It was a day for the surfers to show up ready to scrap and brawl in funky Saquarema beach breaks that were full of backwash booby traps. You needed to bring every trick and rat cunning tactic you could muster – turns, cheeky tubes, hustling and airs that could be manufactured with production line reliability.
For the judges it was a day to dissect the nuances in degrees of difficulty for every kinda punt and then figure out what to do when someone got insanely pitted. Meanwhile it was left to the commentators to reach for the right trick description borrowed from the skateboard dictionary. That’s right, in these conditions it really is surfing as skateboarding with bigger boards and softer landings.
According to Chris Cote it was the ‘Miller’ flip that delivered the fatal blow to Griffin and his increasingly famous lime green Mayhem. Peruvian Miguel Tudela piloted the lethal, corked out rotation. A wildcard toppling the last CT event winner and current world number three. Miguel Tudela and his Todd Holland beard ( some of you may remember Todd) spilling green Griffin blood on the shores of Rio. Dramatic yes, but rattling for USA surf fans, who are desperate to see Griffin become the first mainland North American to claim a title since Kelly back in 2011. That’s a decade long drought.
The next heat was also defined by final stage heroics. With three minutes to go neither Caio Ibelli or Jadson had gone beyond a four. Caio took off on a closeout barrel, pretended he was at Backdoor and found an exit half a street length from where he took off. No one thought he was coming out. Kaipo must have been reading his dictionary to look for tube riding euphemisms because he dropped the term ‘spelunking’ to describe the ride. A word usually used in reference to people who like to explore caves. The judges used a simpler but equally emphatic way to convey their appreciation. They gave him a ten – the first of Caio’s career. A huge accolade in an era of pro surfing when a ten is like a snow leopard – in existence but almost never seen.
Resplendent in his old-school Quik trunks Matheus Herdy then blew Kanoa Igarashi out of the water. Herdy had a simple plan. Hit the lip and spin to win. Why do one rotation on a wave when you can hop through the flats and make it two on the shorey. The wildcard rises again. Herdy is no one trick pony though and has the act to continue killing giants.
We knew were always going to get A for effort when Aussie thoroughbred Callum Robson paddled out against three-time world champ Gabriel Medina.
Callum got straight to work on his forehand – his strong suit – while Gabe was grinding it out on the lefts. The rookie made better wave-choices in the heat, finding a clean face to post his emphatic 8.17. The wedgy right saw Callum annihilate the first section with a layback hack and finish the wave with his solid fundamentals. He backed up that excellent score by blasting a reverse, returning a 7.40 for his efforts. Where others fear Medina, Robson obviously relished the challenge.
Medina, sitting on the other side of the peak, faced 30 minutes of frustration. Gabe started with a 7.50, executing a couple of piercing hacks. But that was it. He had plenty of opportunities to post scores but repeatedly fell on his rotations. The Saquarema beach was silent as Callum paddled in the winner. Callum now has another big task in the round of 16 against best mate on the CT and Rio roomie Jacko Baker.
Saquarema Sally’s wildcard run came to an end against Johanne Defay in the Quarterfinal’s. Sally was a favourite at the event with the Aussie having so much success in Brazil throughout her career. However, Defay is on her game this year and will see Rio as an opportunity to take the yellow jersey off fellow semi-finalist Carissa with an event win.
Sally heads home with Isabella Nichols and Steph, will she receive another wildcard at J Bay?
Men’s round of 16 fixtures
Heat 1
Jack Robinson
Mateus Herdy
Heat 2
Caio Ibelli
Samuel Pupo
Heat 3
Italo Ferriera
Michael Rodrigues
Heat 4
Miguel Pupo
Nat Young
Heat 5
Flipe Toledo
Miguel Tudela
Heat 6
Connor O’Leary
Matthew McGillivray
Heat 7
Ethan Ewing
Yago Dora
Heat 8
Callum Robson
Jackson Baker
Women’s Semifinals fixtures
Heat 1
Johanne Defay
Gabriela Ryan
Heat 2
Carissa Moore
Tatiana Weston-Webb
Day 2 results
Women’s Quarterfinal results
Heat 1
Johanne Defay – 9.43
Sally Fitzgibbons – 8.10
Heat 2
Gabriela Ryan – 8.94
Lakey Peterson – 8.33
Heat 3
Carissa Moore – 12.47
Caroline Marks – 10.50
Heat 4
Tatiana Weston – Webb – 11.40
Isabella Nichols – 4.50
Elimination Round
Heat 1
Carissa Moore – 8.50
Sol Aguirre – 8.33
Heat 2
Isabella Nichols – 11.16
Stephanie Gilmore – 10.70
Heat 3
Johanne Defay – 8.90
Courtney Conlogue – 7.10
Heat 4
Lakey Peterson – 11.33
Brisa Hennessy – 5.80
Men’s Elimination Round
Heat 1
Miguel Tudela – 14.30
Griffin Colapinto – 12.60
Heat 2
Caio Ibelli – 14.43
Jadson Andre – 8.83
Heat 3
Mateus Herdy – 16.00
Kanoa Igarashi – 12.90
Heat 4
Nat Young – 12.00
Jordy Smith – 10.17
