Beachley: Depth on women’s tour better than at any time in surfing history

LAYNE Beachley says Stephanie Gilmore’s march towards her record title haul is not as inevitable as it once was.

Steph Gilmore

SEVEN-time world champion Layne Beachley claims Stephanie Gilmore’s march toward her record title haul is not as inevitable as it once was, with the depth on the women’s tour better than any previous era.

A knee injury ended Gilmore’s world title tilt last season, forcing her off tour for most of the year.

While she returned to competition in Newcastle last month, Gilmore will face a battle to regain authority when the world tour starts when the competition window for the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks opens from Thursday.

Hawaiian Carissa Moore claimed her third world title last year, while Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright have again raised their levels in a bid to win maiden crowns and American Courtney Conlogue last year proved her skills.

“Unquestionably, the depth in women’s surfing today is the strongest it’s ever been and it’s exciting,’’ Beachley said.

“If you look at the years I dominated the tour, girls that I was ultimately competing against for the world title tended to be the same.

“It certainly didn’t get boring for me and I loved being there. But when you look at the depth of women’s surfing now … we used to say that once you made the quarters, you had the ability to win the event.

“Now if you make the top 17 (surfers on tour), you’ve got the ability to win an event.’’

Gilmore injured her knee in a free surf at Margaret River in April and the slow healing process forced her out for the rest of the season, something Beachley said would have forced the Tweed resident into an examination of her surfing.

“The good thing about having a break irrespective of the cause of the break, is that it gives you perspective … and it presents you with an opportunity to assess and prioritise,’’ Beachley said.

Conlogue had no doubt Gilmore would be fired up.

“Definitely, I think all the women are really hungry and just biting at the bit and I think every year we come back hungrier and hungrier,’’ she said.

Conlogue battled her own injury woes, coming back from a serious ankle injury last year to challenge for the title before being beaten by Moore in the final event of the year.

“With Steph being out, I know for me coming back from my injury, it was definitely a bit of fuel in the fire for me, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she sits,’’ she said.

Conlogue, who arrived on the Gold Coast two weeks ago to prepare for the Roxy Pro, learnt from her title disappointment last year and will be among those standing in the way of Gilmore winning a seventh championship.

“I did want the world title but it just didn’t happen last year and I’ll learn from that and just keep improving my process,’’ she said.

Despite the depth, Beachley had no doubt Gilmore would eventually win title No.7.

“Quite honestly I have no doubt she’ll beat my record, whether it’s this year or next year,’’ Beachley said.

“She was pretty adamant when she won her first one that she was going after 10.’’