Round three of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast resumed as Snapper Rocks found its shape again. After a few lay days, the women took to the water for a day full of close matches.
A few of the standout heats included six-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore, Silvana Lima, and Dimity Stoyle’s. Lima, who fell off the tour a few years ago, worked her way back through the QS last year and defeated Gilmore in round one. Early on through their heat round three rematch, Lima looked strong, holding the lead and fending off Gilmore and Stoyle’s attacks. Halfway through the heat, Lima managed to complete an air reverse, for an 8.40 putting Stoyle in a combo situation and Gilmore chasing a score in the excellent range. In the dying minutes, Gilmore found one–using her powerful rail game linked together seamlessly, she found a 9.0 and took the heat.
“Round 3 is a no-loser round so I wasn’t too worried,” said Gilmore. “Silvana has the most incredible wave selection. She turns waves that look like a four into a seven or an eight. I had to make sure I picked the right waves and I was lucky that the last one came.”
As the tide dropped, conditions only got better and better, and the scores followed suit. Tyler Wright pulled down a 9.5 in her heat with Courtney Conlogue and Coco Ho, who both found scores in the excellent range as well. Conlogue, despite floaters and a wave tallied at 9.5, was sent to round 4, while Wright went on to the Quarters with a 17.20 heat total.
“It turned out a lot better than I thought it would,” said Wright. “The dropping tide is doing wonders for the bank and it’s looking really nice right now. I don’t spend a lot of time out here, but I had a talk with Mick (Fanning) before about what kind of wave works best with this swell direction. I actually listened to what he said, and I don’t usually listen to anyone, and it worked out well.”
After Lima’s loss to Stephanie Gilmore in round three, she found herself facing off against world number 4 Sally Fitzgibbons in an elimination round. After Fitzgibbons started off early, finding a 9.63, Lima answered back with the first 10 point ride of the 2015 WSL season and a come-from-behind heat win.
“This was so good for me,” said Lima. “There was a lot pressure for me surfing against Sally, she’s so good,” said Lima after the heat. “I was waiting for the good waves to do my best. I’m always looking for the airs because they push up the scores and I got 10 points. Stephanie is always pushing me.”
Another name to look out for is tour rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb, who just so happens to possess one of the best backhand attacks on the women’s tour. She managed to defeat Dimity Stoyle in round 2, and found herself sent straight to the quarter finals.
“I didn’t realize it was so close and that I could still get the score so I’m so relieved,” said Weston-Webb. “I jumped up and down when I found out, there was nothing going through me but pure joy. Quarterfinals my first event of the season. I’m so thankful and so psyched to get to surf Snapper with just two girls out.”
The Roxy Pro Gold Coast is broadcast LIVE at worldsurfleague.com.
