Molly Picklum’s Flu-Fuelled Fairytale in Fiji
When you picture winning a world title, it probably doesn’t involve losing taste buds, running a fever, and surfing seven straight heats while your body screams for Netflix and soup. Yet that’s exactly how 22-year-old Molly Picklum rang the bell on Tuesday, bagging her first WSL crown at Cloudbreak after clawing back from a first-heat deficit to rattle Caroline Marks 2-1.
The secret sauce? A week-long battle with a bug that felt suspiciously like COVID-19, rapid-fire pep texts from mentor Ash Barty, and a mindset that treated every single wave like a mini victory lap. After 15.83 and 16.93-point masterclasses in heats two and three, Picklum floated in the lagoon clutching the Aussie flag and booked herself a seat between Steph Gilmore and Layne Beachley in the pantheon of Aussie greats. Not bad for someone who couldn’t taste coffee a week ago.
Algal Bloom Sneaks Junior Titles South—Straight to Wollongong
Meanwhile, 300 groms are scrambling to update their travel playlists because the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles just got a last-minute GPS reroute. An algal bloom on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula proved too unpredictable for planners, so the whole circus is pitching tents in Wollongong from 28 November–5 December. Same world-class banks, same mobile-format hunt for ramps, and an extra $1.5 million boost for local cafés and lens-rental houses. If you’re a shooter looking to pad the portfolio, start scouting Woonona now—the light on those sandstone cliffs is pure money at dawn.
Pro Tip: Shoot Like Al Mackinnon
Speaking of portfolios, legendary lensman Al Mackinnon just dropped a fresh batch of gold in The Times, reminding us all why we lug housings halfway around the planet. From John John Florence threading a secret NorCal slab (with great whites on coffee break) to the Cliffs of Moher looking like Middle Earth with lefts, Mackinnon’s recipe is simple: arrive early, know your settings cold, and never underestimate a local fisherman’s advice. As the junior circus rolls into Wollongong, take a page from his playbook—frame the competitor against that sunrise sandstone glow and you’ll come home with something just as timeless.
Whether you’re chasing trophies, chasing shots, or just chasing the next sunrise set, this week proves the ocean still writes the best plot twists. See you out there.