MCCULLOCH’S COMEBACK CLAIMS TITLE
SOPHIE McCulloch admits there are times she struggles to mount a comeback in the throes of competition.
But that is perhaps what made her Gold Coast Open triumph so crucial in her hopes for the rest of the surfing season. The Sunshine Coast product allowed her final rival, Ellie Harrison, to get out to a slight lead, yet the most pleasing aspect for
McCulloch was the manner in which she was able to bounce back and secure the title at Burleigh Heads.
“It felt really good actually, I’ve always struggled to come from behind and I had a bit of a shocker and let Ellie go with an eight point ride right at the start,” McCulloch said.
“I nearly had a really good wave and then I fell, but I was happy I was able to shake that off, get my seven and play it smart.
“It feels good, my aim for this event was just to try and put on my best performance in the jersey and I really felt I started to get into a rhythm towards the back end of the event. “I’m really lucky there was so many good up and comers in Australia to put the pressure on me. It definitely brought out the best in me which was good.”
In the mens’s competition, Chris Zaffis fended off Dylan Moffat in the final to claim the victory. After a winless period in the Queensland Surf League, Zaffis said he sought to change his approach this event in a bid to gain form for the Challengers Series.
“I’m so stoked, I’ve been trying to win a competition for ages again so it feels really good,” he said. “To win at Burleigh as well, my new home point break, means a lot to me in front of all my friends and my wife. I’m super stoked.”