Isabella Nichols has just missed out on a fairytale ending to the week when she made the agonising choice not to attend her twin sister's wedding and shoot for surfing glory instead in El Salvador.
The 27-year-old had reckoned tearfully that it had been the biggest sacrifice of her life to miss sister Helena's wedding on Friday as she tried to win the latest World Surf League event at Punta Roca.
But she battled on brilliantly in one of the best competitions of her career at Surf City El Salvador Pro, defeating Australia's current rising star Molly Picklum, in the semi-finals on Saturday.
But the former world junior champ then couldn't quite find the perfect ending as she was defeated narrowly in the final, 14.33-11.74 by Gabriela Bryan, the 23-year-old Hawaiian who won at Margaret River in Western Australia last year.
Nichols at least had the consolation at the end of her trying, emotional but also exhilarating week, which had been full of lay days waiting for the weather to turn, of earning her first WSL victory over Gosford's 22-year-old star Picklum, 13.33-8.27.
"I love coming back here. The people are amazing, and the waves are beautiful," said Nichols.
" It's just an incredible part of the world, and I just have so many people to thank. Especially my family for understanding that this is part of the job, and I was there (at the wedding) in spirit.
"It's been super worthwhile, and it's been such a great week."
The defeat by Nichols saw Picklum slip back one place to third in the year's rankings on 26,055 points, behind American leader Caitlin Simmers (28,630) and Bryan, who's moved to second spot on 26,495.
Australia's former double world champ Tyler Wright remains fifth on 19,965, with Nichols making a five-place jump up to seventh on 16,200.
The men's final saw Jordy Smith beat Matthew McGillivray 14.26-9.33 in an all-South African final, with Australian Ethan Ewing moving up one place to second overall in the rankings after reaching the quarter-finals.
Brazil's Italo Ferreira leads on 28,630 points, with Ewing now on 20,235 as the circuit moves on to Bells Beach in Victoria next weekend.
