Emotional Steph Gilmore vows to fight for World Surf League title

AN emotional Stephanie Gilmore has vowed to “work my brains out” after losing a golden chance to snare a seventh world surfing title in France.

AN emotional Stephanie Gilmore has vowed to “work my brains out” ahead of the final event of the World Surf League season after losing a golden chance to snare a seventh world title in France.

Gilmore bowed out in Round 3 at the Roxy Pro in France on Thursday night (Australian time), missing the chance to sew up a record-equalling seventh world crown in the penultimate event of the season.

Gilmore could manage only minor scores early in her heat and while she snared an 8.27 in the dying stages of her Round 3 heat — the equal highest score of the day — she paid for her mediocre form early on.

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Stephanie Gilmore in action at the Roxy Pro France. Photo: World Surf League

“I think in the beginning I just missed a couple of opportunities when I had priority and kept making mistakes and I was starting to stress a bit and freaked out,” she said.

“I got that one at the end and it was a good score but the problem was just my other three-point and four-point rides.

“It was tough to swallow.”

Gilmore fought back tears as she told commentators of her regret at not grabbing her opportunities.

“It’s the worst feeling ever when you’re trying so hard and you just … it’s like there’s so much going on, there’s so much pressure,” she said.

Stephanie Gilmore (right), with Courtney Conlogue at the US Open earlier this year, has been in outstanding form this year and is still on track to claim a seventh world title. Photo: Getty Images

Gilmore will head to the final event at Honolua Bay in a strong position to take the title though after her only rival, American Lakey Peterson, also lost in Round 3.

“I saw Lakey and we laughed about it, we just both had a shocker,” she said.

“But far out, it stings to lose.”

The Tweed product will return to the Coast ahead of the final round to prepare for her assault on a seventh championship, a title that would draw her level with Layne Beachley.

“I’ll go back to Australia for a little bit and then go to Hawaii early and work my brains out and come back stronger,” she said.