Brave New World!

MUCH MOORE: RISS is four time world champion, and still innovating. Photo WSL / Meirs

There were big eliminations through the men’s Round of 16, with Jordy Smith falling to Conner Coffin, with finals day (men’s quarters, semis and finals and women’s final) set up for tomorrow, starting around midnight ZA time tonight if the forecast holds.

Moore (HAW), four-time WSL Champion, pushed the progression of surfing another level higher earlier today by landing a massive air reverse in her heat against Johanne Defay (FRA) to earn a near-perfect Moore was almost shocked when she landed it9.90. Moore was under pressure with her opponent Johanne Defay (FRA) in complete control of the heat until Moore took off on a medium set and went off the lip and into an air-reverse, possibly the biggest landed by a female in competition. Moore was almost shocked when she landed it, and is eager to continue to innovate her surfing throughout the road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

“You have to keep reinventing yourself when you’re amongst this field,” Moore said. “All of these girls are so good and constantly pushing the level of surfing. I never land those things let alone in a 30-minute heat. The waves are so incredible out there right now. I’m so glad WSL waited for the tide. There is so much on offer — turns, barrels, airs — there is just so much opportunity. I’m just so excited at the moment, I can’t believe it.”

GIANT KILLER: Rookie Isabella Nichols beat veteran Stephanie Gilmore. Photo WSL / Dunbar

CT rookie Isabella Nichols (AUS) upset the competition today with a big win over seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the opening heat of the women’s Quarterfinals. Nichols got to work early in a slow heat, securing a 6.67 (out of a possible 10) and 7.23, to Gilmore’s 5.40 and 6.00. Gilmore was unable to overcome the freshman in the 30-minute heat and exits in equal 5th place. Nichols has now secured her career-best result and will hope to continue her success when she matches up with fellow Sunshine Coaster Keely Andrew (AUS) in the Semifinals.

“I’m pretty speechless at the moment, to be honest,” Nichols said. “Steph (Gilmore) is my idol, she always was and always will be someone I look up to so to have a heat against her was pretty surreal. When I saw we were matching up, I was pretty stoked but that’s not how I thought that heat was going to go, but I’ll take it. Having that heat was so special and the outcome was just a bonus.”

“Isabella (Nichols) is a rookie who is on fire at the moment,” Gilmore said. “I watched her grow up on the Gold Coast and have seen her improve so much. It wasn’t my afternoon though. I was letting waves go that I should have gone on and just had poor wave choice. It’s such a nice afternoon though, it’s really fun out there, the waves are awesome with good conditions. It was a bummer to go down.”

TUCKED UP COFFIN: Conner Coffin took down Jordy Smith in the Round of 16. Photo WSL / Cait

After disappointing finishes at the first CT event, Caroline Marks (USA) and Keely Andrew (AUS) have come back stronger than ever with entries to the Semifinals. Andrew eliminated Courtney Conlogue (USA) in the second Quarterfinal heat in an extremely close battle. Only 0.80 points separated the two competitors and Conlogue exits in equal 5th. Marks dominated her heat against Bronte Macaulay (AUS) Callinan has the opportunity to claim his maiden CT victory in front of a hometown crowdin the final Quarterfinal matchup. 19-year-old Marks will now come up against her fellow Olympic qualifier Moore in Semifinal 2.

In the men's event, local favorites Morgan Cibilic (AUS) and Ryan Callinan (AUS) continued their epic run of form, each booking themselves a spot in the Quarterfinals. The two will battle each other for a spot in Semifinals at their home break. For CT Rookie Cibilic, he’s already guaranteed his best CT result, but Callinan has the opportunity to claim his maiden CT victory in front of a hometown crowd. Callinan booked his spot in the Quarterfinals at the expense of title hopeful Owen Wright (AUS), while Cibilic took down compatriot Wade Carmichael.

Reigning WSL World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) showed why is considered one of the world’s most exciting surfers as he took to the air over the heaving Merewether shorebreak. Ferreira posted an impressive 16.93 two-wave total (out of a possible 20), dispatching Californian Griffin Colapinto (USA). The Brazilian performed a number of huge full-rotation air reverses much to the delight of the crowds who lined the beach.

CUTTING EDGE: Gabby Medina, at the ancient age of 28, has still got it. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Joining Ferreira in the Quarterfinals will be fellow WSL Champions Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Adriano de Souza (BRA). Medina and De Souza, the first two Brazilian World Champions, will go head-to-head in the first heat of the Quarterfinals.

In today’s live broadcast, three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning called in to announce that he will be the event wildcard for the upcoming Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic pres. by Corona that will not only mark his first CT event since retiring in 2018 but also 20 years since winning his first CT event — as a wildcard — at the 2001 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

Women’s Quarterfinals Results:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.90 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.40
HEAT 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) 13.70 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.90
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.33 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.10
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 16.26 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 12.97

Women’s Semifinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Caroline Marks (USA)

Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.93 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 8.33
HEAT 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.40 DEF. Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.10
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 16.00 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 10.33
HEAT 4: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.87 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.07
HEAT 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.93 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.83
HEAT 6: Deivid Silva (BRA) 11.93 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.80
HEAT 7: Conner Coffin (USA) 12.73 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.34
HEAT 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.07 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 9.14

Men’s Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
HEAT 2: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 4: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)