Rip Curl Pro: Stephanie Gilmore falls in quarter-finals as monster waves hit

Stephanie Gilmore is out of the Rip Curl Pro as double-overhead size waves hit Bells Beach.

Stephanie Gilmore in action. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Australia’s defending world and Bells champion Stephanie Gilmore has been knocked out of the Rip Curl Pro by Hawaii’s Malia Manuel as double-overhead size waves hit Bells Beach. She’s recorded only a couple of four-point rides from waves that have closed out and reduced her scoring possibilities.

It’s her second straight quarter-final defeat in a slow start to her world title defence. American Courtney Conlogue has knocked out three-time world champion Carissa Moore, saying it’s surfer versus the ocean rather than surfer against surfer.

Stephanie Gilmore has been knocked out of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I just had my own little personal goals going on out there,” Conlogue says. “I’ve been surfing well but I haven’t been in rhythm with what the ocean has been doing. My whole goal this heat has been to get into nature’s rhythm and have fun. These are the conditions I love to surf in. The wild and the woolly. It really tests you. Out there, it’s all about power surfing. It’s not about tail slides and little things like that.”

Conditions are challenging. The formidable size of the peaks is compounded by strong winds making a mess of the line-up. Foam and froth from one wave makes the next wave a bumpy old ride. The swell is expected to keep building during the day, peaking at quadruple-overhead late this afternoon.