ASP Women’s World Championship Tour’s 2013 rookie Bianca Buitendag bowed out of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, when tour no. 2 Sally Fitzgibbons swept the South African away in the Quarterfinals at Kirra in Queensland, Australia, on Thursday, March 7, 2013 (Click here for wave-by-wave results and heat scores).
Fitzgibbons drew on experience to log points on five waves in challenging barrels at the backup venue this morning to win the heat and advance to the Semifinals, against a single low-scoring ride for Buitendag, but the South African was upbeat despite a poor show on the day on twitter, as her participation in her debut WCT event drew to a close.
Disappointed in that last one, but there is more to life than surfing heats! Awesome result for me- now lets grab a buddy and go smurfing!
— Bianca Buitendag (@biancabuitendag) March 7, 2013
Meanwhile, reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Roxy Pro Gold Coast winner Stephanie Gilmore wowed spectators and opponents alike with an incredly-deep forehand barrel, netting a near-perfect 9.80 out of a possible 10 over opponent Alana Blanchard.
“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.
Poor wind conditions forced officials to call competition off until Friday, when they will reconvene tomorrow to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results: QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.50 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 7.94 QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.97 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 5.06 QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.20 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 1.50 QF 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.00 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.37 Semifinal Match-Ups: SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
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