Central Coast surfer Molly Picklum wins maiden Championship Tour event at Sunset Beach in Hawaii

North Shelly’s Molly Picklum has jumped to the top of the WSL Championship Tour after a stunning victory at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.

Central Coast surfer Molly Picklum has announced herself as a genuine contender for the world title after claiming her maiden Championship Tour victory at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.

The 20-year-old was unstoppable at the second event of the WSL tour on Oahu’s North Shore, knocking out two-time world champion Tyler Wright en route to the final, where she met American Caroline Marks.

In six to eight-foot waves, Picklum found herself on the back foot early in the heat, with Marks jagging the wave of the final, which scored an impressive 7.50.

However Picklum, who surfs for the North Shelly Boardriders Club, hit back, catching two medium-range waves of 5.50 and 5.40 to take the lead with a two-wave total of 10.90.

Despite only needing a wave of 3.41 to take the lead, Marks was unable to capitalise on her opportunities, with Picklum claiming her first CT win in just her second year on tour.

Molly Picklum of Australia is chaired from the beach after winning the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach at Oahu, Hawaii. (Photo by Tony Heff/World Surf League)

‘Pickles’, as she is affectionately known, was joined in the water by coach – and former Central Coast CT surfer – Glenn Hall as she paddled in to the beach.

“I felt like I wasn’t on the best waves, but because the ocean was pretty slow in this event I just myself two opportunities and then that was enough to get through because they couldn’t back up their good waves,” Picklum told WSL after the final.

“I’m so stoked to take it out and this event is so challenging. I think it’s just never losing your confidence and really believing in yourself the whole way, no matter what it looks like. The level of women’s surfing is insane. You can be on the (second tier) Challenger Series one year then win a CT event, so I’m definitely proud of myself for just chipping away even though there are so many setbacks. Moments like these make it all worth it.”

The win takes Picklum to equal first on the tour, meaning both she and Hawaiian Carissa Moore will wear the yellow leader’s jersey at the next event in Portugal in March.

Picklum is now equal first in the championship rankings. (Photo by Brent Bielmann/World Surf League)

“It is just a jersey colour, but I’m stoked to be on the top because that’s where I want to be, it’s where I feel I believe I can be, and it’s just a jersey colour for now because the endgame is Trestles,” said Picklum, referring to the season-ending final at Trestles in California, where the top-five surfers will battle it out to be world champion.

The victory has not only set Picklum up for a tilt at making the final, but it also means she’s a good chance of surviving the mid-season cut, to take place after event five at Margaret River in Western Australia.

“That cut being there is huge. It’s like a whole freedom for these next few events. Who knows, I may not be safe enough, because there are so many good surfers, but obviously it gives you confidence to go through the next few events before the cut,” she said.

The mid-season cut will also determine the provisional qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where surfing will take place at Tahiti’s famous Teahupo’o surf break.

“To represent Australia, even just on the WSL tour is an honour, and the Olympics, the fact that surfing is in there is still so mind-boggling for me, and I feel like if I could do it, I’d want to do it this year in Tahiti, because it’s a challenging wave and I’d really like to test myself.”