Shark Halts Wsl Gold Coast Pro Shark Action at Snapper Rocks
wsl gold coast pro shark action stopped early at Snapper Rocks after a shark was spotted within 500 metres of the competition zone. Only two women’s round-two heats were completed before the day was shut down, leaving the rest of the schedule to carry over.
Snapper Rocks Heat Stopped
Renato Hickel said the heat was immediately put on hold under WSL safety protocols after the sighting. He added that event officials and the water safety team kept the heat on hold until the next competition day, with safety for surfers and staff the priority.
Caitlin Simmers and Vahine Fierro were in the water with about five minutes left in their heat when jet-skis picked them up and took them out. Their stoppage came after the two completed women’s round-two heats had already produced a result for the draw.
Fitzgibbons and Marks Exit
Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons lost to Gabriela Bryan in one completed heat. In the other, Spain’s Nadia Erostarbe beat Caroline Marks.
That left the women’s side short on completed racing once the shark call came in, and the disruption hit while the Gold Coast Pro was already working through its second round at Snapper Rocks. The halt froze the day’s momentum before the field could finish the set of heats on the water.
Robinson Advances Again
Jack Robinson gave Australia another clean result later in the day, beating Alan Cleland 15.07 to 7.33 and moving into round three. He said, “It feels like home, I feel a lot of love here,” and added, “I knew Al was a dangerous competitor. I just wanted to go and get a couple of tubes behind the rock.”
The Olympic silver medallist also said, “It’s really a six-month recovery process for this thing (injury), and now I’m past six months.” Robinson had already been dealing with the knee injury from last year, and he said, “It’s just kind of freeing myself up and freeing my mind up to go be myself out there, that’s the main thing.”
Five Australian men moved safely into round three, including George Pittar, Ethan Ewing, Liam O’Brien, Callum Robson and Robinson. With the women’s heats interrupted and more competition left for the next day, the Gold Coast Pro now resumes with unfinished business from both the water-safety stoppage and the draw.
