Two-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) will take back the Jeep ratings lead heading into the next event after making it through to the Semifinals of the Swatch Women’s Pro.
Image: WSL/Kirstin
The stage is set for a thrilling Swatch Women’s Pro conclusion. STOP PRESS: IT COULD BE RUNNING TODAY!
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) was first to earn her place in the Semifinals of the Swatch Women’s Pro when she defeated Nikki Van Dijk (AUS). Van Dijk claimed an early lead but the powerful South African, current world No. 4, came back with less than ten minutes remaining to post an 8.67 and take the heat.
“Performance is about so much more than just physical ability,” Buitendag said. “I’ve realized that you really have to put hard work in and things don’t always go as planned.”
Bianca Buitendag. Image: WSL/Kirstin
Lakey Peterson (USA) delivered a huge upset by eliminating the world No. 1 Courtney Conlogue (USA) in the Quarterfinals. Peterson, who is currently in 5th place on the Jeep Leaderboard, started with a bang and delivered an 8.93 for a series of beautiful, wrapping turns. She continued her impressive performance and backed up her first score with a 7.83 for a convincing lead. Despite a valiant effort, Conlogue couldn’t find the 8.84 required. Peterson heads to the Semifinals and Conlogue goes home in 5th place.
“I was really focused in that heat,” said Peterson. “Courtney is just so good and she’s been one of the best surfers out here all week so I was trying to stick to my game plan. I’m stoked to be at Lowers, it’s just so much fun, and to get passed the Quarterfinals.”
“That heat was a bit of a bummer, I thought that first wave was going to be amazing,” said Conlogue. “Things didn’t go my way but there’s still three events left this year and I’m going to hold my head high, learn from my mistakes and look forward.”
Courtney Conlogue. Image: WSL/Kirstin
Two-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) got the better of current world No. 7 Tyler Wright (AUS) in the third Quarterfinal today. Wright netted an incredible 9.93, the highest score of the day, for a series of huge power turns on her opening wave and left Moore battling to turn the heat. Each of the surfers took a wave in the final minutes and Wright looked to better her back-up while Moore hoped for a 7.77. The pair waited anxiously for the scores to come through and Moore got the edge. The emotional, last-minute victory for the Hawaiian will see her take the ratings lead and Jeep leader jersey from Conlogue heading into the upcoming Cascais Women’s Pro.
“It was really tough to keep my head after Tyler started off with a near-perfect score,” said Moore. “I’m so thankful and happy that it worked out at the end — I was praying so hard for the score to come in.”
“What I can take away from that heat is that I really went out and surfed how I wanted to,” said Wright. “This is the most emotional I’ve been after a heat loss and it’s the hardest one I’ve ever had. This event things have really started to come together for me and I feel like my competitive spirit has come back.”
In another upset Dimity Stoyle (AUS) defeated world No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) to earn her first Semifinal berth of the season and her second ever on the CT. Today was the first head-to-head match-up for the pair and Stoyle managed to steal the advantage with ten minutes remaining. Fitzgibbons fought back to reclaim the lead but the heat came down to a final exchange. Stoyle took the win with an 8.57 to Fitzgibbons’ 8.43 and moves ahead.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Stoyle. “I haven’t had many opportunities this year but those losses I’ve had have just made me work harder. My goal was just to go out there and surf good and it’s worked. I’ve made some heats and I’m really happy.”
Dimity Stoyle. Image: WSL/Rowland
The Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles event started on September 9 and could run through September 20, 2015. Fans can follow all the action LIVE via webcast on WorldSurfLeague.com and on the WSL mobile app.
Fans around the world can also follow the broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports in Australia, MCS Extreme in France, EDGE Sports in China, South Korea, Malaysia and other territories and on Globo TV in Brazil.
Swatch Women’s Pro Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 15.73 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 13.83
Heat 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 17.37 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 11.84
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.33 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 15.10
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.93 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 14.20
Swatch Women’s Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 15.50 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 15.43
QF 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.76 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.26
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.10 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.86
QF 4: Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 15.50 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.16
Swatch Women’s Pro Semifinal Match-Ups:
SF 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
Tyler Wright. Image: WSL/Kirstin
