US teenager Caroline Marks is aiming to stop Stephanie Gilmore becoming first Australian women’s champ at Rip Curl Pro in six years
AN American teenager stands in the way of Australia claiming its first women’s title at the Rip Curl Pro in six years.
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AN American teenager stands in the way of Australia claiming its first women’s title at the Rip Curl Pro in six years.
Stephanie Gilmore, who last won at Bells Beach seven years ago, is the last local left surfing at the event heading into the semi-finals of the second leg of the 2018 World Tour.
Gilmore advanced to the semis with a clinical defeat of American Sage Erickson in a late quarter-final on Tuesday.
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But also making it to the business end of the event is 16-year-old rookie Caroline Marks, already being touted as a future world champion - as early as this year.
Marks took down experienced French surfer Johanne Defay with two seven plus rides to keep her bid for a maiden World Tour victory alive.
Marks, a goofy-footer and youngest surfer to make the world tour, could also become the second youngest ever to win a world tour event.
Two-time Australian world champion Tyler Wright holds the record, winning her first world tour title at just 14 on a day off from school.
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“I’m really stoked. That was a lot of fun. Epic,” said Marks after producing the highest heat total of the day with her 15.10.
“I’m just feeling confident now. I don’t know what’s going on but I like it.”
Six-time world champion Gilmore will test the teenagers mettle when they meet in the semi-final following the battle between Silvana Lima and Tatiana Weston Webb.
Local Nikki Van Dijk failed to find her groove in her Winkipop quarter-final when outclassed by Weston-Webb 14.50 to 10.73.
Triple world champion and three-time Rip Curl Pro winner Carissa Moore also joined the line of big names hitting the beach in disappointment on Tuesday.
Moore was beaten in her quarter-final by inform Brazilian and former event winner Lima 14.27 to 12.53.