Busting Out

BUSTING OUT: Bianca rips up the small waves. IMAGE CREDIT: © ASP/Kirstin

Heat 1 of Round 4 of the Fiji Women's Pro saw two goofy-footers battle for a spot in the Quaterfinals - Alessa Quizon (HAW) and Bianca Buitendag took two different forehand approaches. Quizon opted to charged down the wave to pick up speed for impactful vertical snaps and Buitendag preferred slower, seamless carving down the line. Scoring favored the controlled surfing of the South African, awarding Buitendag an excellent 8.50 with 10 minutes off the clock. At the halfway mark, Buitendag improve her bottom score to an 8.40 putting the rookie in a combination situation.

The Hawaiian found her rhythm with roughly eight minutes to go scoring a 7.77 and a 7.07, but fell short of the excellent-range ride needed to take the lead. Buitendag moves to the Quarterfinals while Quizon settles for equal 9th place.

“I definitely think my height gives me an advantage. When the waves are small I don’t have that but because the wind is so strong here and it makes a massive bump on the face it gives me an advantage,” said Bianca Buitendag. “I’m taking every opportunity as it comes. I get incredibly excited when I see a left so you can images how stoked I am to be here and I can’t wait for the next heat. It’s great to have some size, it makes the competition more fair and there’s some really good swell predicted for tomorrow.”

Buitendag and Alana Blanchard (HAW) got off to a slow start in their Round 2 clash with the South African establishing an early lead on her forehand for a 3.27 and 4.50.

While Blanchard was only in need of modest 5.77, she was unable to find the wave needed. Buitendag survived the low-scoring affair, advancing to Round 3. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 7.77 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 3.43

Buitendag was forced to surf in Round 2 after losing to a rampaging Malia Manuel (HAW) in Round 1.

The fifth stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP Women's World Championship Tour, the Fiji Women's Pro is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com.