Big win for Zahli Kelly at Central Coast Pro

By Jo Kennett

CASUARINA SURFER Zahli Kelly has just given her hopes of making it back to the Challenger Series a huge boost after a rocky twelve months by taking out the Qualifying Series 3,000 Vissla & Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro, on Saturday, March 18.

Kelly was the form surfer of the event, gaining momentum as she progressed.

She scored one of the highest totals in the second Round of 32, and easily won her Round of 16 heat.

The Cabarita Boardriders surfer went next level in the quarter finals, scoring the highest total of 14.27 over Ellie Harrison.

Kelly came up against Japanese surfer Mirai Ikeda in the semi-finals, with Ikeda taking an early lead before Kelly went on a vertical attack on her backhand to score a 5.23 and take the lead.

Kelly managed a back up on one of the small, onshore, waves with six aggressive frontside hits.

Ikeda was sitting on 8.33 when Kelly sealed the deal with one big turn which scored her a 5.93 and a total of 11.16.

Kelly said she was “over” being unable to get past the quarter finals recently and was stoked to make the finals. .

In the finals Kelly came up against Lennox Head’s Nyxie Ryan who was coming off the back of two big wins and looking good to qualify for the Challenger Series.

Ryan was probably the favourite going in but Kelly got the first wave, did two big vertical hits and scored a 7. She backed up with a 5.67.

She was well in front on 12.67 when Ryan scored a 5.83 for a total of 9.83, but Kelly sat with priority for the final three minutes with nothing of substance coming and easily took the win.

“I’m really happy to finally get a win. It’s been nearly four years,” Kelly said afterwards.

“It will be even better if I can back it up and get back on the Challenger Series.”

In 2019 Kelly missed out on joining the Dream Tour, the WCT, by one heat and then COVID happened. She surfed in the Challenger Series last year without the results she was looking for, which also saw her miss the first three Qualifying Series events of the year, putting her behind the eight ball to get back on the Challenger Series this year.

Kelly was in 14th place on the