Two-time World champion John John Florence, sidelined because of injury for most of 2018, is back on top after winning the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in Australia on Friday.
For the first time in his career, Florence rang the coveted bell — considered the most iconic trophy in surfing history — and will wear the yellow Jeep Leader jersey heading into the next event, the Corona Bali Protected in Indonesia.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team and my family, I just have huge support,” Florence said in a press release. “Definitely one of the most testing final days of my career. It was super tiring just using a lot of energy in the two heats yesterday, and then three more today against these guys is so hard. I was just trying to surf my best and focus on myself, and it worked out. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone in Torquay for letting us surf your waves, it’s been so fun.”
Florence posted brilliant performances throughout the competition, including a 9.50 (out of a possible 10) in the Round of 32, a 9.63 in the Round of 16 and a 9.43 in the semifinal. The final saw Florence take out Brazil’s Filipe Toledo in a tight finish, 14.30 to 13.83. In the final 15 seconds of the heat, Toledo took off on a wave needing a 6.98 to advance and win, however judges scored the ride just shy and victory was ultimately Florence’s.
On the women’s side, Kauai’s Malia Manuel earned runner-up to California’s Courtney Conlogue and will head to Bali in second place on the leaderboard after a career-best start to the season.
Rainbow Wahine’s Brittany Hitchcock shuts out UC Riverside
The University of Hawaii Wahine softball team returned home on Friday, beating UC Riverside 2-0.
Redshirt senior Brittany Hitchcock added another win to her pitching record, making it 15-7 this season. Hitchcock pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and four hits.
The Wahine (28-13, 9-4 Big West) scored their two runs in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run by Brittnee Rossi and a single by Alyssa Sojka that brought home Nicole Lopez.
UH continues its series against UC Riverside today with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Hawaii Hilo baseball clinches winning record
The University of Hawaii Hilo baseball team secured its first winning season since 1992 with a 1-0 win over Point Loma on Friday in San Diego in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Vulcans (23-16, 19-11 PacWest) lost the second game 7-3.
Junior Dylan Spain led Hilo in the first game, pitching a complete game with three hits and one strikeout. It was the first time that the Sea Lions (28-15, 16-9 PacWest) had been shut out this season.
The two teams are now tied for second in the PacWest Conference behind Azusa Pacific with less than two weeks left in the regular season.
