The women’s Quarter- Finals started just after mid-day after the men’s round of 16. The waves slowed down as the afternoon progressed, but there was fun waves to be found . The Bells sets pulsed around every 30 minutes meaning that some competitors were given less opportunities to score which was the case for Quarterfinal heat one.
Quarterfinal Heat 1
Sally Fitzgibbons vs Courtney Conlogue
This was an exciting match-up as both surfers have won Bells multiple times and need a big result here to make the top 10 cut-off line. To add fuel to the fire, Sally and Courteney are friends who have been travelling the world together since they were 14.
Bells went quiet for most of the heat, with only six waves surfed. Sally paddled on to four waves while Courtney found two waves. Courtney would find herself on the better waves and she made it count. No wonder this woman has won three times, absolutely tearing the bowl on the two wave she surfed.
Courtney found a smooth Bells face and laid it down on the first two sections before nearly slipping, however recovering before finishing the last section. The American was rewarded a 7.90 for the wave which ultimately was the score to win the heat. Courtney’s aggressiveness was the outlier in this contest, Sally’s smooth but cautious approach was not rewarded by the judges who clearly wanted critical turns.
It was unfortunate for both girls as the swell disappeared, Courtney looked unbeatable today only needing two waves to take the win.
Quarterfinal Heat 2
Tyler Wright v Bronte Macaulay
Tyler and Bronte were both highlights in the round of 16 with their dominant performances. Bronte beat Supertubos champ Tatiana Weston- Webb while Tyler had one of the highest heat scores of the round.
The swell picked up for this contest, with Bronte making the right move early and getting on the first set. Bronte picked up where she started in her heats before, ripping the Bells bowl before failing her final turn on the shore-break section. The West-Aus local was rewarded a 7.07 for the un-finished wave, which could have been an excellent score.
A mistake you cannot make against a two-time world champion. Tyler warmed up on her first two waves until going absolutely bezerk in the bells bowl. She made each section count on her nine-point ride, with aggressive turns from start to end, before screaming at the judges “CMON”. Wright’s variation of carves, turn and laybacks has been the best on the women’s side. Her poise and turn-choice is putting her above the other surfers at Bells. Wright, is confident and hungry for her first victory at Bells.
Heat 3
Carissa Moore v Stephanie Gilmore
It was a battle of giants in quarter-final three, with 12 world titles between the pair.
The waves started slow in the heat with Bells sets pulsing less. Carissa started solid with a six and a five.
Steph on the other hand made some uncharacteristic mistakes on her starting waves this would be costly for the Australian great. Both surfers, were disappointed with the lack of sets in this heat but it was a good ending.
They had an excellent exchange in the last ten minutes with Carissa taking the first wave of the set scoring a 7.67, while Steph was behind her getting the best score of the heat, a 7.83. Steph would get on a small wave before the siren, but it was not enough.
Steph did have opportunities in this heat, but her mistakes is what caused her exit from competition. The need for a good result for Steph, could have played a role in the multiple errors. The four-time Bells champ is in a better spot going into Margaret River but will be disappointed knowing she could have progressed if she didn’t have those falls in this heat.
Heat 4
Brissa Hennesy v Johanne Defay
The world no.1 Brissa Hennesy faced one of the in-form surfers of the event Johanne Defay in the final heat of the day. It had the factors for a possible upset, with Johanne’s surfing looking elite in the event so far.
Waves again would be slow throughout heat, with conditions starting to deteriorate. Brissa started well in the heat paddling onto a smaller wave, making the most of it with her rail-game. Defay showed signs of her form but could not complete the final turn on her best wave.
The swell would go flat, and Hennessy just did enough with her work at the start of the heat, winning by 0.03 points. That yellow jersey isn’t going anywhere yet.
Will there be change in rankings when Brissa competes with no.2 in the world Carissa Moore in their semi-final match up?
Quarterfinal Results
- Heat 1
- Courtney Conlogue – 14.57
- Sally Fitzgibbons – 11.93
- Heat 2
- Tyler Wright – 17.17
- Bronte Macaulay – 12.07
- Heat 3
- Carissa Moore – 13.67
- Stephanie Gilmore – 12.53
- Heat 4
- Brissa Hennessy – 11.60Johanne Defay – 11.57
