Stephanie Gilmore back on track at Roxy Pro as Kelly Slater confirms exit due to leg injury
DEFENDING Roxy Pro champion Stephanie Gilmore has been beaten by a teenager for the second time in two days but has still managed to book herself a spot in the quarter-finals of the world surf tour opener.
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DEFENDING Roxy Pro champion Stephanie Gilmore has been beaten by a teenager for the second time in two days but has still managed to book herself a spot in the quarter-finals of the world surf tour opener.
Gilmore and Tyler Wright both surfed into the quarterfinals of the women’s world tour event on the Gold Coast with second places in their round three battles on Monday.
Gilmore was edged for the win by exciting American teenager and goofy Caroline Marks with Brazilian Silvana Lima eliminated with her third place.
Marks, just 16, is the youngest surfer ever to compete on the world tour and being hailed as the most exciting young talent the sport has seen since the emergence of Wright who won a world tour event as a wildcard when just 14.
“I am just so happy right now and I think it’s reflecting on my surfing,” Marks said.
Wright, who claimed the Roxy Pro title two years ago, advanced into the quarters with her second behind inform American Malia Manuel in round three.
But Wright had to survive a scare from Coco Ho on a late wave to secure her spot in the first quarterfinal of the 2018 women’s world tour.
Earlier Australian teenager Macy Callaghan, 17, was unable to back up from her first round win over Gilmore when she was knocked out of the competition by American duo Lakey Peterson and Carissa Moore.
“Hopefully I just keep building momentum and go one better than last year,” said Peterson who finished runner-up to six-time Roxy Pro champion Gilmore win 2017.
Meanwhile, eleven-time men’s world champion Kelly Slater has taken to social media to confirm he will not surf the opening leg of the world tour due to a leg injury.
“For many months, my gut feeling has been to use this injury as a platform to overhaul and reset my mind and body,” he wrote on Instagram.
“The looming excitement about a new year starting, my foot sort of magically allowing me to surf the past couple of days, and a number of other factors had me talking myself back into jumping in as soon as possible against my better judgment.
“I feel I’ve had a couple of half hearted attempts these past couple of years fighting injury and desire.
“The foot injury symbolises a lot at this point in my career both as an ending and as a beginning.
“Hearing @mfanno talk about his reasons for retiring at the upcoming Bells event yesterday rang true for me also around going in the direction of doing things that make you uncomfortable.
“Competing is a natural environment for us both and it’s the easy route for me. I think it best that I properly rehabilitate the injury and choose to surf wholeheartedly, not from the excitement or stress of a last minute arrival. It’s not very professional or responsible and it won’t allow me to be at my best potential.”