ULLADULLA’S Russell Bierke has backed up his strong World Surf League Big Wave Tour debut – in which he reached the final at the Nazaré Challenge – by reaching the semi-finals on the Jaws Challenge.
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Bierke started his competition, held at Pe’ahi on Maui’s North Shore in up to 50-foot waves, with a solid performance in heat one round one.
The former Ulladulla High School student’s score of 10.87 saw him finish third in his heat, behind Hawaii’s Billy Kemper (19.01) and South Africa Grant Baker (15.26) – with the top three progressing to the semi-finals.
In that heat, Bierke finished ahead of Hawaii’s Mark Healey (10.14), Portugal’s Alex Botelho (6.24) and Australia’s Ryan Hipwood (4.20).
But the Ulladulla Boardrider couldn’t continue his hot form in the surf, finishing sixth in semi-final number one.
Bierke could only manage a total of 8.39, finishing behind Hawaii’s Albee Layer (22.43), Baker (19.77), Kemper (18.70), Brazil’s Lucas Chianca (16.31) and Hawaii’s Nathan Florence (9.64).
In the final, Hawaii’s Kemper (23.84) claimed the title, from countrymen Kai Lenny (23.56) and Layer (17.40) – who rounded out the top three.