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Brazilian Silvana Lima wows Gold Coast Roxy Pro crowd with aerial manoeuvre being rated best in history of women’s surfing

IS THIS the best move in the history of women’s surfing? Brazilian Silvana Lima’s perfect ride is being rated by many as the best of all time.

Emma Greenwood
7 min read
March 6, 2015 - 1:01PM
Gold Coast Bulletin
Roxy Pro Gold Coast: Round 2 Highlights

WAS it the best move in the history of women’s surfing?

The aerial move that earnt Brazilian Silvana Lima a perfect 10 at the Roxy Pro is being rated by many as the best single manoeuvre in the history of women’s surfing.

It’s a big call.

But the move, which helped the 30-year-old knock out Aussie favourite Sally Fitzgibbons in the fourth round of the Roxy Pro today, is being hailed as one that could change the face of women’s surfing.

Decide for yourself, watch the video below.

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After poor conditions early in the day, the Roxy Pro got underway with Round 3 at 11.45am, with the decision to wait for low tide and hold firm on a Snapper Rocks location proving a masterstroke.

Lima was beaten by great rival Stephanie Gilmore in Round 3 despite another aerial display that had the world champion trailing until the dying seconds of the heat.

It tipped her into a sudden-death contest against perennial world championship contender Fitzgibbons but that didn’t daunt the Brazilian, who turned on a show for a beach crowded with adoring Brazilian fans.

Eight outstanding surfers are left standing in the contest but all the talk was about Lima and her upcoming quarter-final showdown with Gilmore — their third clash of the event.

EARLIER — Round 4, Heat 4: LAKEY Peterson has claimed the last quarter-final spot in the Roxy Pro to end an outstanding day of women's surfing.

With another lay day looking likely this morning as the famous Snapper Rocks break failed to fire, officials held firm and sent the surfers out at low tide in what ended up being an outstanding decision.

The great form of the sandbank at Snapper allowed plenty of action through Round 3 and 4 of the competition, with Brazilian surfer Silvana Lima posting the first perfect 10-point score of the World Surf League season.

All the talk was about Lima after a pair of outstanding performances in which she showcased her aerial skill.

The Brazilian, who has regained her place on the world tour after a recent battle against injury, showed off her tricks in her Round 3 heat against Stephanie Gilmore and Dimity Stoyle, leading the bout early before the Tweed Coast world champion pulled out a nine-point ride in the dying seconds to steal the win.

The result left Lima facing a sudden-death clash against NSW surfer Sally Fitzgibbons — and she initially looked in trouble, with Fitzgibbons posting a 9.63 on her first wave.

But Lima’s 10-point stunner, coupled with a late back-up score was enough to knock Fitzgibbons out and set up another clash against Gilmore.

Steph Gilmore with the fins out. Action at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Tim Marsden
Steph Gilmore with the fins out. Action at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Tim Marsden

Peterson beat Coco Ho in the final Round 4 heat but all the talk was about Lima’s tail-high reverse, a move which many commentators labelled the best single manoeuvre they’d ever seen on the women’s tour.

Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue has advanced to the Roxy Pro quarter-finals after beating Nikki Van Dijk in their Round 4 clash at Snapper Rocks.

Conlogue finished with a two-wave score of 15.8 (out of a possible 20) to beat Victorian Van Dijk by 1.26 points in another close heat.

Heat 2: SILVANA Lima has set up a mouthwatering rematch with Steph Gilmore in the Roxy Pro quarter-finals after a 10 in her Round 4 heat.

Lima just pipped Sally Fitzgibbons in the heat of the day, sneaking past the NSW surfer with a late 7.73-point ride.

Lima posted a 10 for her backside air in what commentators were calling “one of the most unforgettable heats of women’s surfing I’ve ever seen’’.

While Lima posted a 10, Fitzgibbons was right in the contest, posting a 9.63 with her opening wave and setting the pace early.

Lima admitted the Aussie's early form had her rattled.

“I just was waiting and waiting for the good one and did my best ... and I got 10 points,’’ she said.

And she was nervous right to the end, needing a good back-up score to have the combination needed to beat Fitzgibbons.

“She was surfing so good and I didn't know if I’d got the points in the last wave,’’ Lima said.

Fitzgibbons freused to be disappointed with the result though.

“I knew I wanted to open up strong and Silvana’s been strong, especially in her air game,’’ Fitzgibbons said of opening with a 9.63.

“I backed her into a corner but I knew she’d come back with her A game and she did with that 10.

“I thought my strategy was really good … it was just tricky to read what the wave would do all the way down to Rainbow Bay.

“But I built some great momentum through the first half of the event and I’ll build towards Bells (Beach in round 2 of the World Surf League).

The loss stopped Fitzgibbons incredible run in world tour events where she has made the quarter-finals of better at every competition since the Rip Curl Portugal in 2009.

But it set up a dream clash between great rivals Lima and world champion Gilmore in the quarter-finals — the third time the pair will meet this contest.

“I think Steph is always really good and pushing me,’’ Lima said.

Round 4 — Heat 1: Rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb has won a thriller in the opening heat of Round 4 of the Roxy Pro against rising Sunshine Coast star Dimity Stoyle at Snapper Rocks.

The start of heat 2 was delayed while the judges sweated over their scores for the final ride for both Weston-Webb and Stoyle, with the Hawaiian rookie progressing.

Mouthwatering heat in the water now, with Sally Fitzgibbons and Silvana Lima duelling for a place in the quarters against Steph Gilmore.

Carissa Moore makes her way up the beach after the expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Adam Head
Carissa Moore makes her way up the beach after the expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Adam Head

Round 3 — Heat 4: Not even a bluebottle sting was enough to stop former world champion Carissa Moore from progressing to the quarter-finals of the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.

With Lakey Peterson dominating early, the Hawaiian came from behind to win the heat with scores of 8.53 and 7.57 to advance to the final eight.

Moore joins Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright and Malia Manuel in the quarters.

Moore admitted she hadn’t been at her best early in the clash.

“It was a bit stressful, I didn’t get into a good rhythm until 15 minutes into the heat,’’ she said.

“But from there, I was able to catch waves on the way back out.

“I was watching the heats before and saw you only needed one good wave (so I had hope).’’

Moore got up close and personal with Snapper’s bluebottles, being stung twice during the heat.

“I saw it and I thought I’d paddle around it but they've got really long tentacles,’’ she said.

“But I should be fine.’’

Event organisers have decided to push ahead with Round 4 action, which pits the eight Round 3 losers into sudden-death head-to-head heats.

Rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb and rising Sunshine Coast star Dimity Stoyle are in the water now.

Heat 3: Lennox Head surfer Tyler Wright has turned in a dominant performance to advance to the quarter-finals at the Roxy Pro.

Wright, runner-up on the world tour last year, was outstanding in the small conditions at Snapper Rocks, posting three eight-plus scores to win ahead of Americans Courtney Conlogue and Coco Ho.

Conlogue had the highest wave of the heat, a 9.50, but Wright was more consistent, able to drop an 8.10 from her two-wave total.

Tyler Wright on her way to the Roxy Pro quarter-finals at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Tim Marsden
Tyler Wright on her way to the Roxy Pro quarter-finals at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Tim Marsden

Plenty of surf fans are watching the telecast around the world, while an international mob has gathered on the beach at Rainbow Bay, with plenty of support for the internationals, especially Brazilian Silvana Lima.

“It turned out a lot better than I thought it would,’’ Wright said of surfing the smallish conditions at Snapper, even sharing the waves with dolphins.

“Dropping tide, it’s looking really nice right now.

“I had a talk to Mick before and he’s spent a lot of time out here ... so I listened to what he had to say and I flowed with what he said and what felt good in the water.’’

Heat 2: STEPHANIE Gilmore has pulled a rabbit out of the hat to win her Round 3 heat at the Roxy Pro and progress straight to the quarter-finals.

Trailing Brazilian Silvana Lima for most of the heat, Gilmore seemed certain to be pushed into a sudden-death Round 4 contest but managed a nine-point ride in the dying seconds to win the heat.

Lima was outstanding in the small conditions, pulling off a reverse-air move that had many comparing it to last year’s tour move of the year.

Stephanie Gilmore returns to the beach after winning her Round 3 heat at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.
Stephanie Gilmore returns to the beach after winning her Round 3 heat at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.

The heat ignited old rivalries between Gilmore and Lima and left fans excited at the prospect of a season full of their head-to-head clashes with the Brazilian now back on the tour full-time.

Meanwhile, Gilmore’s board shaper Darren Handley has revealed the Tweed Coaster has changed up her gear slightly for this season after growing during the past year.

Handley, who also shapes boards for three-time world champ Mick Fanning, said slight changes had been made in the champ’s gear.

“She had such a good year last year you wouldn’t think we’d change too much but Steph actually got taller and skinnier, so I had to adapt,’’ Handley said.

“Today the waves aren’t ideal for the competition, so it’s just basically sit there and wait.

“Just wait for the waves, they’ll come.’’

Silvana Lima in action during expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Adam Head
Silvana Lima in action during expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Adam Head

Heat 1: Malia Manuel of Hawaii has progressed to the quarter-finals of the Roxy Pro after beating Sally Fitzgibbons and Tatiana Weston-Webb in the opening heat of Round 3.

Aussie favourite Fitzgibbons never seemed to find her rhythm in the small swell, while Hawaiian Manuel flourished, posting scores of 7.67 and 7.83 to win the heat comfortably.

Fitzgibbons and Weston-Webb will head to Round 4 where they face sudden-death heats.

“It’s a huge relief to win and go through to the quarters ... it’s really relieving,’’ Manuel said.

Fitzgibbons finished third behind Manuel and Weston-Webb and will face a sudden-death Round 4 heat.

World champion Stephanie Gilmore is now in the water for Heat 2 against great rival Silvana Lima and rising Sunshine Coast star Dimity Stoyle.

LIVE: After two consecutive lay days, action is about to resume in the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.

Some of the women have not surfed since the opening day of competition on Saturday after progressing directly from their Round 1 heats.

Others, like current world champion Stephanie Gilmore, had to survive sudden-death Round 2 heats on Tuesday to stay alive in the opening event of the World Surf League season.

Heat 1 pitches Aussie favourite Sally Fitzgibbons against rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb and fellow Hawaiian Malia Manuel in a three-woman heat with the winner progressing directly to the quarter-finals.

The competition has gone ahead in small swell at Snapper Rocks, with organisers forced to push on with the competition despite the unusually flat conditions.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/surf-sports/brazilian-silvana-lima-wows-gold-coast-roxy-pro-crowd-with-aerial-manoeuvre-being-rated-best-in-history-of-womens-surfing/news-story/df585eca282328258493d3e9b65940de