The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Qualifying Series (QS) Los Cabos Open of Surf continued competition for the fourth consecutive day in two-to-three foot waves. The action at Zippers saw marquee performances from several ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers, as well as impressive skills from international up-and-comers.
Philippa Anderson (AUS), 21, commanded her Round 2 heat in a day dominated by top seeds. The Australian secured the Thursday’s highest scores including a near perfect 9.43 on her way to an 18.10 out of 20 heat total.
“First heat’s always pretty nervous, you travel all this way and want to do well,” Anderson said. “I started with that five, and then to drop the eight, it felt pretty good. We’re getting treated really well here and made to feel that we’re at home. It’s really good to feel comfortable and it puts you in a good frame of mind.”
Anderson, current No. 30 on the ASP QS rankings, has had a relatively slow start to the 2014 season and hopes to rebound at Zippers.
“The end goal is to qualify (for the women’s WCT), but there are a lot of good girls up there so you have to work hard on it,” he said. “I haven’t started that well, so it felt good to get that one.”
Alessa Quizon (HAW) posted a 7.83 and an excellent 8.93 her Round 2 heat.
Alessa Quizon (HAW), 20, started her Los Cabos campaign in top form, connecting clean backhand snaps to earn a convincing Round 2 win. The young Hawaiian posted some of the day’s highest scores, earning her an excellent 16.76 heat total.
“It’s cool with the four-man priority, I feel like if we didn’t have it there would be a lot of hassling going on,” Quizon said. “You just have to be patient because out here you either get the good one or the weird one. It’s kind of tough because you want to be selective, but you also want to keep it moving. I got lucky in that heat, my first wave was a set and I was able to hold down priority and be selective.”
Quizon, currently sitting at No. 12 as a rookie on the ASP Dream Tour, has had some standout performances on the elite stage. She’s looking to guarantee her slot among the ASP Top 17 for next season by maintaining a high QS ranking.
“It’s been tricky being on tour as a rookie, trying to adjust and learn the new spots,” Quizon said. “I’m taking it as a learning experience and doing the QS events on the side to make sure I stay on tour. I’m just enjoying it and feel lucky that I get to surf these amazing events.”
Silvana Lima (BRA) edged out her Round 2 competition with a pair of midrange scores.
Silvana Lima (BRA), 29, current leader on the ASP QS, continued her successful 2014 season with a commanding opener at Zippers. The veteran campaigner’s patience in the inconsistent conditions paid off, claiming the heat win with a last-minute score on a set wave.
“It’s a little inconsistent, but the waves are good when they come, you just have to make sure you don’t fall,” Lima said. “The wind is pretty strong, but with the new priority system, it really helps in the heat.”
Lima, former ASP World Title threat, has recovered from a severe knee injury that sidelined her competitive career for over a year. The Brazilian is now back to health and hopes to rejoin the elite ranks for 2015.
“This year’s much better than last year for me,” Lima said. “Last year I still felt my knee and this year I feel 100 percent in my mind, body and boards. I’m just going to the water to surf now and not thinking about anything else.”
WCT rookie Dimity Stoyle (AUS) posted a solid two-wave total of 16.33 in Round 2.
Dimity Stoyle (AUS), 22, also took a selective approach in her Round 2 victory, picking off the best set-waves at Zippers. Stoyle combined her patience with precision, making each of her waves count to top the heat.
“I’m happy to get through that one,” Stoyle said. “The wind came up and it made it hard, but at least we had priority and everyone had opportunity.”
Stoyle, currently competing in her rookie season on the WCT, is looking to build on her competitive experience at the Los Cabos Open of Surf while enjoying the Mexican vacation destination.
“It’s my rookie year on the World Tour so it’s been a cool experience and every event has been amazing,” she said. “Coming here, I just want to have a good time, get some good waves and surf good heats.”
The Los Cabos Open of Surf is broadcast on Time Warner Cable in San Diego and Hawaii and is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com.
LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF WOMEN’S ROUND 3: Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.87, Nage Melemed (HAW) 14.40, Ella Williams (NZL) 10.90, Freya Prumm (AUS) 6.90 Heat 2: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 16.76, Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) 12.10, Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.83, Stephanie Single (AUS) 9.73 Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.06, Ayasa Brusa (MEX) 8.86, Chandler Parr (USA) 7.17, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 3.73 Heat 4: Phillipa Anderson (AUS) 18.10, Ornella Pellizari (ARG) 12.67, Anali Gomez (PER) 10.60, Codie Klein (AUS) 5.93 Heat 5: Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 16.33, Brianna Cope (HAW) 14.94, Maud Le Car (FRA) 13.33, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.56 Heat 6: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 12.97, Sarah Mason (NZL) 12.67, Keely Andrew (AUS) 10.77, Johanne Defay (FRA) 4.37 Heat 7: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.63, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.16, Dominic Barona (ECU) 10.00, Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) 7.40 Heat 8: Lakey Peterson (USA) Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 10.50, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 9.24, Carol Fernandes (BRA) 6.90 Heat 9: Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 13.13, Mahina Maeda (HAW) 12.67, Leila Hurst (HAW) 9.30, Skye Burgess (AUS) 10.30 Heat 10: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.24, Sage Erickson (USA) 11.17, Dax McGill (HAW) 8.54, Anastasia Ashley (USA) 5.77 Heat 11: Alize Arnaud (FRA) 15.80, Pauline Ado (FRA) 14.50, Quincy Davis (USA) 10.80, Bailey Nagy (HAW) 11.17 Heat 12: Laura Enever (AUS) 14.80, Georgia Fish (AUS) 12.67, Brittani Nicholl (AUS) 8.10, Reiko Noro (JPN) 7.47
The Los Cabos Open of Surf waiting period runs from June 16-22, 2014, is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com.
