2015 Hurley Australian Open of Surfing

The 2015 Hurley Australian Open of Surfing has just come to a close, drawing a record crowd of over 250,000 at Manly Beach over the incredible nine day event.

This years mens champion is 20 year-old Californian Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA, USA) who defeated a relative unknown from Tahiti, 19 year-old Mateai Hiquily (PYF) to take out the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing Men’s QS6000.

Mother nature saved her best for last at Manly over the last few days, dishing up solid, consistent 1-2m waves and sunny skies to provide the ultimate final’s day for surfing fans. Predicting an outcome in such a big event, with such a huge field could almost be considered an impossibility, but as the second highest seed, current world number 11, Andino, was always going to be a contender for the top spot.

Andino defeated Aussie Jack Freestone in the Quarters, then another Aussie Stuart Kennedy in the semis, before taking down Hiquily in the one heat that counts most.

Andino’s first wave in the final was a near-perfect 9.73. He completely destroyed a left hander, then basically used his remaining time to seek out a good back up score – text-book competition surfing.

Meanwhile Hiquily’s early momentum deserted him. He beat number one seed Mick Fanning twice in this event and has impressed everyone with his air-game, but in the final he was forced to wait, wait and do more waiting … but couldn’t find any wave that really enabled him to show his stuff.

Andino won $25,000 and takes way 6,500 QS ratings points and the international WSL ratings lead. NSW Premier Mike Baird and Manly Mayor Jean Hay were on hand to help with the podium presentation.

“I wanted to win the event and I did it. I’m stoked. It’s a long event, a big week and you have to take it heat by heat, I’ve had some momentum and hope I can keep it going, stay on the roll, build confidence and keep it going into Snapper,” said Andino.

Given the incredible number of surfers in the event, the regions represented (17 countries in the men’s) the fact Hiquily, a relative unknown from the small island of Tahiti, made the podium is a fantastic effort. He is a bit shorter on his English than he is with his huge moves, but Mateai was very grateful to be standing up there next to Kolohe.

“This is the best week and the best day of my life,” said Hiquily. “Thank you to my friends for letting me stay with them, thanks to everybody watching and to everyone in Australia who helped me get here.”

For the girls, it was a huge week and even bigger final day for local Narrabeen surfer Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW, AUS). Laura claimed her first win in more than four years when she defeated current world number 2, Tyler Wright (Culburra, NSW, AUS), to win the 2015 Australian Open of Surfing Women’s division.

Making it even more special for Enever was winning the title in front of a hometown crowd! Cheering her on were a bunch of her close friends from up the road at Narrabeen, as well as her brother Chris, mum Sarah and dad Phil. Enever held back tears as she was chaired from the water’s edge.

“It’s been such an amazing contest for me with everyone in it, all the top girls competing this week and to win at home with all my friends and family is amazing. I think more than ever I’ve been enjoying my surfing so much, I’ve been putting everything into it so it feels amazing to get such a good result,” said Enever.

Finishing the 2014 season ranked second in the world, Wright is particularly strong in peaky, wedgy waves similar to what Manly offers and was the favourite to win heading into the final.

However, Enever’s wave choice was impeccable and she surfed a relatively mistake free 35 minute final. Wright had her chances, keeping herself in the game right to the final ride. With just a couple of minutes to spare, she found a nice overhead left and pulled off a long, backhand floater then looked to pull a second move but was beaten by the lip. She needed a 7.00 and scored a 5.9. The consensus was if she had made that second turn, she would have taken the title.

“That’s the way it goes. I’m glad Laura won. It’s always good to see a local do well and I know how much this means to her. She’s been ripping all week. She beat Steph (Stephanie Gilmore) yesterday and surfed really well in the quarters and semis today. I’m stoked for her.”