Airs and Excellence Open Phillip Island Pro QS 4000 at Cape Woolamai

CAPE WOOLAMAI, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (Thursday, February 26, 2026) – Clean, pumping conditions greeted competitors for the first day of the World Surf League (WSL) Phillip Island Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 4000 and Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) events. The three-to-five-foot peaks at the picturesque setting of Cape Woolamai delivered equal action on lefts and rights as the tide shifted activity across different banks through the day. Men’s Rounds of 104 and 96 were both completed, along with women’s Round of 48.

Eden Hasson (AUS) wasted no time in showcasing what he’s been practicing in similar conditions at home in Port Stephens. The 19-year-old launched multiple full rotation air reverses in the strong afternoon cross-shore breeze during the Round of 96, landing many in the flats to post an excellent heat total of 17.25 (out of a possible 20) from his two best, a 9.00 (out of a possible 10) and an 8.25.

“I feel great, that was a fun heat,” Hasson said. “The conditions were pretty tricky and low tide, but if you got the right one, and I sort of tried to find ramps, it worked out. Looking at it with the wind and stuff, I was sort of thinking of going to the air and I landed that first one and then sort of just built off that and may as well just kept going for them. I’m excited, I’m in the Pro Junior as well so I get some heat practice and hopefully get to surf as many heats as I can. So yeah, I’m keen for the next one.”

In the heat following, Ocean Lancaster (AUS) pulled off a similar maneuver for an 8.00 of his own. Lancaster backed it up with a lacerating layback to post a 15.50 heat total, the second-highest of the day. Advancing in second place behind the Novocastrian was Kishore Kumar (IND), who delivered a huge closeout hit for a 5.85 right on the buzzer to eliminate Aidan Finn (AUS) and Mac Brindley (AUS). Kumar progressed the furthest out of the four-person Indian contingent, which also saw Srikanth Dhanasekaran (IND) claim a heat win in the Round of 104.

A crisp three-turn combo was enough to earn Joe Van Dijk (AUS) the first excellent score of the event, an 8.00, in his second heat of the day after an early Round of 104 win. The local Phillip Island surfer advanced along with Davi Glazer (AUS) into the Round of 64, the pair eliminating Raphael Castro(USA) and Rik O’leary (AUS). It was a typical day at home for Van Dijk, who had to call in late for work to surf his heats.

“It’s like every other day of the week, but I still have to go to work now, and get back on the tools” Van Dijk said. “So it’s just a normal day for me, really. It depends on if my boss lets me. I think he’s a bit eggy with me right now because I called him up and said, ‘Oh, I’m going to be late again.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, mate, what are you doing?’ But I mean, there’s waves, so I had to surf.”

Western Australia’s Olive Hardy (AUS) redeemed an early 2025 exit with a strong opening heat win in the women’s Round of 48. Fresh from a Quarterfinal finish in the Gold Coast Open, Hardy utilised both her forehand and backhand attack in the peaks to post a 6.00 and 5.40 for an 11.40 two-wave total. The 16-year-old progressed along with Aelan Vaast (PYF) into the Round of 32.

“It’s definitely nice to get through the first heat,” Hardy said. “The waves are actually really fun. It’s pretty windy, but I managed to pick up a couple of peelers. I think I’m just looking forward to surfing, like getting an empty lineup with just a couple other girls out. It’s such a fun experience. I mean, the waves are cooking, just going to have fun and see where I can go. I’ve been honestly just surfing the whole time but last year we went to the conservation park and that was amazing. The whole island is so beautiful.”

Appearing in her first-ever QS event, Sophie Wilkinson (AUS) posted the highest heat total of the day for the women, 12.00, courtesy of the equal-highest score, a 6.50. The 17-year-old surfer from Mornington Peninsula delivered aggressive hits to the lip on her forehand to advance ahead of Ruby Berry (AUS), who has made a string of Finals across QS and JQS competition internationally in recent months. Wilkinson was excited to start strong in her first showing.

“First QS I’ve ever been in, so yeah, it feels pretty good to take the win, all the four girls were ripping,” Wilkinson said. “It’s just down the road from Mornington Peninsula, so it feels like home pretty much. Hopefully conditions maybe clean up a bit, but yeah, pretty fun.”

Ava Arghyros (AUS), Sai Maniwa (JPN) and Ava Holland (AUS) also claimed solid heat wins in the tricky conditions and will feature in the Round of 32 when competition continues.

The 2026 Phillip Island Pro QS 4000 and Pro Junior events will run at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, Bass Coast From February 26 to March 4, 2026. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.