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Filipe Toledo, Carissa Moore win opening round of World Surf League at Snapper Rocks

BRAZILIAN Filipe Toledo has won the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks, thrilling the throng of Brazilian fans.

Michael Saunders & Jessica Elder
8 min read
March 13, 2015 - 9:02AM
Gold Coast Bulletin
Steph Gilmore may have lost the final but she was far from disgraced in the Roxy Pro. Photo: Richard Gosling
Steph Gilmore may have lost the final but she was far from disgraced in the Roxy Pro. Photo: Richard Gosling

UPDATE: BRAZILIAN Filipe Toledo has won the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks, thrilling the throng of Brazilian fans gathered at a beach that has been dubbed “Rainbow de Janeiro’’.

Toledo put on an amazing show in the final against Sunshine Coast surfer Julian Wilson, dominating the event and leaving the world title leader’s jersey in Brazilian hands despite world champion Gabriel Medina’s loss yesterday.

The youngster finished with a perfect 10 to stamp himself as a genuine world title threat in just his third season on the tour.

NEWS: CHAMP GABRIEL MEDINA HAS RANT AFTER BEING KNOCKED OUT

Quiksilver Pro winner Filipe Toledo (blue) and runner up Julian Wilson. Photo: Richard Gosling
Quiksilver Pro winner Filipe Toledo (blue) and runner up Julian Wilson. Photo: Richard Gosling

The 19-year-old was thrilled with his performance, coming after a power of hard work and training.

“Only god and my family know how hard I battled for this over the last few months,’’ he said.

“My family and my dad are always supporting me, so thank you.

“I was really confident, I was just having fun.

“I’m really confident after that it’s going to be a great year for all the Brazilians.’’

The win thrilled hundreds of Brazilian fans that had packed the beach at Rainbow Bay today to watch four of their countrymen in action in the quarter-finals.

The quartet was eventually whittled down to one — Toledo — who took out the title to a rapturous reception.

Wilson was pleased with his event coming off the back of a strong result at the final event of the year at Pipeline.

“I think everybody on the beach knew that Filipe was the in-form surfer of the event,’’ Wilson said.

“I knew it was going to be really hard out there ... so congratulations to Filipe out there.

“It was a special event and second’s pretty good.’’

Wilson had plenty of support himself, with cricket legend Matt Hayden showing his support.

Quiksilver Pro winner Filipe Toledo.
Quiksilver Pro winner Filipe Toledo.
Roxy Pro winner Carissa Moore.
Roxy Pro winner Carissa Moore.

EARLIER: Tweed surfer Stephanie Gilmore has lost the final of the Roxy Pro after former world champion Carissa Moore turned in an almost flawless performance in the decider.

Moore posted scores of 9.4 and 9.03 to register an almost perfect 18.43 out of 20 to take the tour leader’s jersey after the first leg of the world surf league.

Gilmore made a perfect start to the heat, piling pressure on former world champion Moore by posting an 8.33 on her first wave.

Roxy Pro winner Carissa Moore is drenched by runner-up Steph Gilmore after the trophy presentation at Snapper Rocks. Photo: Richard Gosling
Roxy Pro winner Carissa Moore is drenched by runner-up Steph Gilmore after the trophy presentation at Snapper Rocks. Photo: Richard Gosling

But Moore hit back with a 9.40 and while Gilmore took the lead again with a solid back-up, Moore regained the ascendancy with a 9.03 to put Gilmore in a combination situation.

Gilmore has been able to find a wave when she needed it most for almost the entire competition but the surf gods deserted her this afternoon when she most needed a wave.

Gilmore was far from bitter though with what is still an outstanding start to the season.

“I got completely schooled by Carissa.

“I love Snapper and I’m stoked to see the girls doing well here,’’ said Gilmore, who reinforced her love of competing against Moore.

“I think I made a priority mistake in the beginning there and then I was on the wrong side of the (comp).’’

Steph Gilmore may have lost the final but she was far from disgraced in the Roxy Pro. Photo: Richard Gosling
Steph Gilmore may have lost the final but she was far from disgraced in the Roxy Pro. Photo: Richard Gosling

Sunshine Coast surfer Julian Wilson has made the final of the Quiksilver Pro and will join Steph Gilmore in surfing for glory this afternoon.

Competition resumed at 2.30pm after a break for the peak of high tide to ensure the closing stages of the competition are held in the best surf possible.

Wilson rode just three waves in his 30-minute heat but sealed the heat with an amazing aerial move that had the massive Snapper Rocks crowd roaring.

Wilson will face Filipe Toledo in the final after he comprehensively beat Brazilian countryman Adriano de Souza 17.23-10.34 in their semi.

Toledo has been on fire with his aerial game throughout the event and scored a 9.4 and 7.83 to dominate his rival.

ROXY PRO: Final: STEPHANIE Gilmore will face dual world champion and her biggest rival Carissa Moore in the final of the Roxy Pro today.

Moore put in a top performance in her semi final to defeat world number two Tyler Wright for the sport in the final event.

The Hawaiian surfer is a past winner at this event and will be eager to get another Snapper Rocks trophy on her mantelpiece.

The Roxy Pro final will be held later today as World Surf League officials wait for conditions to improve.

ROXY PRO: Semi-finals: STEPHANIE Gilmore is through to the final of the Roxy Pro after winning her semi final heat against Hawaiian rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb today.

After a slow start to her heat, Gilmore turned it on in her final two waves scoring a 7.43 and 8.83 to finish with a 16.26 total to Weston-Webb’s 11.53.

The Tweed Coast surfer is looking to defend her Roxy Pro crown after winning the event last year on her way to a sixth world title.

Gilmore will either face past world champion Carissa Moore or Currumbin surfer Tyler Wright in the final which is expected to take place this afternoon.

QUIKSILVER PRO. Heat 4: GOLD Coast’s Bede Durbidge has bundled out of the Quiksilver Pro after an exciting heat with Brazil’s Felipe Toledo.

Durbidge and Toledo went blow for blow in the thrilling quarterfinal which saw the two surfers score some of the best waves of the day.

But it was Toledo who had the last laugh, scoring an impressive 9.67 on his third wave.

The small wave specialist won the heat 17.34 to Durbidge’s 16.23.

Toledo will now face countryman Adriano de Souza in semi final two while Coolum’s Julian Wilson will face Miguel Pupo in semi final one.

Heat 3: GOLD Coast’s Bede Durbidge is the only local surfer remaining in the Quiksilver Pro after world number two Mick Fanning was knocked out of his heat this morning.

The Coolangatta surfer struggled to find scoring waves in a dramatic quarterfinal against Brazilian Adriano de Souza.

Fanning rode just three waves in the heat, while de Souza kept himself busy with seven scoring rides and a high score of 8.57 points.

Mick Fanning was knocked out of the Quiksilver Pro in the quarter-finals. Photo: Richard Gosling
Mick Fanning was knocked out of the Quiksilver Pro in the quarter-finals. Photo: Richard Gosling

Despite improved conditions on the final day of the contest, the waves just did not come for the three time world champion surfer, who was left scrapping for a scoring ride in the dying minutes.

De Souza made the most of his priority position during the end of the heat to stop Fanning from finding a decent last minute ride to snatch the win.

The Brazilian will now progress through to the second semi final of the contest where he will face either countryman Felipe Toledo or Gold Coast’s Bede Durbidge.

Heat 2: SUNSHINE COAST surfer Julian Wilson has punched his ticket to the Quiksilver Pro final four after winning his quarterfinal heat against Taj Burrow this morning.

Wilson needed just three waves to take the win, finishing with a heat total of 17.44 points to Burrow’s 11.17.

The 25-year-old from Coolum Beach took control of the heat early, scoring a near perfect 9.77 points on his opening wave.

Burrow attempted a comeback with an impressive 8.17 ride but it was not enough to topple the world number 14.

Wilson has been in strong form at this year’s contest and is coming off a surprising victory at the prestigious Pipeline Pro in Hawaii last year.

He will now face Brazil’s Miguel Pupo in semi final one of the Quiksilver Pro.

Heat 1: BRAZILIAN surfer Miguel Pupo defeated his countryman Wiggolly Dantas in a nail biting quarterfinal of the Quiksilver Pro today.

Dantas was leading throughout the heat, until a solid final wave score gave Pupo a narrow 0.03 lead.

The waves did not come for Dantas at the end of the heat, having to concede defeat 13.70 to 13.63.

Pupo is the first surfer through to the Quiksilver Pro semi finals which is set to take place later today.

QUIKSILVER PRO: Coolangatta surfer Mick Fanning will fight for his spot in the Quiksilver Pro semi-finals at Snapper Rocks this morning.

Fanning will come up against Brazilian Adriano de Souza in heat three of the quarterfinals.

Miguel Pupo and Wiggolly Dantas, both from Brazil, are in the water now.

More information to come.

Mick Fanning will have to win in the quarterfinals to progress. Pics Tim Marsden
Mick Fanning will have to win in the quarterfinals to progress. Pics Tim Marsden

ROXY PRO QUARTERFINALS. Heat 4: DUAL world champion Carissa Moore has progressed through to the Roxy Pro semis final after winning her heat against Lakey Perterson this morning.

Moore, who won the event in 2011, posted the highest heat total of the day so far with 17.67 points, defeating Peterson’s 15.03.

She will now face Gold Coast’s Tyler Wright in semi final two of the Roxy Pro which will take place later today.

Heat 3: WORLD number two Tyler Wright has cruised through to the semi-finals of the Roxy Pro after winning her heat over America’s Courtney Conlogue this morning.

The Currumbin local was dominant in her quarterfinal performance, winning comfortably 15.33 points to Conlogue’s 13.40 points.

Wright, who won the event in 2013, will move into the second bracket of the semi finals where she will face either former world champion Carissa Moore or America’s Lakey Peterson.

Heat 2: STEPHANIE Gilmore’s charge towards back to back Roxy Pro titles remains intact after the Tweed Heads surfer won her quarterfinal against Brazil’s Silvana Lima this morning.

Despite a strong challenge by Lima, the reigning world champion put her local knowledge to good use in picking out the best waves to win the heat 16.00 to 14.17.

Gilmore and Lima went wave for wave in a fantastic display of high performance women’s surfing but it was Gilmore who dealt the final blow with an impressive 8.93 score on her sixth wave.

After the heat Gilmore said Silvana was a tough opponent and she was thrilled to win.

“I go out there and basically try to surf like Silvana Lima,” she said.

“I know I have to what I know and do what works for me and that seems to be working well.”

The 26-year-old will now face Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb in the first semi final which will take place later today.

Heat 1: Steph Gilmore is hoping to take out the Roxy Pro quarterfinals against old rival Silvana Lima.

The pair have faced off many times over the years, including twice in this Gold Coast-based comp.

It is a make-or-break for six-time world champ Gilmore, if she loses this heat she will be knocked out of the competition.

Meanwhile in heat 1 Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb stormed through to the semi-finals for the first time in her career after defeating world number five Malia Manuel.

The World Surf League women’s world tour rookie was dominant in the 1m waves with her signature backhand style.

She will now move through to the semi finals of the contest.

ROXY PRO: STEPH Gilmore will fight for her spot in the Roxy Pro semi finals when she comes up against Brazil’s Silvana Lima this morning.

The quarterfinals of the women’s Roxy Pro event have kicked off at Snapper Rocks this morning with heat one already underway.

Six-time world champ Gilmore and Tyler Wright are the only Aussies in the quarterfinals and a huge fan base has gathered on the beach to watch the girls surf.

The Gold Coast is hoping Steph can get through the finals to be a winner. Pic by Luke Marsden.
The Gold Coast is hoping Steph can get through the finals to be a winner. Pic by Luke Marsden.

The men’s Quiksilver Pro quarterfinals will also be held later today, with locals Mick Fanning and Bede Durbidge fighting for their spot in the semis also.

It will be a Brazilian and Australian dominated event with no other nationalities in the quarterfinals.

More to come.

Roxy Pro Quarterfinals:

Heat 1: Malia Manuel (Hawaii) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (Hawaii)

Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) and Silvana Lima (Brazil)

Heat 3: Tyler Wright (Australia) and Courtney Conlogue (USA)

Heat 4: Carissa Moore (Hawaii) and Lakey Peterson (USA)

Quiksilver Pro Quarterfinals:

Heat 1: Miguel Pupo (Brazil) and Wiggolly Dantas (Brazil)

Heat 2: Julian Wilson (Australia) and Taj Burrow (Australia)

Heat 3: Mick Fanning (Australia) and Adriano de Souza (Brazil)

Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (Brazil) and Bede Durbidge (Australia)

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/surf-sports/filipe-toledo-carissa-moore-win-opening-round-of-world-surf-league-at-snapper-rocks/news-story/274274b9df479e4a3c274e21724c8de6