Kerr and Earle win QS3000 at URBNSURF

Australia’s two most recent World Junior Champions, Sierra Kerr and Jarvis Earle have taken out the first WSL QS3000 event of the season at URBNSURF.

It was the first QS win for 16-year-old Kerr from Coolangatta and the second for 19-year-old Earle of Cronulla.

Kerr took on local Victorian Ellie Harrison in the final. As the scores built across the first three out of four waves allotted per surfer, it all came down to the final wave for Kerr. Harrison had earned an 8.67 (out of a possible 10) on her final wave, putting Kerr in a situation where she needed to back up an 8.00 ride with at least an 8.51. Ripping through her first turn with pure aggression, Kerr sliced efficiently down the line, before kicking out with confidence. It didn’t take long for the event-winning 8.63 to drop, delivering Kerr her long-awaited victory.

Kerr told the WSL: “I can’t really believe that, that was a crazy ending. I didn’t know really what score I needed, it was kind of a high score so I was like let’s surf like Sierra and just have some fun, and got it done. It’s just starting to click, so that’s super good, a QS win, I’m frothing.”

Jarvis opened the final against Alister Reginato with a near-perfect 9.50, the equal highest single wave score of the day. Earle looked unstoppable as he pushed his backhand re-entries beyond vertical before whipping through a lightning-fast reverse. Meanwhile, Reginato was unable to tap into his previous fire and Earle closed it out on his final wave with a 9.37 to post the highest heat total of the event, 18.87 (out of a possible 20).

Earle told the WSL: “I’ve had a bit of a rough competition run lately so it was good to come down to the pool and get some reps in and come away with the win, I’m so stoked. I came second last year so it was really good to do one better. Reggy (Alister Reginato, runner-up) was on the other side of the draw so I was watching all of his heats, he’s been ripping all event. Stoked we had a good final. There’s so much depth in the talent of Australia right now. All the regional QS’s are stacked, stoked to come away with the win at such a tough event. It’s epic that it’s a 3000 this year. It’s obviously a big event, and stoked I take all the points. Hope I climb up the rankings a bit.”

The win sees Earle sitting No. 4 on the Australia / Oceania rankings, within the qualification cut line for the 2024 Challenger Series. Kerr sits in No. 7, though her World Junior Title has already guaranteed her a place on this year’s Challenger Series.

Images: WSL