Recent newspaper love :)

South Coast Register 19th March 2012: 

South Coast Register 12th March 2012: 

Illawarra Mercury February 2012: 

Pipe Challenge

Well the 2012 Pipe Challenge certainly was that... A challenge... I'm a little bit bummed about my result, so to make me feel better I thought I'd post a video from my win in Puerto Rico to begin with ;)
From day one that I arrived here in Hawaii, I set the alarm for 6am every morning to run along the beach from my place at Log Cabins and get the early morning (less crowded) session at Pipeline to get a good feel for it and be ready for the event.
Those early morning sessions were my best surfs for sure this season, and I scored some of the best waves I've ever had at Pipe.
I headed out every morning, no matter what the conditions, and scored some pretty memorable barrels and just two heavy beatdowns ha (got a fresh scar on my foot to prove it). The biggest I probably surfed it was 8-10ft with second reef wash throughs.
Watched the mens division held in epic 6-10ft Pipe, incredible conditions! Was so amping to watch it! Unfortunately, the day the women were held was not so good... We lucked out... 3ft Pipe, wind howling, with barely a barrel in sight, not really what I came to Hawaii for... But still not the worst I've ever seen for a contest.
Despite the bad conditions, I had a really good frame of mind going into my heats. I felt really confident and fit and comfortable out there... My quarter final heat, I used my priority to score a nice Backdoor barrel to roll, scoring a 9.44 in the process, yew!

I'd been visualising holding one of those beautiful trophies I saw from the mens day and even had in my head the colour rash shirt I was to be wearing in the final. I only had one more heat to get there... However, for my semi final, conditions worsened... First wave, I found a nice little Pipe section, popped an ARS but the wind blew me off the back! Ha. Which also means I hit the lip a little early I think. Basically, from there, I mostly sat at Backdoor, looking for another peaky barrel, but huey definitely wasnt on my side, I even went for a simple roll to get a few extra points, but hit it a little late I think and got really smashed, hyperextending my lower back, came up seeing stars... Less than a minute remaining and I was in fourth.. Found a small inside Pipe one in the dying seconds and managed an ARS... I needed a 7 to progress, but I got a 6... Fair enough considering I knew it didnt feel like an amazing ARS, especially off the gums section.
So I was out, and Karla and Miname progressed to the final. I finished at third in my heat and fifth overall. Congrats To Isabella for taking the event win, she really rips, so I'm stoked for her.
Personally I was pretty devastated with my result, but I can only draw from this experience, improve on my contest surfing, and look forward to this next Pipe event.. The SeaHawaii Womens Pro... Waiting period has begun now, and although the forecast doesn't look great, I know how to surf Pipe in any conditions, so I'm ready for it :)

Aloha 2012!!

Well the new year is here! And I've managed to get a little bit of sponsorship support for the upcoming IBA World Tour 2012.
I would like to thank Milkshakes Designs for their continued and valued support in my career, I have a couple of new custom boards and equipment on the way plus they have committed to paying for my Hawaii flight for the 2012 World Tour, woo!
Thanks to Zion Wetsuits and Hive Swimwear for their amazing products, they are definitely the best quality wetsuits and swimwear you can get.
I'm also happy to announce that Ray White Kiama are kindly donating $200 for my entry fee for the first event of the year, the Pipeline Challenge in Hawaii.
Thanks guys, every little bit helps and is much appreciated :)

Here's the 2012 World Tour calendar (TBC):

First up is the first Grand Slam event of 2012, The Pipeline Challenge. I'm off to Hawaii on Feb 7. I'm hanging to get over there and I'm feeling really fit and focused for a great event. Can't wait!

A win in Puerto Rico!!

Sick sick waves and an amazing event overall, so glad I came here!
The level of riding from the guys and especially the girls really impressed me, it was just so awesome to watch it all unfold and be a part of it. I managed to beat current world champ Isabela Sousa in the final, yew! I scored a 9.75 and a 9...
All the info can be found at the IBA website
Winning the Encanto Pro has now pushed me into no.3 on the IBA Women's World Tour.
I have no chance to win the title because I missed the key event in Venezuela, but pretty stoked to think I am still at no.3 in the world when the rest of the top 8 have all been to every event.
I'm going to now save my dollars for a full assault on the World Tour next year, starting with Pipeline in February.

Encanto Pro finals day video :)

Pro Tour win!

Woo! Won the final event on the Rebel Sport Australasian Pro Tour last weekend, and won the tour!! :)
Scored the back page of both local newspapers....

Heading to Puerto Rico on Sunday for the Encanto Pro -the biggest Women's World Tour event of 2011. Looks like such a sick wave, can't wait!! :)

4th in the World!

Well, my big trip to Portugal and Japan proved pretty successful. Placed =3rd in the Sintra Pro WWT event. I have to admit, I've never been more devastated in my life than that moment when the hooter went in my woman on woman semi final heat, and I knew I had got knocked out. I dont like to blame the surf, but one big factor in my loss was that the waves just stopped in the second half of the heat. I also now realise I need to be on bigger boards in tiny waves (and have just ordered a new Milkshakes 38 inch board with a higher wide point to test out).

So, everyone is telling me it was a great result, I guess it was, but I just wanted to win so badly, it hurt not to make that final. 

Anyway, I know that the positives from that contest are that I have the hunger to win, and know I can, plus it's actually my best ever result at Sintra Pro, and from that result, I've been pushed up into 4th place on the 2011 IBA WWT ratings :) 

Photo above from my Round 4 heat -had the highest heat score of that round -12.25, in difficult 6ft swell, loads of closeouts, managed to find this 7.67 ride in the final minute -completing two rolls to win against Myalla Venturin. 

So, I actually had an amazing trip in Portugal, got to see a lot of the country, the history and sights, and also managed a 5th place finish at the Miss Sumol Cup (WWT regional event) in Aveiro. 

Then, Japan was just such an incredible experience -the food, the people, the culture, wow. I couldn't get over how lovely and kind everyone is and what amazing food they have! Was only there for 5 days, but just loved it. Nijima Island was so beautiful. 

And for Milkshakes, the trip was really successful, there's a lot of girl bodyboarders there, and they all seem to be heaps happy to meet me and love the Milkshakes brand :) 

Once again, I suffered the curse of the semi finals, this time with a 7th place finish. Again, it was super tiny surf, so I'm really looking forward to this bigger board I'll be testing out in the coming weeks. 

Next event is Kiama National titles and final event on the Rebel Sport Pro Tour, from October 17-23. I'm currently winning the tour and I'm so keen to win the title again!

New video!!

I'm so happy with how this turned out. Made it up myself on iMovie :)

Lilly Pollard in the real green room!!! from Lilly Pollard on Vimeo.

Off to Portugal this week for the Sintra Pro WWT event, then Japan for a promo trip with Damian King for Milkshakes/Turbo. Yew! Pretty excited :)
Ohh and I'm now in the lead on the Rebel Sport Australasian Pro Tour after my second place at Soldiers, and win at Cronulla! Final event will be at my local in Kiama.... Psyched for it! :P

Here's a recent newspaper article detailing everything >>>>