Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
An ankle injury could deny Australian Isabella Nichols a shot at her first World Surf League event win this season.
Nichols is having scans on her left ankle and it’s unclear whether she will be able to surf in the Fiji Pro final against in-form Canadian Erin Brooks.
With the improved conditions, the final is set to be run on Thursday.
Minutes after her injury, Nichols was a mix of high emotions as she spoke on the live event coverage.
“I’m just so frickin’ stoked. I’m just going to try and rest up, get this ankle tended to, see if I can bear some weight on it tomorrow,” Nichols said.
“I feel like I’m going to have to be in peak form to take down Erin, she’s been on absolute fire.
“I’m more emotional about actually making the final here than my ankle.”
Nichols had taken the lead in her semi-final against Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy with about six minutes left and tried to ride through a barrel wave when disaster struck.
The ankle was strapped and Nichols could not put any weight on it as she left the event for treatment.
“That was a crazy one. I pulled into that barrel at the end and my board just flipped underneath me and rolled my ankle,” she said.
“I felt a really sharp pain shoot from my ankle all the way to my hip.
“It felt debilitating – ‘I can’t stand up’ – it probably felt like one of the worst injuries I’ve done.
“I feel like I’ve definitely done something to it.”
Nichols was initially on the back of a jet ski, in clear distress, as the heat continued. Hennessy was unable to catch a wave to regain the lead.
Then, in more drama, Nichols paddled back out to deny Hennessy priority and closed out the semi, 10.67 to 10.50.
“There was a moment there when the adrenaline took over the pain a little bit and I was (thinking) ‘you know what, if I can paddle over and take off on my stomach and block her on getting the wave at the end …’, because I knew there wasn’t much time left,” the Australian said.
“I’d be kicking myself if I didn’t give myself that opportunity, especially since it’s been such a tough year for me.
“To make a final in that fashion – it’s crazy, I’m so stoked. I’m so emotional – I’m emotional because I’m in pain, I’m emotional because I’ve just just the final in a place (where) I didn’t think I could.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Nichols had beaten Yolanda Hopkins of Portugal in the quarter-finals. She was the only Australian to reach the quarters in the women’s event.
Brooks, who won the previous round in Tahiti, beat Hawaiian great Carissa Moore in their semi-final.
Before Wednesday, there had been talk of 10-foot waves and Nichols said she had a helmet and impact vest on standby.
But the swell was in the four-to-six foot range when her semi-final was run.
Nichols could see the funny side of the injury.
“Mum and Dad – I’m okay, I will be fine, I think it just needs a bit of rest and ice,” she said.
“The whole body at this point just feels absolutely battered and worn – I’ve been on the anti-inflam program for a few weeks now, so what’s one more little injury?”
Also on Wednesday, Australian Callum Robson reached the men’s quarters at Fiji, but compatriot Morgan Cibilic was eliminated in the third round.
