A stacked field of competitors took to Birubi Beach on Sunday for the opening rounds of the 2022 Gage Roads Port Stephens Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 event.

More than 120 competitors from across Australia and New Zealand kicked off in glassy three-to-four-foot surf, with the completion of both the first and second heats in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Gold Coast youngster Oscar Berry wasted no time in getting his 2022 Port Stephens Pro campaign off to a strong start.

He was able to take home a commanding win.

He highlighted his aggressive rail game that will hold him in good stead for the rest of the event.

After a fifth place finish at Phillip Island, Berry is looking to go deep into the draw once again as he looks for Challenger Series qualification. 

“I’m stoked to be through to the next round in a really competitive field here at Birubi,” he said.

“It’s always exciting when you pull up and it’s three feet and pumping like it is today.

“Being my first QS series ever, I’m just wanting to gain experience and consistency from these events and making a couple of heats is certainly a bonus and something that I’ll take confidence out of going into the next few competitions.”

In a highly-entertaining second round heat, Ash Jenner was able to go to the air at will and secure victory.

He was able to boost out of many sections in the match-up to book his spot in the third round and leave his fellow competitors chasing a strong score to move ahead.

The Point Lookout local will now take on the in-form surfers Kalani Ball, Noah Stocca and Koda Killorn. 

“I’m pumped to make my first heat of the QS series this year in what were some really quality waves,” Jenner said.

“I’m hoping to get a lot of solid heat experience out of these QS and Pro Junior events and it’s great to travel down for a bit of a road trip for the series from Point Lookout.

“I can’t wait for the rest of this Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series.”

Another standout from the men’s field was former Championship Tour surfer Nathan Hedge.

The North Narrabeen local locked away two strong scores early in the heat to control the remainder of the match-up against youngsters, which included Jay Occhilupo, Joshua Levey and Chad Elkins. 

To put the icing on the cake, Hedge was able to put up a clinical performance on his final wave, scoring a 7.90 for a couple of huge turns on a long left-hander. 

The heat also saw another layer to a long-running Occhilupo and Hedge rivalry with the latter this time taking on Jay as opposed to facing his father 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo during both their Championship Tour days during the late 90s and early 2000s.

“It’s actually my first time here at Birubi, so I am really trying to generate some energy and rhythm out in the line-up,” Hedge said.

“I’m hoping to really get myself going in this event in some bigger waves.

“I was disappointed to go down in my first heat at Boomerang, however it’s epic to get my feet back in the wax and get a good start here at Birubi.

“My goal is to try and crack the top ten on the rankings before the first Challenger Series event at Snapper Rocks.

“When I heard it was at Snapper, I was full of excitement.

“It’s really motivated me to want to throw the jersey back on after a couple of years out.”

In the first heat of the women’s round, in-form surfer Jade Wheatley was able to show off her powerful forehand attack to snare a commanding win.

She was pitted against event wildcard Jasmine Sampson, top seed Zahli Kelly and Marie Moana Troja in an enthralling back and forth encounter.

Wheatley surfed a smart heat from the outset, posting two solid scores including a clutch 7.50 to grab the lead with 30 seconds remaining and overtake Kelly. 

“It feels great to be off to a strong start in this event and get a couple of heat wins today,” she said.

“I was certainly trying to keep my nerves down with a couple of minutes to go and was stoked when I found that 7.50 at the end.

“I’m hoping to keep my momentum going and to keep enjoying my maiden QS series.”

From the completion of round two, the standout performer was Brittani Nicholl who had a convincing win with a 7.75 as her highest single wave score.

The powerful natural-footer was able to find a strong back-up early in the heat to put the scoreboard pressure on, leaving her fellow competitors trailing and in need of a solid score to move into the lead.

Nicholl moves into the third round of the Port Stephens Pro with her excitement at a high after putting the jersey on once again after several years out of the water. 

“I’m so happy after such a long time out of the jersey,” she said.

“I’m glad to be back competing and think that my best surfing is good enough to contend with the ladies here in the QS series.

“I’m just stoked to be improving my surfing with some more time up my sleeve.”

Competition is set to resume tomorrow at Birubi Beach from 7.30am.

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