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Buitendag out but Wright, Gilmore avoid early knockout from Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks

WORLD champion Stephanie Gilmore and No. 2 Tyler Wright have avoided knockout in the Roxy Pro with wins in their Round 2 heats at Snapper Rocks.

Emma Greenwood and Michael Saunders
5 min read
March 3, 2015 - 1:15PM
Gold Coast Bulletin

WORLD champion Stephanie Gilmore says she had faith her home break of Snapper Rocks would provide a wave so she could progress to defend her title in the Roxy Pro.

Gilmore survived a scare against fearless West Australian rookie Bronte Macaulay to progress to Round 3 of the event after a wave in the final minute of her heat.

Good waves were hard to come by in the small conditions but Gilmore used all her experience — and priority — to take a wave in the dying stages of her heat and seal the win.

Steph Gilmore is mobbed by fans after getting through Round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Steph Gilmore is mobbed by fans after getting through Round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.

World No. 2 Tyler Wright has also survived to progress in the competition, with the Lennox Head product showing she is as adept at finesse surfing as she is at power carves.

There were casualties though, with last year’s runner-up Bianca Buitendag forced out and Aussie Laura Enever also losing her sudden-death heat.

World Surf League women’s commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer has called a halt to action for the day, with Round 3 on hold.

“It’s just becoming a little bit slow,’’ Miley-Dyer said of the break.

‘We’ve definitely got the best of the day, so we’re going to wait.’’

QUIKSILVER AND ROXY PRO

RELATED: BRAZILIAN CHAMPION SURFER BEATS OLD RIVAL

Heat 6: Hawaiian Coco Ho has knocked out Australia’s Laura Enever 16.16-13.27 in their Round 2 clash.

Ho had the heat’s high score, a 9.23, with her fourth wave and Enever struggled to find a reply in the deteriorating conditions.

Heat 5: BIANCA Buitendag has been knocked out of the Roxy Pro by rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb

Buitendag was runner-up in the opening tour event last year, going down to local hero Stephanie Gilmore in the final.

But the South African power surfer struggled in the small swell, failing to adapt fully to the conditions.

It was no issue for Weston-Webb however, with the Hawaiian going looking for action and sneaking under the Buitendag’s radar to pinch a wave without priority late in the heat to bolster her score.

Heat 4: World No. 2 Tyler Wright has hung on to advance to Round 3 of the Roxy Pro after a tight win against Hawaii’s Alessa Quizon.

Lennox Head product Wright was forced into the sudden-death showdown after finishing third in her Round 1 heat on Saturday but brought her A game in small surf at Snapper Rocks.

A master power surfer who thrives in big conditions, Wright showed her class in the small stuff, scoring an 8.1 on her last wave to beat Quizon 14.7-11.24.

Wright said while the surf was small, she was confident the waves would come.

“The thing about here (Snapper) is the bank’s really good, so no matter how small it is there’ll always be waves running across the bank at low tide,’’ she said.

“So that’s good for the forecast this week.’’

The second round of the Roxy Pro is likely to be the only action of the day though, with Round 3 already on hold.

Heat 3: World champion Stephanie Gilmore has avoided knockout in the Roxy Pro with a wave in the final minute to beat wildcard entrant Bronte Macaulay.

With dead low tide approaching at Snapper Rocks, few waves were on offer but world champion Gilmore made the most of a bump in the final minute to score a 7.1 for what was eventually a comfortable win.

Steph Gilmore on way to victory in round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Steph Gilmore on way to victory in round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Gilmore showed her class with an 8.17 early but Macaulay made her work for the win.

The West Australian goofy footer showed she will be a name to watch in the qualifying series this year, putting together a solid heat and threatening a massive boilover.

But Gilmore held priority in the dying stages and managed to find a wave and seal the win 15.27-12.0.

Even seven-time world champ Layne Beachley was nervous for Gilmore.

Gilmore said she was not particularly fazed in the final minutes but had never gone into the heat taking the win for granted.

“You can never really underestimate your opponents and especially someone like Bronte, she's incredibly intelligent ... I just had to make sure I was on the right side of priority,’’ Gilmore said.

“All the way up to the end, I had to wait, be patient and believe that I could get that score I needed.

“There was definitely some moments of butterflies but I had some faith in Snapper.

“You only need one wave and two minutes is actually a pretty long time ... I had some faith in Snapper and it came through for me.’’

Nikki Van Dijk cruises through round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Nikki Van Dijk cruises through round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.

HEAT 2: Nikki Van Dijk has knocked out last year’s rookie of the year Johanne Defay to progress to the third round of the Roxy Pro.

The Victorian controlled the conditions best to win a tight heat, scoring 15.47 to Defay’s 14.77.

Van Dijk said it was a great feeling to be through to Round 3.

“That was a really crazy heat, just then, I was really nervous,’’ she said.

“I’m so happy to make it through.’’

HEAT 1: COURTNEY Conlogue has progressed to Round 3 after action finally got underway in the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks today.

After two consecutive lay days, organisers made the call to get underway on the low tide, with Conlogue beating countrywoman Sage Erickson in the opening heat of the day.

Conlogue won 14.07 to 12.27 in a two-wave score.

The 22-year-old had two waves in the seven-point range despite the small conditions, with Erickson unable to match her rival.

Conlogue, who missed much of last season following an injury at Bells Beach, is thrilled to be back in the action this season.

“This year’s going to be so exciting and I’m just so thrilled to be at Snapper and hopefully I have a full season,’’ she said.

While the conditions made it difficult for the athletes to showcase their full range of skills, Conlogue was able to notch two solid scores.

Courtney Conlogue ripping her way to a win in round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Courtney Conlogue ripping her way to a win in round 2 of the Roxy Pro. Picture: Luke Marsden.

“I think I’m someone who definitely attacks my wave,’’ she said.

“I like to rip apart my wave.

“In the small conditions it’s definitely tougher.’’

Erickson said falling off the tour as she did at the end of 2013, had made her decide whether she really wanted to be in the top league.

“I think my drive this year ... I just want to push myself as far as I can go and see where it can take me,’’ she said.

11am: After two lay days in a row the Roxy Pro women’s world surfing has been given the green light late this morning.

The men’s Quiksilver Pro contest has been put on hold due to small waves for the third day in a row, but organisers have opted to run the elimination round of the women’s event at Snapper Rocks.

The Tweed Coast’s reigning world champion Steph Gilmore will take to the water in heat 3 against event wildcard Bronte Macaulay.

Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore almost collide during expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Pics Adam Head
Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore almost collide during expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Pics Adam Head

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/surf-sports/buitendag-out-but-wright-gilmore-avoid-early-knockout-from-roxy-pro-at-snapper-rocks/news-story/cbd89daee1d4008df47f5635f9b4782e