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Heath Joske
2015 SCOOT BURLEIGH PRO PRESENTED BY VISSLA
MITCH CREWS (CURRUMBIN, QLD/AUS) AND DIMITY STOYLE
(SUNSHINE COAST, QLD/AUS) HAVE WON THE SCOOT BURLEIGH
PRO PRESENTED BY VISSLA QS1000 (QUALIFYING SERIES) RATED
EVENTS IN SMALL BUT CLEAN LONG RIGHTS AT BURLEIGH
HEADS. THIS EVENT IS THE FIRST OF THREE BACK-TO-BACK
WORLD SURF LEAGUE (WSL) QS EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA WITH
SURFERS BATTLING FOR POINTS TO HELP THEM QUALIFY FOR
THE ELITE WSL CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR (CT).
Crews took out the star-studded Scoot Burleigh Pro Final over
Jay Thompson (AUS), Lincoln Taylor (AUS) and Adam Melling
(AUS) who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. Crews stole
the win from Thompson late in the 30 minute Final with his
signature flair and high flying brand of surfing.
“I was bummed after my first heat at this event because I didn’t
feel like I surfed well enough to get through,” Crews said. “So to
now be on the podium feels incredible. I had a great year on the
CT last year and I leant a lot but I didn’t requalify. So to start 2015
with a win is perfect — it’s been a while since I won something
and it’s feeling pretty good.”
Stoyle, Scoot Burleigh Pro No. 1 seed didn’t disappoint this
weekend, putting on a solid showing and in the end claimed
the inaugural event title. Margaret River’s Bronte Macaulay was
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holding on to first place with only a minute and a half on the
clock in the Final, but Stoyle stole the show with solid snaps and
powerful rail turns. This win sets Stoyle up for a massive year
as she prepares for her second year on the elite Championship
Tour.
“Being the number one seed is always stressful — everyone
expects you to do well,” Stoyle said. “I didn’t want to put that
pressure on myself so I just focused on enjoying surfing
Burleigh with just three other girls. It’s been about a year since I
had a big win and it feels amazing! It’s a great start to the year for
me and now my next goal is to get a win at a CT event.”
Macaulay (Margaret River, WA/AUS) was one of the standout
surfers of the Scoot Burleigh Pro, posting the highest single
wave score of the women’s division - 9.65 (out of a possible 10).
Macaulay was close to sealing the win, but could only sit and
watch as Stoyle caught her last-minute, winning wave.
“I watched her catch that wave and I knew she would get the
score to overtake me,” Macaulay said. “She’s a great surfer and
can get big scores in her sleep. I’m really happy with how I’ve
been surfing the second hal