the WSL’s Championship Tour with his win at the Open.
He is currently ranked second in the Australia/Oceania region of the Qualifying Series, with the top 10 earning a fulltime spot on the Challenger Series for 2025 where athletes have a shot at progressing to top tier Championship Tour.
Reginato returned to the Gold Coast Open after a tough showing in 2023 where he was knocked out in the final 64, finishing49th overall.
Tully White won the first ever women’s longboard QS event at Burleigh Heads beating Kirra Molnar who snapped her board mid-heat in the final.
Declan Wyton ended up winning a men’s longboard final beating three-time world longboard champion Taylor Jensen.
Thousands turned out to watch the Open on the Burleigh beachfront and up Burleigh Hill throughout the three-day contest.
‘It’s pumping’: Top surfers battle it out at Burleigh
The 2024 Gold Coast Open arrived at Burleigh Heads on Friday February 16 with surfers across the country going head-to-head for valuable World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) points.
It marks the second Australia QS event in 2024 and is set to feature the debut of Longboard QS (LQS) divisions at Burleigh Heads.
Standout names competing in the LQS include, three-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen and Queensland longboard icon Kirra Molnar.
DAY TWO (SATURDAY)
In the women’s Round of 16, seven Aussies have secured their spot in the quarter-finals plus one international athlete.
Sage Goldsbury, Rosie Smart, Raya Campbell, Ellie Harrison, Nyxie Ryan, Gia Lorentson and Isla Huppatz (Australia) and Brazil’s Anne Dos Santos are those progressing.
Reigning champions Huppatz will face Dos Santos in Heat 3.
The men’s Round of 16 (upcoming) will feature solely Australian surfers after France’s Justin Becret, Spain’s Sean Gunning were knocked out in the Round of 32.
Queensland local and favourite Alister Reginato is among the mix, set to face Jack Thomas, Ben Zanatta Creagh and Dane Henry in Heat 1.
PREVIEW
Alister Reginato will be another star to watch after placing second in the BYD Pro URBNSURF QS 3000.
Reginato has already stated his primary focus for the 2024 Gold Coast Open will be to claim victory in his home state.
“I am very keen to surf Burleigh this weekend and the waves look like they’re going to be pumping,” he said.
“I am excited to battle it out with the best surfers in the country and show the work I have been putting in.”
Former Championship Tour (CT) surfer and previous Gold Coast Open winner Dimity Stoyle is eager to compete in the 2024 Gold Coast Open.
“It’s always fun every year being able to compete against a broad variety of talent at the iconic Burleigh Heads,” he said.
“The surf forecast for the Gold Coast Open is shaping up to be the best year this event has seen to date!
“With these conditions, I can’t wait to get out in the water.”
With a plethora of incentives for spectators, Surfing Queensland CEO Adam Yates is thrilled to host the 2024 Gold Coast Open.
“We can’t wait to be hosting some of the world’s best surfers for the 2024 Gold Coast Open at this iconic surf break.
“It is great to be facilitating the first ever longboard QS event running at Burleigh Heads and I can’t wait to see the athletes on display,” he said.
Previous winners of the Gold Coast Open (formerly Burleigh Pro) include Taj Burrow, Julian Wilson, Dimity Stoyle, Owen Wright, Sophie McCulloch, Mitch Crews and Isabella Nichols.
The event is known for attracting surfers from all corners of the globe including Hawaii, Indonesia, North America, France, Brazil and Japan.
Attractions at the event will include sunrise yoga, a pop-up beach, live music on the hill and a skate ramp provided by Chiggy’s Skateboarding.
“Burleigh Hill is the perfect natural amphitheatre for the event, and we expect to see crowds flock in bigger numbers than ever before.”
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Originally published as Nyxie Ryan and Alister Reginato make amends for 2023 disasters at Gold Coast Open
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