Round 3 at Bells and Silvana Lima (BRA) fell at the hands of Lakey Peterson (USA). Peterson opened strong against Lima with an excellent 8.33. The pair battled in the early-morning conditions but Lima, 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner, couldn’t match the American’s early high score and is eliminated from the competition in equal 9th place. Peterson moves through to the Quarterfinals where she will face Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). “It’s always good start with a great score,” said Peterson. “It’s really hard to pick them out there today and to surf smoothly is really tough. Silvana is such a good surfer so I was definitely a bit worried going into that heat. I try not to worry about who I’m surfing against but I knew I needed to get a quick start and put the pressure on. Everyone wants to win here, and that’s part of what makes the event so special — it would be incredible to win it.”
Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara, USA (pictured) won her Round 4 heat to advance into the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Photo WSL/Cestari
Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara, USA (pictured) won her Round 4 heat to advance into the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Photo WSL/CestariJohanne Defay of Reunion Island. Photo WSL/Cestari
Johanne Defay (FRA) also earned her place in the Quarterfinals, taking out Alessa Quizon (HAW) with a 14.54 two-wave heat total. The result for Defay, the lone European surfer on the women’s CT, is an improvement last year’s 9th-place finish at Bells Beach and she’ll match-up against defending event winner Carissa Moore (HAW) in the next round.
“I’m definitely going to stay around and watch the surfing, it’s just so good,” said Defay. “I have a routine that I stick to when I’m competing and it seems to be working here at Bells.”
“I’m definitely going to stay around and watch the surfing, it’s just so good,” said Defay. “I have a routine that I stick to when I’m competing and it seems to be working here at Bells.”
Tyler Wright of Lennox Head, NSW, Australia (pictured) stormed through her Round 4 heat. Photo WSL/Cestari
Looking dominant, Tyler Wright (AUS) stormed through her Round 4 heat against Bianca Buitendag (ZAF). Wright’s final score, an excellent 9.13 (out of a possible 10), sealed the deal and led her to a convincing win over her South African opponent. Wright will match-up against reigning six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarterfinals.
“It’s so good to be here and in the home town of Rip Curl,” Wright said. “I feel like Bells really suits my surfing, sometimes I almost get too excited when the face opens up. I have so many ideas of how I want to play with this one turn and it’s just a dream to be out there. The results don’t really come into my head, I just want to win heats so I can surf out there in uncrowded Bells over and over.”
“It’s so good to be here and in the home town of Rip Curl,” Wright said. “I feel like Bells really suits my surfing, sometimes I almost get too excited when the face opens up. I have so many ideas of how I want to play with this one turn and it’s just a dream to be out there. The results don’t really come into my head, I just want to win heats so I can surf out there in uncrowded Bells over and over.”
Tatiana Weston-Webb of Hawaii. Photo WSL/Cestari
Courtney Conlogue (USA) was the final woman to take her place in the Quarterfinals after claiming victory against dangerous rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW). The Hawaiian battled throughout the 30-minute bout and, despite the highest score of the heat, couldn’t find a backup to edge the win, leaving Conlogue to move forward in the contest.
“Conditions are super challenging so you have to take those opportunities when they come through,” Conlogue said. “I just tried to have priority when those bigger sets came through. I’m looking forward to competing against Coco (Ho). She got the upperhand in our last heat so I want a rematch.”
“Conditions are super challenging so you have to take those opportunities when they come through,” Conlogue said. “I just tried to have priority when those bigger sets came through. I’m looking forward to competing against Coco (Ho). She got the upperhand in our last heat so I want a rematch.”
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Round 4 Results (1st to QF, 2nd = 9th):
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.13 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.23Heat 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.54 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 11.60Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.63 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.90Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.44 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 13.26Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)Heat 4: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA)
