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Caption: Bianca Buitendag (pictured) will face Sally Fitzgibbons in the Quarterfinals after winning in Round 3
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Location: |
Margaret River, Western Australia |
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Holding period: |
2 – 13 April 2014 |
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Call: |
Called ON for Women’s Round 2, 3 and 4 |
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Conditions: |
Three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf. Offshore winds. Clear skies. |
MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia (Thursday, April 3, 2014): Quarterfinalists were decided today at the Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro, the second stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour. The world’s best battled through Rounds 2, 3 and 4 in three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf at Main Break.
Courtney Conlogue (USA), two-time winner at Margaret River, secured the first spot in the Quarterfinals after taking on five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current rankings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and rookie Johanne Defay. Conlogue commanded the Heat from start the finish, unloading impressive combinations of powerful carves, fins-free turns and unmatched commitment with finishing maneuvers on the reef. Conlogue took the win convincingly, advancing directly to the Quarterfinals where she will face Stephanie Gilmore (AUS). Gilmore secured her spot after defeating rookie Dimity Stoyle in Round 4 who will leave the competition in equal 9th place.
“It’s really important to make it through Round 2,” said Courtney Conlogue. “Stephanie (Gilmore) is such a good competitor and makes really brilliant decisions so I had to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes. I felt really good, it was a great Heat and I’m thrilled to make it through to the Quarterfinals.”
Reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and event winner Carissa Moore (HAW) moves straight through to the Quarterfinals after a Round 3 win. She faced fellow Hawaiian Malia Manuel and rookie Dimity Stoyle (AUS) in the Heat but they were unable to match her electric righthand performances, despite some stylish surfing and mid-range score from Manuel. Moore and Manuel will go head-to-head in the Quarterfinals in a repeat of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
“I was so excited to go out there today,” said Carissa Moore. “The waves are good and it’s so beautiful. I had a slow start but I’m happy with my performance. I’m so excited about Quarterfinals. Courtney (Conlogue) looks really good and so does Stephanie (Gilmore). I’m just going to go out there, have fun and try not to think about it too much.”
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) continued her successful run today and navigated the tricky lineup at Main Break with ease, igniting the steep rights with unmatched backhand panache. Buitendag’s efforts netted her the days Heat high score, with her sizzling backhand combinations earning an excellent 17.50 out of 20 Heat total and sending her straight to the Quarterfinals. Buitendag will face Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) who took out Coco Ho (HAW) in Round 4.
“I’m so much more relaxed now,” said Bianca Buitendag. “This winning streak suits me. I’m normally the one struggling but it feels so effortless this year. I don’t know why but I think it’s experience and being relaxed with the position I’m in. I’m feeling more comfortable and getting used to everyone and the way they all surf.”
Top seed Tyler Wright (AUS) put on another dominant performance and convincingly led her Round-3 battle from start-to-finish. Wright combined powerful slashes and big carves in the one-sided affair, securing a Quarterfinals berth and the days highest score of 9.13. Wright will match up against Laura Enever (AUS) in the Quarterfinals.
“The rights out there are incredible and it’s a fantastic day for women’s surfing. I think all the girls today have been ripping so it’s great. I’m loving it out here,” said Tyler Wright.
Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Quarterfinal 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Quarterfinal 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
Quarterfinal 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Quarterfinal 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.10 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 9.10
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.50 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.50
Heat 3: Laura Enever (AUS) 7.80 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.60
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.37 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 10.44
Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.50, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.57, Johanne Defay (FRA) 8.77
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.33, Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.66, Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 7.30
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.46, Laura Enever (AUS) 10.00, Coco Ho (HAW) 9.87
Heat 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 17.50, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL) 10.27
Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 9.34 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 6.07
Heat 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.84 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.16
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.17 def. Laura Macaulay (AUS) 12.27
Heat 4: Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.34 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.10
Heat 5: Coco Ho (HAW) 11.83 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 11.57
Heat 6: Laura Enever (AUS) 14.83 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 14.43
Images from the event will be available from Getty Images. In addition a small number of hand-out images, as well as daily news feeds, will be made available for editorial use via our email distribution lists. Please contact kscholtz@aspworldtour.com (images) and srobertson@aspworldtour.com (news feeds) to be added to the lists.
The second stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com.
In addition the event is broadcast live on Fuel TV in Australia.
Event organizers will reconvene on Friday, April 4, at 7.00 a.m.
