Jack Robinson, Ethan Ewing and Molly Picklum look to secure final five spot in Fiji

As a 17-year-old from the Gold Coast made her World Surf League debut in Fiji, a trio of Aussie stars made big inroads on their world title claims.

Olympic silver medallist Jack Robinson took a major step towards locking in a spot in the World Surf League final-five shootout for the world title next month with a big heat win on a good day for his Australian teammates in Fiji.

After two days without surf, Robinson and fellow Olympians Ethan Ewing and Molly Picklum won their way through to the sudden-death stage at Cloudbreak in the final regular season event before the five-surfer showdown in the US in September to crown the world champion.

Only the top five ranked surfers after the Fiji event will contest the finals at Lower Trestles, and Robinson only has to make the semi-finals in Fiji to secure his spot.

But while the Aussie trio fared well, 17-year-old junior world champion Sierra Kerr lost her debut WSL heat and the Gold Coast teenager has been thrust into the elimination rounds in her maiden event.

While the teenager was making her debut, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, who was given a wildcard into the event, was knocked out in the elimination round. While he said it was “the last heat I’ll ever surf out here at Cloudbreak”, the 52-year-old again refused to use the word retirement.

Ethan Ewing was impressive in Fiji. Picture: Aaron Hughes/World Surf League

Robinson, who won Australia’s second Olympic medal in Paris, remains third on the rankings ahead of the round of 16, with Ewing on the bubble in fifth. He was happy just to win his heat after the wait to surf.

“It was a pretty scrappy heat to be honest,” the 25-year-old said.

“We had a lot of current coming down the point, so we couldn’t really get to the good spot, but it worked out in the end for me, so I’m happy.

“I’m just trying to put on good performances and try to enjoy it.”

Molly Picklum wore a helmet for safety as she won through to the final eight in Fiji. Picture: Matt Dunber/World Surf League

Only American world No.1 Caitlin Simmers, who won her heat against Kerr, has booked a start in the finals, but Picklum, fourth on the live rankings and needing to make the final in Fiji, or win, to guarantee her spot, started well by downing Hawaiian duo Gabriela Bryan and Bettylou Sakura Johnson.

“I just wanted to go out there and do my turns and hopefully let the barrel find me, but I was a bit greedy on the barrel and tried a bit too hard,” said the 21-year-old from NSW.

“I’m new here and obviously learning as I go and we got some really good takeaways in that heat, so I’m really happy to make it and get to use those learnings and go again.”

The event marks the first Championship Tour stop in Fiji since 2017.

Originally published as Jack Robinson, Ethan Ewing and Molly Picklum look to secure final five spot in Fiji