Picklum falls in El Salvador surf quarter-finals

Molly Picklum's run at the El Salvador Pro is over after the Australian surfer was eliminated in the quarter-finals with Caitlin Simmers taking over the No.1 ranking.

World No.3 Picklum took on Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan as the women returned to the water at Punta Roca on Saturday, with the Olympics-bound ace going down.

She posted a two-wave total of 12.10, with Bryan laying down a monster score of 8.33 amongst her tally of 15.16 to secure the heat win.

"I just wanted to win the first exchange and start off on a positive note, which I'm happy I did," said Bryan, who moved up to world No.6 on the back of the win.

"I got those two six-point rides back to back, and after that, I had to wait because I wanted a better score.

"I'm really glad it worked out and that I didn't slip off on that last eight.

"These are the days we dream about going out as professional surfers going out with Molly, same age, out surfing the world's best waves."

Ranked seventh heading into the quarter-finals, another Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura-Johnson eliminated rankings leader Brisa Hennessy, with her 13.26 heat total trumping the Costa Rican's score of 11.43.

A new rankings leader emerged on the back of Hennessy's defeat, with American teen Simmers now on top.

Simmers kicked off the day with a win over Brazilian No.7 Tatiana Weston-Webb, scoring 13.83 to 10.10.

Simmers will head to Rio for the next CT round wearing the yellow leader's jersey once again after losing it to Hennessy following Tahiti.

Reigning El Salvador title-holder, and 2023 world champion, Caroline Marks moved into the semi-finals after winning her clash with fourth-ranked French surfer Johanne Defay.

The men's event was on hold on Saturday but is up to the quarter-final stage.

Australia's Jack Robinson will take on Brazil's Yago Dora while fellow Olympian, current world No.4 Ethan Ewing, was eliminated by South African Matthew McGillivray in the round of 16.

There are two more events remaining - Rio and Fiji - before the top five contest the WSL finals at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California in September.