Narrabeen Classic finals: Aussie men and women knocked out in quarters

The Narrabeen Classic was supposed to be a bit of a preview for surfing’s Tokyo Olympic debut. For Australia’s hopes of medals, let’s hope it wasn’t.

Champion surfer Stephanie Gilmore was knocked out of the Narrabeen Classic in the quarter-finals.

Morgan Cibilic has been in pain for more than a week. He’s also been having the time of his life.

The Newcastle rookie - who few outside surfing circles knew before the Newcastle Pro and Narrabeen Classic this month - has ended up being the best performed Australian at the two world tour events.

And while he’s had to learn how to sign autographs, deal with screaming Groms and unprecedented media attention, he’s loved every minute of it.

Morgan Cibilic has set himself the goal of winning Rookie of the Year in 2021. Pic: Matt Dunbar/WSL

“It’s been blast,’’ the laid-back 21-year-old Cibilic said before being beaten by former world champion Gabriel Medina in the men’s quarter-finals on Tuesday at North Narrabeen beach.

“And my signature has got a lot better too. I’ve been practising.’’

Cibilic was the last man - or woman - standing at the event despite fracturing his toe and sustaining nasty bone bruising in a training accident last week which forced him into a protective boot for a number of days and heavy taping while surfing.

The young Merewether surfer, whose goal this season is to win Rookie of the Year, finished third at the Newcastle Pro and fifth at the Narrabeen Classic after going down to a red-hot Medina 12.57 to 15.96

Fellow quarter-finalist Ethan Ewing also placed fifth after being beaten by Brazilian Frederico Morais in his quarters match-up.

Sally Fitzgibbons also failed to make it past the quarter-finals.

For the second event in a row Australia’s preselected Olympians Owen Wright and Julian Wilson, the Newcastle surfer Cibilic idolised growing up, missed the quarters, both falling in an early round for 17th place finishes.

Australia’s female Olympians did better with both Steph Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons making the finals but failing to advance further after being beaten by American Courtney Conlogue and Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb respectively for fifth place finishes at North Narrabeen.

Stephanie Gilmore is Australia; s major hope of winning gold in Tokyo.

It was an improved result on the world tour event last week at Newcastle where both failed to make their quarters.

Fellow Aussie Keely Andrew was beaten by American former world champion Carissa Moore in her quarters bout.

American teenager Caroline Marks beat Weston-Webb 12.57 to 11.34 to win the Narrabeen Classic crown.

Brazilian Gabriel Medina beat American Connor Coffin to claim the men’s title.

AUSSIES IN NARRABEEN CLASSIC QUARTERS

Tokyo Olympic-bound surfers Steph Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons will lead a motley but intensely talented crew of Australians into the finals of the Narrabeen Classic on Sydney’s northern beaches.

With fellow Olympians Owen Weight and Julian Wilson early casualties for the second world tour event in a row, it is now up to giantslaying rookie Morgan Cibilic and a former junior top gun to surf for the men’s competition success in the third leg of the 2021 world tour.

Morgan Cibilic is surfing with a foot injured while training for the last world tour event in Newcastle.

Cibilic looks the man for the task after beating former world champion John John Florence for the second time in a week to book his spot in the quarter-finals against Brazilian star Gabriel Medina.

“That was mad,’’ said the rookie who finished third at the Newcastle Pro last week for his best ever placing on a championship tour event.

“I have versed John twice now when it’s small and won but I would love to take him in his conditions to see how I go.

Aussie young gun Ethan Ewing is also into the quarter-finals.

“Gabriel (Medina) I have surfed twice before and lost so I am hoping it’s third time lucky.’’

Ewing, who is making a world tour comeback in 2021 after falling off, will take on Frederico Morais in his quarter after beating another Brazilian, Jadson Andrew, on Monday.

Seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, hunting for her first world tour win this season, is up against old American adversary Courtney Conlogue in her quarter while Fitzgibbons will take on inform Brazilian Tatiana Weston Webb.

Huge crows have been at the event site since the competition kicked off last week.

Queenslander Keely Andrew, who also made the quarters of the last world tour event, is drawn against multiple American world champion Carissa Moore who won the Newcastle Pro last week.