Gold Coast dominates World Surf League event as Lock, O’Brien claim titles

TWEED teen Alyssa Lock has claimed a maiden World Surf League Qualifying Series crown as Gold Coasters dominated the Cape Naturaliste Pro.

TWEED teen Alyssa Lock has claimed a maiden World Surf League Qualifying Series crown as Gold Coasters dominated the Cape Naturaliste Pro.

Lock claimed the inaugural crown in the QS 1000 event at Yallingup, with Burleigh’s Liam O’Brien taking his third win of the season to jump into the top 100 in the QS rankings. O’Brien beat Sheldon Simkus in an all Gold Coast decider in clean 1m peaks.

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Tweed's Alyssa Lock on her way to a win in the World Surf League QS 1000 Cape Naturaliste Pro. Photo: WSL

Lock beat West Australian Mia McCarthy, dominating on the backhand to register a heat high single-wave score of 6.25 for a final two-wave total of 11.75 (from a possible 20).

“That was my first ever QS final and I’m so stoked to have taken it out,” Lock said.

“I’m really happy with how I performed and want to keep building my seeding into 2019.”

Lock jumped 16 places in the QS rankings to No. 70 and wants to keep building on that next year as she chases her dream of a spot on the Championship Tour.

O’Brien finished with a total of 14.00 — including a heat high 7.75, to leave Simkus chasing a score of 7.01 for the win when the siren sounded.

Burleigh's Liam O'Brien is chaired up the beach after winning the World Surf League QS 1000 Cape Naturaliste Pro. Photo: WSL

“It’s been awesome to come over here to the West and compete,” O’Brien said.

“I surfed here in Yallingup as a grom for a Taj’s Small Fries (event) then I came for the Aussie Junior Titles and as soon as I heard that there was going to be a WSL event here I was straight on it.

“Yallingup is amazing and I’m stoked to be the first ever winner of this great event.”