Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Roxy Pro winner, slotted an incredible Kirra barrel today to collect a near-perfect 9.80.
KIRRA, Queensland/Australia (Thursday, March 7, 2013) -The Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, the opening stop on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), completed the Quarterfinals this morning in challenging barrels at the backup venue of Kirra.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Roxy Pro Gold Coast winner, wowed spectators and opponents alike with an incredly-deep forehand barrel, netting a near-perfect 9.80 out of a possible 10 to advance to the Semifinals past opponent Alana Blanchard (HAW), 22.
“It’s tricky out there this morning but every now and then, there’s an incredible one so that was a good heat,” Gilmore said. “I always flashback to all the greats out at Kirra and I think Mick (Fanning) was and still is one of the best. I think I was pretending I was Mick for a moment there in the tube. Just for a moment though.”
Gilmore will face compatriot Tyler Wright (AUS), 18, in Semifinal 1 when competition resumes.
Despite the rapidly-dropping tide, Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion, adjusted to the deteriorating conditions in the final Quarterfinal of the morning, ousting Pauline Ado (HAW), 22, with some impressive forehand turns.
“The tide was getting really low for Pauline (Ado) and my heat,” Moore said. “I had to make some adjustments and it became more about turns and less about barrels but I am happy to get through the heat. Hopefully we get improved conditions to finish in.”
When competition resumes, Moore will take on Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 22, in Semifinal 2.
Highlights from the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover will be available via quiksilverlive.com
Despite the potential to commence the men’s Round 2 this afternoon, poor wind conditions would force officials to call competition off until tomorrow.
When men’s competition resumes, up first reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson against event wildcard Brent Dorrington (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 2.
Officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Brent Dorrington (AUS) Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA) Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA) Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW) Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT) Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Nat Young (USA) Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS) Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA) Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL) Heat 12: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
