Conlogue Rings Bell

DOWN THE LINE: Courtney Conlogue won the final by a mere 0.1pt. Photo WSL / Cestari

The 2nd stop on the Championship Tour enjoyed classic conditions today with the women's finishing after the men’s event completed Round 4 and the opening half of Round 5, with a potential finish this weekend.

In the women's final, Conlogue was up against two-time event winner Fitzgibbons. They went wave for wave, throwing up massive scores, but it was the Californian who eked out the win by 0.10. A runner-up at the opening event of the season last week on the Gold Coast, she lands atop the Jeep WSL Leaderboard heading into the third event. Fitzgibbons opened up strong in the Final, showcasing her clean rail-to-rail surfing. After an early elimination at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Fitzgibbons was hungry, but it was not to be.

In non-elimination Round 4 of the men's event, Mick Fanning (AUS), three-time World Champion and four-time event winner, faced Jordy Smith (ZAF) and 2016 WSL Rookie Conner Coffin (USA). Coffin posted a massive 9.13 point ride to control the heat and challenge the CT heavyweights. Coffin held onto the lead and advances straight to the quarters.

“I was the underdog,” Coffin said after his heat. “Those guys are surfing so well. To get to surf heat like that in waves like that is unreal. It is nice to have some clean offshore walls and get to land some turns. Those are the waves I love to surf. To surf them with two of my favorite surfers - guys I’ve looked up to forever - is awesome.”

COFFIN NAILING: The rookie had the measure of the heavies. Photo: WSL / Cestari

Semifinal 1 of the women's saw Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time World Champion and defending event Champion, eliminated by Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Moore, who has three consecutive wins at Bells, locked in a strong 8.17 right off the bat, but did not earn enough on her second ride to beat 16.16, including a massive 9.33 pointer.

Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), 2015 Rookie of the Year, faced Conlogue in the second semifinal. Weston-Webb charged with a 15.67 two-wave combined score, but could not close the 1.16 point gap.

The quarters witnessed Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time World Champion, battle rival Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time World Champion, for a crack at a semifinals berth. Both athletes were gunning for a fourth Bells victory. The two CT superstars have faced-off multiple times, Moore with nine wins and Gilmore with six. Moore posted a near perfect 19.23 to cement the edge she has over her rival.

READY AND WILKO: 

Tyler Wright (AUS), current No. 1, was eliminated by Conlogue in their quarterfinal. Conlogue controlled the heat with two solid seven point rides.

The first half of Men’s Round 5 saw Matt Wilkinson (AUS), current World No. 1, defeat 2016 Title contender Julian Wilson (AUS) in Round 5 Heat 2 to advance to the Quarterfinals. Trailing Wilson for a majority of the heat, Wilkinson answered back with two huge tail-drifts giving him a 9.57. Both competitors earned a 16.57 two-wave combined score, but because Wilkinson had the highest single scoring ride - the 9.57 - he was given the win.

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