Jan Juc surfer Tully Wylie has earned the final spot in the men’s field for the Rip Curl Pro.
Wylie and American Alyssa Spencer took out the 2022 Rip Curl Pro trials on Thursday, gaining entry to the main round of the major surfing tournament that starts on Sunday.
With small swell and strong onshore winds the trials were moved from bells Beach to neighbouring Winki Pop, providing amply scoring opportunities and big ramps throughout the day.
Wylie looked unstoppable after a run of qualifying series events throughout the past two months.
Finishing on a heat total of 13.06 out of a possible 20, Wylie found some of the bigger waves of the day to take the win fellow Jan Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable, who finished in second on 10.80 points.
“I’m just in a state of disbelief,” Wylie said.
“This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid so I’m so happy to be in the Rip Curl Pro. It’s one of the best days of my life.”
Wylie will now face Kanoa Igarashi (Japan) and Lucca Mesinas (Peru) in round one of the Rip Curl Pro and joins a long list of Victorians who have competed in the main event, including Glyndyn Ringrose, Adam Robertson, Nic Muscroft, Jack Perry, Tim Stevenson and Carl Wright.
“Just to be acknowledged in the same breath as some of those surfers is such an honour. I can’t wait to represent all my friends and family at the event,” Wylie said.
The men’s trials were dominated by the region, with Point Lonsdale’s Bohdie Williams finishing third and Jan Juc’s Lewy Oates in fourth.
On the women’s side of the draw, Spencer claimed the final spot in the event after multiple attempts in the Rip Curl Pro Trials.
Spencer finished on 14.33 points ahead of former winner Kobie Enright (Central Coast, NSW) who finished on 14.07 points.
Finishing in third was Barwon Heads’ Ellie Harrison with Amuro Tsuzuki (Japan) in third.
Both Wylie and Spencer will be competing against some of the world’s best surfers, with Australian stars Sally Fitzgibbons and Steph Gilmore competing in the women’s tournament, while Kelly Slater, Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright and three-time world champion Mick Fanning will surf in the men’s competition.
