Molly Picklum joined the pantheon of Australian surfing champions after claiming her first world title with an imperious display at the season-ending WSL Finals in Fiji.
The 22-year-old from Gosford dominated 2023 world champion Caroline Marks of the US in the final at Cloudbreak after roaring back to post a 2-1 victory, having lost the first heat of the best-of-three final.
“I cannot believe it,” an emotional Picklum said afterwards. “I didn’t make it easy for myself. I was pretty excited and made it hard, but I locked in and did what I’ve done all year.”
Picklum posted a combined wave score of 10.50 in the opening heat as Marks pipped her with 12.50 to take the early advantage, only for scores of 15.83 and 16.93 in the next two heats to blow away the American and secure the Australian’s title.
“She [Marks] got me good, but I was still kind of there for the first heat, and then, I just found my form that second heat to combo, and she made one mistake,” Picklum said. “And then to do it again, it just like really solidifies it for me – there’s no ifs or buts about my year this year, and I’m so, so grateful to be taking the trophy home.”
Picklum was ranked No 1 for much of the WSL season having won two tour events and only finished lower than fifth once, and her consistency was rewarded with a ticket directly into Tuesday’s title decider at the famous break in Fiji.
Marks, conversely, had to fight through the heats to reach the final and by the time she got in the water to face Picklum, she had already seen off Bettylou Sakura Johnson, Caitlin Simmers and Gabriela Bryan over three qualifying rounds.
While Marks began the final strongly, her exertions over the course of the day caught up with her and she could only manage combined wave scores of 8.03 and 6.24 in the second and third heats against Picklum, who at the same time threaded two barrels to impress the judges.
Picklum follows in the footsteps of Australian greats Layne Beachley, Steph Gilmore – who last won the title for Australia in 2022 – and Tyler Wright in being crowned world champion.
Earlier, Olympic silver medallist Jack Robinson, the only other Australian title hopeful this week in Fiji, was unable to progress beyond the first heat and exited contention in the men’s event with defeat to Brazil’s Italo Ferreira.
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Ferreira eventually went out to Griffin Colapinto who reached the final with victory over Jordy Smith, but lost out to top seeded Yago Dora.
Dora outscored third-ranked Colapinto 15.66 to 12.33 in the first and only heat of the men’s final to become the sixth Brazilian man to win the world title in the last seven years.
“The signs were all there for me and I felt something special this week since I got here,” Dora said.
“I knew something was going my way, it didn’t matter whoever I was going to get in the final things were going to happen and I’m going to come out with the win – I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable.”
