Practice makes perfect for surf star Connor O’Leary at Surfest, Sydney Pro

LAST year’s world tour rookie of the year Connor O’Leary subscribes to the theory that practice makes perfect.

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LAST year’s world tour rookie of the year Connor O’Leary subscribes to the theory that practice makes perfect.

It’s why he has set himself a hectic schedule of tournaments leading into the opening event of the world surf league, the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks in March.

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On Wednesday O’Leary made an impressive start to his event preparations for the Quiksilver Pro by laying down the highest score in the opening 13 heats of round two of the Burton Pro at Surfest.

Connor O’Leary with Matt Wilkinson at the end of the 2017 Outerknown Fiji Pro.

“It felt good,’’ O’Leary said after his 17.23 start to the event at Newcastle surfed in high-performance waves.

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The Cronulla surfer said he has penned his name on the starts list of both the Burton Pro and next week’s Sydney Pro to ensure he has “shaken out all the cobwebs’ before heading to Snapper.

“It’s about putting the competition head back on,’’ he said.

“In my book the more practice you get the better.

Connor O'Leary is making an early mark on the surfing season. Pic: Tim Hunter.

“ It’s all about getting ready for Snapper and arriving in the best shape and mind.’’

Also making a mark early at Newcastle was former world No. 1 Matt Wilkinson who posted a 13.56 in his first surf at the event he won two years ago.

Originally published as Practice makes perfect for surf star Connor O’Leary at Surfest, Sydney Pro