Local Merewether surfer and championship tour (CT) rookie Morgan Cibilic has knocked out back-to-back world champ John John Florence in the Newcastle Cup in the Round of 32 with an impressive 17.13 win.
The 21-year-old defeated the dual world champ on April 8 after holding the lead throughout the entire 30-minute heat.
Cibilic knew he had to give his absolute best from the outset against Florence after sustaining a foot injury before his heat.
Hawaiian Surfer Florence is one of only five surfers in men’s CT history to win his first two World Titles back-to-back, making him a formidable contender for Cibilic.
WSL commentator Ronnie Blakey said Cibilic’s opening wave had gotten the jump on Florence’s 7.93 with an 8.1 wave taking the lead.
“He is relishing the opportunity to compete against the front runner for the WSL finals this year, and that opening exchange was a big statement to make, especially with that injury,” Blakey said.
“It’s incredible surfing for someone who only 48 hours ago was wondering whether he was going to take to the water.”
Cibilic displayed his aggressive and explosive rail turns within the waves’ pocket using his local knowledge and experience of the Merewether break.
“There has never been—I don’t think— a surfer that has played that dark horse role on the qualifying series better than Morgan Cibilic; he came from absolutely nowhere,” Blakey said.
“What a star, just incredible stuff, he’s putting out excellent scores on the board, unquestionable scores in the judge’s minds, they don’t like to throw big numbers out too often when the world champs are in the line-up.”
Midway through the heat, Florence took the lead with a total score of 13.16 to Cibilic’s 13.10.
With calm wind conditions and a wave range of 1 to 4 ft, Cibilic had chosen the right waves to ride.
Just ten minutes on the clock, and the numbers came through for Cibilic with a 7.6 pushing him back into the lead and Florence needing a 7.88 to advance.
A large crowd gathered on Merewether, lighting up the beach as they cheered and clapped for Cibilic, unknowingly witnessing an incredible career highlight for the young local.
WSL Commentator Richie Lovett said Cibilic had picked the heat’s best waves and produced a fantastic performance.
“I don’t necessarily think that he has out surfed John because I think John is surfing amazingly on the waves that he has surfed, but John has just fallen short on choosing the actual waves,” Lovett said.
As the heat wound down, Cibilic gained even more confidence and scored an excellent 9.03 wave.
With just two minutes to go, Florence would need an almost excellent wave and earn a score of 9.3 to have a shot at beating the rookie.
Pro surfer and commentator Dimity Stoyle said the energy the crowd was feeding Cibilic was incredible, giving him the extra push he needed.
“Morgan is having an absolute dream heat; he’s just feeding off the energy of the whole beach,” Stoyle said.
“That last wave of his was amazing, he had so much speed and control, and he just knew exactly what he wanted to do.
“On the other hand, John seems to be a little bit flustered, airs that he normally lands with his eyes closed he’s fallen off—which is so unlike John—and I think maybe the energy this Merewether crowd has brought to Morgan has just completely backed him.”
After chasing the huge score Cibilic had set, Florence accepted defeat after falling short and scoring final waves of 0.50 to 2.77.
Lovett said the moment would be Cibilic’s most significant heat of his life so far and something he would not soon forget.
“What an incredible moment for this kid, getting a win over someone as experienced and revered as John John Florence at this point in his career,” Lovett said.
“Let’s not forget this kid has only done a couple of world championship tour events—he’s still a rookie.
“Morgan Cibilic powered through the Round of 32 with two excellent scores against the current world number one.”
As Cibilic limped down the beach, he was greeted by a crowd of fans, all congratulating him for his epic triumph—Cibilic now advances to the Round of 16, Heat 3 against Avoca Beach local Wade Carmichael.
Hayley McMahon
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