Bianca Lines Up Some Bombs
Monday 26 July 2021 With little to lose, Bianca Buitendag was free to cause an upset at the expense of Stephanie Gilmore at Tsurigasaki Beach early today, writes Spike, as a storm peaks off the coast of Japan.
LIP SYNC: Bianca Buitendag was in fine form to vanquish Stephanie Gilmore. Photo WSL / Evans
Gilmore, who is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of women's surfing with seven world titles, was beaten 10 to 13.93 by a determined Buitendag in mushy 3-4' surf at Tsurigasaki Beach, thanks to a mixed storm swell from 980mb Tropical Cyclone Nepartak lurking offshore. The storm peaks overnight.
Bianca told News24: "I had nothing to lose, [I felt] absolutely no pressure. I'm the underdog coming in at 17th seed for this event. It's a really comfortable spot to be in. It takes away all the nerves and pressure that could exist."
One can see that her manager Greg Emslie has been working this psychological angle to free up Bianca's mental state to just go surf. However, Buitendag admitted it was quite "nerve-wracking" competing against Gilmore, particularly during the last three minutes in the heat with Bianca ahead after picking off two good waves, but against someone who can pull off a 10 in the dying seconds.
STORM SEAS: The iconic Hokusai etching is set not far from Tsurigasaki. Photo ISA / Evans
"In the ocean especially, you've got to give yourself the best chance. If you are on the smaller waves, that's not going to happen. I just made sure my wave selection was really good because that was the only advantage that I could bring out."
“She had a dream heat, she was on fire. Now she’s into the quarter-finals and there’s a long way to go still but we’re so excited,” said Emslie.
Tomorrow in the early hours ZA time (2.24am), Bianca will meet ninth-seed Yolanda Hopkins from Portugal in the quarters. The surf is forecast to peak tomorrow, with jumbled 3-5ft storm surf from the cyclone that will slowly dwindle into Wednesday, when the finals are due.
Winds tomorrow look offshore NW and Bianca, who is not a small person, will enjoy the chunky surf, with some sets forecast to push in well overhead.
TROPICAL STORM NEPARTAK: Waves peak tomorrow for the quarter-finals. Photo Windy
"I've got no pressure, it's like the best spot ever. I obviously want to do my best but with no great expectations weighing on my shoulders, I've got the freedom to surf the best that I can," continued Buitendag in the interview with News24.
"The further I go, the more I'm an underdog, I think."
It's all in the mind Bianca! You got this. More info at https://isasurf.org/event/tokyo-2020/
NO QUARTER GIVEN: Bianca's opponent in the quarters: Yolanda Hopkins. Photo ISA / Evans