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FIRST DAY AT THE RIP CURL PRO
Author: SurfGirl
Carissa Moore Leads the Ladies in Pumping Day 1 Action at Lagido
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.
Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, 2010 ASP Women?s World Tour rookie and current ASP Women?s World No. 8, was the standout on Day 1 of the Rip Curl Women?s Pro Portugal, netting the day?s high heat total of a 17.00 out of a possible 20 in her Round 3 heat.
I?m stoked as the conditions all day have been really good, Moore said. I had a really nice heat with Rosanne (Hodge) and feel good. My board feels really good and I?m so thankful to Portugal for hosting us this year.
En route to her commanding Round 3 performance, Moore notched up the highest single-wave score of the day (a 9.00 out of a possible 10) for an inspired exhibition of backhand surfing.
It was weird because I couldn?t really hear the scores out there but I knew that one (9.00) was a good one, Moore said. I watched Sally (Fitzgibbons) in the heat before kind of go off and that got me excited to perform too.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, current ASP Women?s World No. 2, was another dominant performance 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.
Gilmore will face Paige Hareb (NZL), 20, in the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Women?s Pro Portugal.
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 27, former ASP Women?s World Champion and current ASP World No. 4, was dominant on her backhand through Rounds 1 and 3 today, keeping the South American campaign alive in Portugal.
The waves are definitely better on the higher tide because they stand up more, Mulanovich said. I was kind of feeling the break out in my first round heat, but definitely felt better this afternoon. I love surfing on my backhand. The waves are great and all the girls are surfing amazing so it?s going to be an excellent event.
Mulanovich takes on Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, in Quarterfinal 1 when competition resumes.
Rip Curl Wildcard and surfing icon Bethany Hamilton showed her prowess in big surf as she went for the heaviest waves of the day, but she eventually lost a tightly contested battle with an in-form Silvana Lima in their Round 3 match-up. But that’s hardly the end for Bethany, as you can expect to see her shining in the epic free-surf sessions bound to go down at Supertubes and Belgas in the coming days.
The Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be webcast LIVE via http://live.ripcurl.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com