Courtney Conlogue of the United States (pictured) winning her round one heat at the Oi Rio Pro in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil on Tuesday May 10, 2016. PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
Courtney Conlogue (USA), defending event Champion and current Jeep Rankings Leader, earned an early lead in Round 1 Heat 3 against injury replacement Bronte Macaulay (AUS)and event wildcard Silvana Lima (BRA). Conlogue continued to strengthen her position with an excellent 8.83, the highest single-wave score of the Women’s event. Conlogue’s 14.76 two-wave heat left Macaulay to chasing an near-perfect 9.59 and Lima looking for two new scores. Macaulay and Lima were not able to combat Conlogue and will battle again in elimination Round 2.
“I did make a few mistakes out there, but it did not cost me in that heat,” said Conlogue. “I am really happy to get through. There is definitely some emotion that came out after I caught that last wave under third priority. I was trying to time it to where my opponent couldn’t take it. There are some tricky conditions, but I am trying to work all the banks and get in sync with the ocean. It paid off for sure and my emotion definitely showed.”
Tyler Wright of Australia (pictured) winning her round one heat. PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
Tyler Wright (AUS) blazed through her Round 1 heat against Coco Ho (HAW) and Nikki Van Dijk (AUS). Wright showcased her powersurfing to lock in a solid 8-point ride and backed that up with a 7.00. Ho needed an 8.10 to take the lead, but fell short with a 7.00. Van Dijk was forced into a combination situation and could not find the scores to close the gap on Wright.
“To train for the beach break, I pretty much surfed waves at home and made my little brother watch me the whole time,” Wright said. “It was fun and I absolutely loved it. I was looking for close-out sections, and one or two turn maneuvers. I had the best time at home, and we had so many family gatherings. My cousin got married and it was a beautiful time.”
Stephanie Gilmore of Brasil (pictured) winning her round one heat. PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time WSL Champion, won the last heat of Women’s Round 1 against Alessa Quizon (HAW) and Johanne Defay (FRA). Gilmore secured a 15.93 two-wave total, the highest of Women’s Round 1, putting the pressure on Quizon and Defay to close the gap. Defay, who earned a 9.17 two-wave combined score needed a 9.76 to combat Gilmore. Quizon was not able to get out of combination to challenge Gilmore.
“I have been on the beach since 5:30 this morning, so I have waited a long time to surf that heat,” Gilmore said. “I was more or less wanting to get the job done so we could go home, but I actually had fun. There is a little bit more water on the bank and there’s a fun right. It actually reminded me of a lot of Merewether and Newcastle, and I did pretty well in that event this year. I thought back to that, and I got some fun waves.”
Sage Erickson of the UnitedaStates (pictured) winning her round one heat. PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time World Champion, battled in Heat 5 against Sage Erickson (USA) and 2016 WSL Rookie Chelsea Tuach (BRB). Moore started with an early lead, a 9.50 two-wave combined score, but Erickson’s 7.83 threatened Moore’s control. Erickson was able to find a second solid score to put herself in the first-place position. Moore needed a 6.74 to take the win, and attempted to do so in the last two minutes of the heat, but her wave option was not able to stand-up enough to provide the required score. Erickson will move straight to Round 3, while Moore and Tuach will surf again in Round 2.
“I think anytime you can take down one of the top girls, you gain a lot of confidence,” Erickson said. “In the last two minutes of my match-up against Carissa in Margaret River, she threw down an 8 and a 7, so she is more than capable of those excellent scores in very small amounts of time. Even though my backup was not my proudest score, I felt good on the 7.83.”
Today’s women’s contest has just been called on so watch it live at WorldSurfLeague.com.
Johanne Defay of France (pictured) placed third in her round one heat . PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.50, Laura Enever (AUS) 11.06, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.67
Heat 2: Keely Andrew (AUS)13.17, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.00, Malia Manuel (HAW) 7.07
Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.76, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 6.10, Silvana Lima (BRA) 5.50
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 15.10, Coco Ho (HAW) 9.10, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 5.33
Heat 5: Sage Erickson (USA) 12.40, Carissa Moore (HAW) 9.50, Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 7.53
Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.93, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.33, Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.14
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 5: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
Heat 6: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Silvana Lima of Brasil (pictured) placed third in her round one heat. PHOTO: © WSL / Smorigo
