Jarvis Earle takes out the Krui Pro QS 5000

Jarvis Earle overcame a huge field of Asia Pacific’s best up-and-coming surfers as well as huge surf throughout the week to claim victory at the Krui Pro Qualifying Series 5000.

The men’s Final saw two of the event standouts, Earle and fellow Aussie Taj Stokes, go head-to-head in a classic goofy verse natural battle. Both surfers got their accounts opened early, each performing a series of fast, critical turns to earn solid scores, with Earle getting the upperhand on the first exchange. Stokes then backed up his score with a 9.00 point ride for a long, deep tube ride to take the lead. Earle spent the remainder of the heat chasing an excellent score but was unable to complete a wave until, with only 20 seconds left, the former World Junior Champion found a set and dropped in. Earle smashed a huge layback snap on his first maneuver before a re-entry, carve and floater to finish earning a 9.03 and this third QS event win of the year. 

“I’m so stoked to have won this event, it’s such a great place with great waves and having my friends here it was awesome,” Earle told the WSL.

When asked about winning the final, he explained: “I was sitting out there for like 10-15 minutes, I reckon, and there hadn’t been a set, then I saw the sets coming on the horizon, and it definitely got my heart going.  When it was going small, I knew I had to surf out of body so I tried some airs, but when I saw that set, I knew I could just stick to turns and get the score. I’m just stoked I got the opportunity on a bigger wave at the end of the heat and that I got it done.”

In the women’s Final, Mirai Ikeda (JPN) came up against West Aussie youngster Willow Hardy (AUS) as both women hoped to claim their maiden QS event victory in another goofy versus natural matchup. Ikeda got an early start, which was a smart play in the slow conditions. Hardy, who had been a standout in the solid surf earlier in the week, struggled to find a rhythm at the backup location of Krui Left. Ikeda used priority well to find herself on the best waves, eventually earning a 12.00-point two-wave total for her smooth and powerful backhand attack. This was too much for Hardy to chase down, leaving Ikeda to claim the biggest win of her career.

“Before the heat, I was really nervous,” Ikeda said in her post heat interview.

“Now I’m so happy to win this final. I got more confident after my first good score, but then there were not many waves, so the last five minutes made me nervous again. It seemed so long.  I always tried to finish my first wave and do well on it, which I did, but it was hard to get another good one.  I was worried Willow was going to get a good one, but luckily, I got an ok backup score on my last wave, and Willow didn’t get any good waves.”

Competitors will now shift their focus to the Nias Pro QS 5000 that will kick off at the world-class, iconic righthander at Lagundri Bay off North Sumatra from June 8 – 15.

Taj Stokes in action. Image: WSL / Abdel Elecho

Willow Hardy in action. Image: WSL / Tim Hain