Hanalei’s Alana Blanchard had a tough opening heat, with top contender Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the same heat, yet managed to advance with a second-place finish in the opening day of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented
Hanalei’s Alana Blanchard had a tough opening heat, with top contender Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the same heat, yet managed to advance with a second-place finish in the opening day of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta at Rincon, Victoria, Australia.
The contest started yesterday in contestable two-to-three foot surf up at Rincon, with other experienced competitors also advancing out of Round 1.
Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro played witness to some stylish surfing and smart heat tactics, with five of the six Round 1 heats won by ASP World Champions, according to a press release at the tour Website, www.aspworldtour.com.
Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005) and back from a year’s sabbatical, posted an impressive heat total of a 15.40 out of a possible 20, dissecting the running righthanders with speed and flow.
“Rincon is good fun, and such a tricky wave and different to the Gold Coast,” Hedges said. “There is no real defined lip. You have to find the sections and really have to work to get through sections. When you get an open face, it is good, and you have to try and get those ones that link right through.”
Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, former seven-times ASP Women’s World Champion and semi-retired from full-time competition, has returned to Bells Beach, and returned to form, defeating Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, and Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, with the highest heat total of the day, a 15.57 out of a possible 20.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was a lot of fun,” Beachley said. “I feel like I am more observing and watching the youngsters and drawing inspiration from them. I’ve always still wanted to be a part of it, so I guess I am slowly just weaning myself off competitive surfing.”
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, former ASP World Junior Champion and last year’s winner of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), suffered an early elimination in the opening event of the season, but dominated today’s Round 1 heat over Amee Donohoe (AUS), 28, and Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24.
“The season so far has been really fun, but there is definitely a big difference between being in the WQS and being on the ASP Women’s World Tour,” Fitzgibbons said. “It is great to be down here at Bells. It is one of my favorite spots to come, so I am looking forward to find a rhythm and having fun.”
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and two-time defending Rip Curl Women’s Pro Champion, comfortably won her opening round heat, defeating 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, and Trials Winner Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), 14.
“It feels good to get a good start,” Gilmore said. “You really had to work to get the points you needed to get out of each wave, so it was a little tiring, but it feels good.”
Swellnet, official foreers for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for a decrease in surf over the next couple of days before tracking a swell for the weekend.
Event organizers were to reconvene at 7 a.m. today local time for a possible 7:30 a.m. call.
Highlights from today’s Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach pres. by Ford New Fiesta are available via www.live.ripcurl.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.67, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.77, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.30
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) 14.33, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 8.50, Paige Hareb (NZL) 6.33
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.60, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 11.50, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.50
Heat 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 15.40, Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.84, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.97
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.83, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.54, Coco Ho (HAW) 10.33
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.80, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.60, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.33
