Robinson chasing WSL title in his own backyards

[Pelican Press 0]

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Robinson chasing WSL title in his own backyards

If Jack Robinson feels at home on this year’s world tour, it’s probably because he is.

The West *********** has finished between fifth and third in the past three Championship Tour seasons and won silver at last year’s Paris Olympics.

He’s one of 10 *********** men and women set to compete full time in the World Surf League’s top tier, which could begin as early as Tuesday morning (AEST) when the window opens at Hawaii’s Pipe Pro.

The Banzai break will launch a new-look season that then heads to an artificial wave at Abu Dhabi’s Hudayriat Island and welcomes back Gold Coast’s Snapper Rocks as one of three *********** stops before a Fiji finals day.

Robinson looks at home at Pipeline, where he won two years ago, is the local favourite at the Margaret River Pro and lives on the Gold Coast, a stone’s throw from Snapper Rocks.

“I have two events on two doorsteps,” he said. “Super stoked; I can just run down from my house for my heat and be ready. It’s pretty cool.

“And (Fiji) it’s a good change (from California’s Lower Trestles). I think that’s what everyone wanted and everyone got it. So, yeah, let’s go.

“New guys on tour … new schedule. A different location, different waves. Lot of reasons to have fun.”

Hawaii’s John John Florence won’t defend his title, although he has taken a wildcard at his local event.

Robinson will be joined by *********** rookies George Pittar and Joel Vaughan, who qualified on the second-tier tour along with women’s veteran Sally Fitzgibbons.

Eight-time women’s champion Stephanie Gilmore won’t compete this year, leaving young gun Molly Picklum to lead the *********** charge.

Fifth overall last season, Picklum scored a perfect 10 on the way to the 2024 Pipe Pro final before losing to eventual world champion Caitlin Simmers.

Like Robinson, Picklum said the task appeared clearer without an Olympics shoe-horned into the schedule.

“I realised now when people said, ‘Oh, how do you manage the Olympics and world title?’,” she said.

“Now, it’s just a world title, I feel a lot more energy and just straight-line focus for that world title trophy.”

Pipeline has been pumping in recent months, but the forecast this week is for more moderate conditions.

“We always get fear, even if it’s small or big,” Robinson said.

“Pipeline’s just like that. I still feel everything; it’s just how you manage it.”The fear makes you be so alert and so focused that then you are at your best too. You just can’t fully focus on the fear, though.”

* AUSSIE WSL CONTINGENT

Men: Ethan Ewing, George Pittar, Jack Robinson, Joel Vaughan, Liam O’Brien, Ryan Callinan.

Women: Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols, Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright.

* SCHEDULE: Pipe Pro (Jan 27-Feb 8), Abu Dhabi Pro (Feb14-16), Portugal (March 15-25), El Salvador (April 2-12), Bells Beach (April 18-28), Gold Coast (May 3-13), Margaret River (17-27), Trestles (June 9-17), Rio (June 21-29), Jeffreys Bay (July 11-20), Tahiti (Aug 7-16), Fiji (Aug 27-Sep 4).

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