Steph sets sights on becoming our best ever

WITH fellow locals Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson moving on, Surf Scene looks at why Stephanie Gilmore could become our greatest ever surfer.

STEPHANIE Gilmore is back on top of the WSL women world ratings by taking out her maiden Jeffrey’s Bay event, her third win of the year and 29th World Tour victory.

Her road to the final was fraught with uncharacteristic first wave falls, a tie break result in the quarters but from the semis to the final, Steph rose to the occasion revelling in the Kirraesque line-ups of JBay, so suited to her Point break style such as the home break at Snapper Rocks.

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Her victory lap final on a ruler edge offshore wave resembling Kirra Point allowed Gilmore the luxury to imitate MPs (Michael Peterson) look back with hands in the mirror stance famously captured in the 1970 Alby Falzon movie, “Morning of the Earth.”

Beaming on the podium as perfect waves continued to peel off, Gilmore explained her winning approach.

“Try to relax, don’t stress, smile a lot and have fun! This is a hell of a life.”

Heading into JBay, Gilmore trailed her close friend and foe Lakey Peterson who was on fire and looking every bit the favourite as the No. 1 seed.

But you don’t win six world titles without knowing how to be a winner. And true to form as the most gifted stylish women surfer in the world, Gilmore produced an impeccable final performance to retake the winners yellow jersey for the second time this year.

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Gilmore’s latest win was crucial in her attempt to win a seventh world title and match Layne Beachley’s seven world title record.

In the last couple of years it appeared that Gilmore had lost her passion for winning and that in-form 2018 women, Peterson, Weston-Webb and Defay had caught up with the champ.

Gilmore dug deep at JBay inspired by a photo of the incredible rivalry between the late Andy Irons and Kelly Slater and their slug out final in 2005 where Slater was controversially awarded the win despite not completing his final ride.

If Gilmore was going to take out her fellow world title contender Peterson who had been belting JBay like a Mick Fanning, Steph knew it was time to get serious.

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“That photo helped me tap into Andy andamp; Kelly’s assertiveness and their killer instinct to win.”

Even the JBay dolphins were on her side when Peterson was holding priority, Gilmore managed to slip under her guard and shared a winning wave with the local custodians.

The family pack of dolphins happened to clear the water of a stray white pointer that had surfaced in front of the competitors temporarily halting the contest prior to the quarter-finals.

Gilmore leads Peterson by 2,145 points, before JBay, Steph was trailing by 150 points.

Stephanie Gilmore (right) Lakey Peterson at J-Bay. Picture: WSL

There are four more events to go, next up is the Californian leg from Huntington Beach to Kelly’s Wave Ranch, then Portugal and finally Hawaii.

“I reckon Steph’s got a couple of more world titles in her,” said former world champion and commentator Martin Potter. “Gilmore will ultimately go down as the greatest womens world champion.”

Now that Mick has retired and Parko to follow, Steph will be solo flying the world champion flag for the Gold/Tweed Coast.