
Aussie surfers Robinson and Nichols salute at Bells
Paris Olympics silver medallist Robinson left it late before edging out Japan's Kanoa Igarashi 14.14 points to 13.87 in the men's final on Sunday.
'Far out man, it's just a surreal feeling,' Robinson said.
'It's been a special week, I've had my whole family here.'
Nichols claimed the biggest victory of her career by downing young Brazilian star Luana Silva.
Nichols threw down the gauntlet with a big early score of 8.33 points and backed it up to win 16.26-12.67.
Nichols' title triumph came after the 27-year-old only made her way back on to the Champions Tour this year.
She advanced all the way to the final of this month's El Salvador Pro - after making the heartbreaking decision to miss her twin sister Helena's wedding - then went one better on Sunday at the famous Victorian break.
'The process for this win has honestly been a 15-year process,' Nichols said.
'I've been coming here since I was 15 years old.
'All the trips down here, three times a year to come down and work on my technique and it's all paid off.
'To have a bell, honestly this does not feel real.
'I'm speechless.'
Nichols' only other victory on the CT came three years ago at the Margaret River Pro.
The Hawaiian-born Silva, 20, won the world junior title this year, the same event that Nichols saluted at back in 2016.
Earlier on Sunday, Nichols took down her celebrated countrywoman and two-time world champ Tyler Wright in the semis.
The 27-year-old Robinson left it late before sneaking past American Griffin Colapinto in the second semi and into the title match-up with Igarashi.
Robinson's final 7.17-point wave saw him edge ahead 14.67-14.33.
The Aussie started his day with a 15.94-14.57 victory over American Jake Marshall in the last quarter-final.
After a thrilling run through the event, Australian wildcard Morgan Cibilic had no luck in a low-scoring semi-final loss to Igarashi, where decent-sized waves were at a premium.
Cibilic only caught his second wave of the heat in the final minute and fell, gifting victory to Igarashi, 10.27 points to 5.37.
'It is what is at the end of the day - you can't argue with the ocean,' said a philosophical Cibilic.
'But it is pretty brutal.'

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