CASCAIS, Portugal — The Cascais Women’s Pro, Stop No. 8 on the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT), resumed Thursday at the back-up venue of Guincho in clean four-to-six foot surf. Competition ran through Rounds 2 and 3, with the
CASCAIS, Portugal — The Cascais Women’s Pro, Stop No. 8 on the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT), resumed Thursday at the back-up venue of Guincho in clean four-to-six foot surf. Competition ran through Rounds 2 and 3, with the first four quarterfinalists decided. Following the conclusion of the women’s event the EDP Billabong Pro Cascais ran through heats 1-8 of Round 3.
Kauai’s Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) secured a quarterfinal berth with the top score of the heat, a 7.77, on her final wave. Malia Manuel’s final wave fell just short of what was required and she will join current World No. 2 Courtney Conlogue (USA) in elimination Round 4.
“There’s so many scoring opportunities out there, it’s just a matter of being in line for one,” said Weston-Webb. “Grit and determination the whole time. I don’t know what’s happening at the moment but I’m surfing pressure free and not letting results define me. I really like the waves here and I’ve been having so much surfing here. I’m really focused on consistency at the moment.”
Reigning WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) was eliminated in Round 2 at the hands of local wildcard Teresa Bonvalot (PRT). Today was the first CT win for Bonvalot, who is competing as a wildcard in Cascais for the fifth year. Wright suffered an injury during a freesurf earlier this week, tearing her MCL, and today’s 13th place finish is her worst result of the season with possible world title implications.
Bonvalot went on to face Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and Lakey Peterson (USA) in Round 3. Van Dijk claimed the win and her place in the quarterfinals with a 7.33. Peterson and Bonvalot will surf again in Round 4.
Another upset played out in Round 2 Heat 4 when injury replacement Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) defeated six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), despite finding a solid score on her opening wave. Buitendag was able to close the heat with a 6.77 to secure her advancement in the competition and send Gilmore home in 13th place.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), current No. 1 on the Jeep Leaderboard, earned her place in the quarterfinals with a Round 3 victory over Keely Andrew (AUS) and Silvana Lima (BRA). Andrew and Lima will have another chance to advance in Round 3 when competition continues.
The final women’s heat of the day saw Carissa Moore (HAW) claim victory and a place in the quarterfinals. Erickson had the highest single-wave score of the day, a 7.90, but wasn’t able to find a back-up and will have to surf again in Round 4 along with Buitendag.
French surfers Pauline Ado (FRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) both suffered early elimination in Round 2 at the hands of Van Dijk and Manuel respectively. The result is Defay’s worst of the year and Ado’s sixth 13th place finish.
Cascais Women’s Pro Round 2 results
Heat 1: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 11.50 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.07
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.90 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.76
Heat 3: Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) 9.50 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 7.23
Heat 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.27 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.00
Heat 5: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.50 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 7.60
Heat 6: Keely Andrew (AUS) 10.70 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.50
Cascais Women’s Pro Round 3 results
Heat 1: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.23, Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.10, Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) 4.33
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.56, Keely Andrew (AUS) 10.00, Silvana Lima (BRA) 6.77
Heat 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 14.37, Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.50, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.40
Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.34, Sage Erickson (USA) 12.67, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.50
Cascais Women’s Pro Round 3 match-ups
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (PRT)
Heat 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)
