CALLAGHAN’S BOLD PROMISE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE

MACY Callaghan may just have given the surfing world a glimpse of its future.

The former world junior champion sprung one of the upsets of the tournament when she beat the “Queen of Snapper Rocks”, Stephanie Gilmore in only her second heat on the World Surf League championship tour.

Six-time world champ Gilmore had things far from her own way in the heat against two of Australia’s rising stars, with Callaghan and Bronte Macaulay shining in difficult conditions.

An injury replacement for Courtney Conlogue, who broke her foot last week, putting her out of the opening stages of the season, Callaghan is determined to grab her opportunity.

“It’s good, you’re going into the event with no pressure on you and just trying your best,” she said.

“I was pretty nervous (facing Gilmore), she’s the Queen of Snapper and I look up to her so much but it’s always nice to surf against people like that.”

Callaghan, who recently relocated to the Gold Coast, said her nerves settled once she locked in a score.

“I knew there weren’t many good waves coming through, so when I got that first one I was pretty confident, I just had to make sure I got another one.”

Callaghan did that, sealing a two-wave score of 11.84 to beat Gilmore (6.50) and Macaulay (1.27) to advance directly to Round 3.