Above: Silvana Lima (BRA) put on a clinic at Lowers with a stunning 8.33 and near-perfect 9.77 in Round 3 of the Swatch Pro at Trestles. © WSL / Rowland
SAN CLEMENTE, California/USA (Tuesday, September 12, 2017) – The Swatch Pro and Hurley Pro at Trestles, of the Women’s(WSL) Championship Tour (CT), flew through a full day of competition in three-to-four foot (1 – 1.2 metre) conditions at Lower Trestles. The morning kicked off with women’s Round 2 and the first two heats of Round 3.
Reigning WSL Champion and current World No. 1 Tyler Wright (AUS) will have to deal with elimination Round 4 after an incredible performance from three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW). The superheat witnessed former event winner Moore and Lakey Peterson (USA)trade off excellent scores, but Moore’s 8.83 and 8.40 were too much for the Californian, who could not find the 8.90 needed to take the heat. Moore also dominated her Round 2 heat against compatriot Malia Manuel (HAW) with a big air for a 7.33 on the single maneuver.
“I’m amped after being behind for a good portion of that last heat and I was just having fun knowing no one was going home in that heat,” Moore said. “I was sticking to my own plan even after hearing Lakey’s [Peterson] first score. With my results this year, I’m just trying to take that as an opportunity to play around with a few different maneuvers because then I can try to push myself a little bit. It’s been a crazy year of growth personally and competitively. I’m trying to stay positive and focus on the present. I just want to have fun the rest of the year and whatever happens is meant to be.”
Previously, Wright took down event wildcard Macy Callaghan (AUS) in Heat 3 of Round 2. Callaghan put on a great performance with a solid 7.33, but the defending event winner got the edge with a 7.43. The Australians then tied their back-up scores with a 5.50. Callaghan was not able to close the 0.10-point gap to advance through to the next round.
The opening heat of non-elimination Round 3 saw incredible surfing from World No. 15 Silvana Lima (BRA) as she defeated six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and World No. 5 Johanne Defay (FRA). Lima, who has only accumulated four heat wins so far on the 2017 CT season, showcased a new level with a near-perfect 18.10, the highest combined score of the day. Even Gilmore, with two 7-point rides, was forced into a combination situation that she could not escape.
“I’m so happy right now and can’t believe I’ve made it through to the Quarterfinals,” Lima said. “Steph [Gilmore] is such a great surfer and Johanne [Defay] too, so I just thought about myself out there. I just wanted to do my best and find those two waves. I was happy with that really good one — I still can’t believe it. It’s big for my momentum and it’s so good to finally take some success from the QS to the CT. This is so good for my confidence moving forward as well and already a Quarterfinal result feels amazing, but I know it’s going to take my best in the next heat.”
2017 CT Rookie Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and CT veteran Coco Ho (HAW) were not able to escape elimination Round 2 and will exit with an Equal 13th place finish.
Above: Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) dominated the Lowers lineup today at the Swatch Pro at Trestles. © WSL / Morris
Event officials have called the remaining two heats of women’s Round 3 ON for an 8:00 a.m. today.
Surfline, official forecaster for the Hurley Pro at Trestles, are calling for:
Fun size, rippable S swell will continue Tuesday off a mix of the current S swell and new, very long period S swell that will slowly build. Look for this new, long period S swell to fill in further through the day on Wednesday and continue Thursday to offer the larger surf of the waiting period. Fading surf takes over on Friday and that trend continues through the weekend. Conditions look generally favorable Tue-Thur in the mornings, with moderate WNW wind in the afternoons. S wind may develop on Friday.
The Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro at Trestles will be broadcast LIVE via WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL app and on Facebook LIVE via the WSL’s Facebook page. Also check local listings for coverage on CBS Sports Network in the U.S., Fox Sports in Australia, ESPN in Brazil, Sky NZ in New Zealand, SFR Sports in France and Portugal, Sport TV in Portugal and the EDGEsport Network.
For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com.
Swatch Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.56 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.70
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.63 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.43
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.93 def. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 12.83
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.17 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.50
Heat 5: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.03 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 12.67
Heat 6: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.60 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 12.13
Swatch Pro Round 3 (H1-2) Results:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 18.10, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.40, Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.36
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.43, Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.83, Tyler Wright (AUS ) 14.60
Swatch Pro Remaining Round 3 (H3-4) Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Sage Erickson (USA), Pauline Ado (FRA)
