Surfer Stephanie Gilmore says wave technology would be a big boost at Tokyo Olympics
SHE was pipped for the win at the inaugural Surf Ranch Pro but Stephanie Gilmore remains convinced wave pool technology should be adopted for the surfing competition at the Olympic Games.
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SHE was pipped for the win at the inaugural Surf Ranch Pro but Stephanie Gilmore remains convinced wave pool technology should be adopted for the surfing competition at the Olympic Games.
Gilmore extended her lead in the world title race but missed out on having her name engraved as winner of the first world tour event held in artificial waves at Kelly Slater’s surf ranch in California.
Gilmore was beaten by her old nemesis and multiple world champion Carissa Moore at the Surf Ranch Pro on Monday.
Moore bettered Gilmore 17.80 to 16.70 for the world tour - a result which did not please Gilmore.
“No I’m not happy with that,” said Gilmore, who leads the world title race from American Lakey Peterson.
“I would have liked have won for sure.
“But at least it’s good to know there is a lot of room for improvement here.”
Gilmore is a long-time supporter of the controversial technology she hopes will be utilised for all surfing competitors at the Olympics - starting with the sports debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Current plans are for surfing to be contested at Tsurigasaki Beach in the Chiba precture.
“I think it would be good to have consistency from the start,” she said.
“I know they rely want to the most authentic showing of what surfing is.
“But to be honest this will keep it consistent.
“This gives everyone the same opportunity. This shows how well everyone can do.”
In the eight-surfer men’s final at the Surf Ranch Pro, Brazilian Gabriel Medina took the honours from world rankings leader and countryman Filipe Toledo.
Australians Owen Wright and Julian Wilson finished fifth and sixth respectively.
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