No idol threat as giant-killer Ellie Harrison tames Bells Beach heroes
Ellie Harrison has just beaten Tyler Wright. She doesn’t know what to say. She doesn’t know how to act.
Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. That’s the gist of Ellie Harrison’s reaction to her giant-killing run at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Oh her gosh. And goodness.
“I can’t believe it,” the local schoolgirl says after ambushing two-time defending Bells champion Tyler Wright the day after knocking over World No. 1 Molly Picklum. “It doesn’t feel real. I don’t know what to say. I don’t really know how to act.”
Harrison lives at nearby Barwon Heads. Surfs for Torquay Boardriders. Studies for her HSC remotely via Virtual Schools Victoria while seeking a fulltime place on the World Surf League via the qualifying series. She’s bursting with local knowledge and support. They were hooting and hollering when she ambushed Wright on Wednesday at a contest where she used to be one of the hyperactive little autograph-seeking groms on the sand.
“As soon as I saw the draw come out I thought, ‘Oh no. Tyler Wright,’” the 18-year-old Harrison said. “I look up to Tyler so much. She’s the nicest person in the water. Gives me compliments. She’s such a cool girl. I had the mentality of having nothing to lose and just accepting the fact it was a great opportunity to surf with her. It just all happened perfectly. Such a dream come true. Family and friends cheering for me, it’s something I’ve thought about every year. Now it’s real, it feels a little weird.”
A dear lady was on the edge of her seat in the crowd. Harrison’s grandmother, Dabba. Yabba Dabba Doo: Harrison posted 13.73 points to Wright’s 12.74. When the final scores were announced, she raised a left fist to the sky. Gosh. And goodness.
Australia’s World No. 1 Molly Picklum was a shock loser in round three, eliminated by American Sawyer Lindblad by 15.67 points to 11.74. Picklum is knackered. She’s had a mile of media and PR commitments since returning to Australia last week. Zipping back and forth to Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix for sponsor promotions and appearances wasn’t ideal.
“Rough heat,” Picklum said. “Not the roll I wanted here. I just need to take a moment to breathe. It’s been a busy week.”
Harrison will face France’s World No. 2 Johanne Defay in the quarter-finals. “It’s still sinking in that I won my first heat against Molly, let alone beating Tyler,” she said after her triumph next door to Bells at Winkipop. “I feel very happy. I don’t know what else to say! I’m at home. I feel comfortable. I surf waves like this at Winki every day. I’m just trying to treat it like it’s just another surf out here. Just trying to get a couple of waves. I was looking at Tyler in the water and thinking, ‘This is pretty cool.’ It felt amazing to win. I was like, ‘Woah! I got through!”
Yabba Dabba Doo! Harrison admitted it would have been weird to get Picklum’s autograph because they’re only three years apart. But she could still imagine asking for the 29-year-old Wright’s signature. “Because I’ve literally watched her since I started surfing,” Harrison said. “She’s someone I’ve looked up to my whole life. We’re both sponsored by Rip Curl and I’ve had a couple of opportunities to meet her a few times and now to compete with her. I don’t know how I beat her.”
She hugged friends, family and seemingly every man and his dog from here to Torquay: “In other heats I’d go, ‘It’s just another rashy.’ But in that heat I was like, ‘All right, I’ve got Tyler and it’s a hard heat.’ I just tried to hold my ground and know my worth. I’ve probably come here every year since I was in a pram. Mum and dad would come and watch. I’ve got lots of photos with the pros. I remember Sally (Fitzgibbons), Owen (Wright), heaps of photos and heaps of autographs. Meeting them all in the water. Everyone was so nice. And one of them was Tyler.”
Can you keep winning? Oh her gosh. Oh her goodness. She doesn’t hesitate before replying, “Of course!”
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