Molly Picklum Claims First Championship Tour Win at the Sunset Beach Pro
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02/20/2023

Molly Picklum Claims First Championship Tour Win at the Sunset Beach Pro

Molly Picklum being chaired up the beach by Brisa Hennessy and Tyler WrightMolly Picklum being chaired up the beach by Brisa Hennessy and Tyler Wright

Rising Australian star Molly Picklum has leveled up, winning her first World Surf League event at Sunset Beach in Hawaii. 

Molly Picklum has done it! Winning her first Championship Tour event at the Sunset Beach Pro, besting the top female surfers in the world. She’s now equal first in the World Surf League rankings, tied with Carissa Moore, and has set herself up for an incredible season ahead. Both competitors will be wearing the yellow jersey for the next event, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

The conditions at Sunset Beach were iconic yet tough today, with solid open ocean swell offering fast and sizable walls. That said, Molly looked right at home in the big Oahu surf. She likened it to frequented spots on the Aussie East Coast in a post heat interview and her signature railwork was on full display. The 35-minute final saw Caroline Marks momentarily secure the lead, scoring a 7.50 on her first wave. This only spurred Molly on, as she soon fired back with dual waves to emerge victorious. 

"Never lose your confidence, one moment you can be competing on the Challenger Series, then you can be winning Championship Tour events. I’m stoked to be on top, it’s where I want to be and where I believe I should be,"

"So stoked, honestly it's different when you kind of scratch the win but wins don't come easy on the tour and I'm just so happy to have taken my first win here in Hawaii in such tough conditions. I'm so stoked to have done it with my Rip Curl family around!" Molly exclaimed.

Molly is now in a great position to make the mid-season cut, be in the draw to reach the Final 5, and compete for the World Title at the RIp Curl WSL Finals in September. 

At Rip Curl, we're incredibly proud to have Molly as part of our team, and we can't wait to see what she'll do next. Congratulations, Molly, on a truly amazing win. 

Molly Picklum surfing Sunset Beach in HawaiiMolly Picklum surfing Sunset Beach in Hawaii
Molly Picklum with the 2023 Sunset Beach trophyMolly Picklum with the 2023 Sunset Beach trophy
Molly Picklum surfing Sunset Beach in HawaiiMolly Picklum surfing Sunset Beach in Hawaii
Brisa Hennessy and Tyler Wright cheering on Molly Picklum.Brisa Hennessy and Tyler Wright cheering on Molly Picklum.
Molly Picklum chatting to reporters after winning the Sunset Beach ProMolly Picklum chatting to reporters after winning the Sunset Beach Pro