World tour rookie Isabella Nichols will take added confidence into the rest of the season, after finishing runner-up in just the second event of her maiden campaign.
The 23-year-old from Coolum Beach made an almost immediate impression on the elite circuit with some superb surfing at Merewether in New South Wales.
She charged through the heats of the Rip Newcastle Pro, beating seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, before eventually falling to reigning world No.1 Carissa Moore in the final.
“Once I got to the quarters I was stoked and anything on was a bonus,” Nichols said.
“It was quite surreal, and it still hasn’t really sunk in, the fact I got to surf against Steph (Gilmore) and Carissa. They’re two surfers I’ve looked up to my whole life.”
Nichols, the 2016 world junior champion, earned a full-time berth on this year’s Championship Tour after winning the Qualifying Series in 2019.
Covid impacted 2020, so she’s essentially had to wait until 2021 to surf in earnest, and she’s claimed top-10 results in the first two events.
Nichols is in a good place, physically and mentally.
“I feel like everything is kind of lining up now,” she said.
“I have a good support crew, that works as one.”
Nichols’ morale was boosted by her experience at Newcastle.
“I just feel good in myself,” she said.
“Confidence is a big thing for me, it always has been.”
Nichols has benefited from the guidance of sports psychologist for the past four years.
“In competitive sport, it’s 70% mental, and I still have moments where I doubt myself,” she said.
“But to get through a couple of big heats (in Newcastle) definitely helps with confidence.”
Nichols learned from her final against Moore, when beaten 15.73 to 8.34.
“It was really cool just to watch how Carissa did everything.”
“She was so calm.
“I feel like it’s really important to constantly learn in heats.”
“This is my first year on tour and some of the girls have been on tour for 10 years.”
“They know what they’re doing and they’re very good at what they do, so I’m learning from them.”
Nichols said her shock start to the season has changed her outlook.
“I’ve got higher expectations of myself now but I’m not going to let that stress me.”
“I still just want to surf my heats smartly and just enjoy myself.
“If I do those things, then the results will come.
“I’m not going to have an expectation like making the top five overall, I’m just going to go into events with the same mentality as I did in Newcastle.”
The next event is at Narrabeen in New South Wales, from April 17, and Nichols is well prepared.
“I’ve been working on my backhand the past few months because I knew Narrabeen was on the cards,” she said.
She got acquainted with the town and its surf break during a visit last month.
“I love Narrabeen. I went there for the first time and it is super fun and it’s a left hander.”
“I also spent some time there and figured out where to eat and get coffee.
“Finding things in different areas make the place feel a bit more like home to me and make me feel comfortable.
“And after Newcastle, I’m excited to keep the ball rolling and hopefully I can do well.”
She could again collide with fellow Sunshine Coast product Keely Andrew.
Andrew, 27, been on the world tour essentially since 2016, with a second place finish of her own on the Gold Coast in 2018.
Nichols defeated Andrew 13.20 to 12.13 In the semi-finals at Newcastle.
“Keely’s a really good friend,” Nichols said.
“Her and Dimity Stoyle and those girls on the Sunshine Coast are kind of the reason why I started surfing competitively in the first place.
“I’d see her doing so well and she inspired me to start surfing in competitions.
“So, it was really cool to have a heat against her. She’s been in incredible form and always surfs so well.”
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“It was always going to be an interesting and close heat and I ended up picking the right wave at the very end, but she was awesome afterwards. We gave each other a big hug and had a chat.”
“And it was still a super good result for her.”
Nichols grew up at Coolum and forged her skills there before moving to Benora Point on the Gold Coast about four years ago.
“I miss Coolum,” she said.
“I go home once every three months, for a couple of days.
“When I go home, I just block everything out t and spend time with the family.
“It’s nice to go home and just decompress.”
