LAGIDO, Peniche/Portugal (Thursday, October 7, 2010) – The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Portugal, Stop No. 6 of 8 on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, enjoyed a mammoth day of competition for Day 1 of the waiting period, completing Rounds 1, 2 and 3 in offshore three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at the backup venue of Lagido.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP Women’s World No. 2, was another dominant performer today, netting a solid 16.83 out of a possible 20, including matching the day’s high single-wave score (a 9.00 out of a possible 10), in Round 3 of competition.“After the second round, the tide came in and it was tricky to line up which one was going to wall up,” Fitzgibbons said. “It’s a bit difficult with the wind coming up, trying to paddle into them. My board felt good and I ended up putting together a really nice heat. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going in the coming days.” Fitzgibbons will take on Moore in the Quarterfinals when competition recommences.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, was in uncharacteristic form throughout the day, posting relatively meager scores despite advancing through to the Quarterfinals. “I’m struggling in these waves – windy lefthanders,” Gilmore said. “It’s really not my forte, but it’s good – something to work on for me. Hopefully today is the end of this venue and we’ll be back to Supertubos.”
Embroiled in a red-hot ASP Women’s World Title race, Gilmore acknowledged the performances of Fitzgibbons today and expressed a desire to finish the event at the primary venue.
“I’ll let Sally (Fitzgibbons) worry about Sally,” Gilmore said. “She’s been on fire lately. She loves lefts so hopefully we move back to Supertubos and go right. She’ll be dangerous either way though.”
Mulanovich takes on Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, in Quarterfinal 1 when competition resumes.
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be available via http://live.ripcurl.com
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am at Supertubos to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start.
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.00, Paige Hareb (NZL) 10.83, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 8.40
Heat 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.33, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 7.93, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 5.16
Heat 3: Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 9.00, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 7.93, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 5.20
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.10, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 11.44, Justin Dupont (FRA) 7.57
Heat 5: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.43, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 8.33, Silvana Lima (BRA) 3.00
Heat 6: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.33, Coco Ho (HAW) 14.53, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.00
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.94, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 9.63, Justine Dupont (FRA) 8.83
Heat 2: Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 9.00, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 8.90, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 7.03
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.13 def. Nikita Robb (ZAF) 7.00
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 9.00 def. Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 7.43
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.50 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.60
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.84 def. Cannelle Bulard (FRA) 6.66
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.83 def. Nicola Atherton (AUS) 9.33
Heat 6: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.00 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 7.10
Heat 7: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 11.93 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 9.33
Heat 8: Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.50 def. Bethany Hamilton (AUS) 7.10
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO PORTUGAL QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
QF 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
QF 4: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
