The ASP Women’s Tour crosses the Tasman Sea to New Plymouth, New Zealand this week as the world’s top 17 female surfers – including Sally Fitzgibbons and Carissa Moore – do battle in the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival.
The third round of this year’s Dream Tour sees New Zealand host an event for the first time ever, with both Fitzgibbons and Moore looking to break the dominance of Stephanie Gilmore, who has won both the season’s opening two events.
Fitzgibbons has made a solid start to the tour and was unlucky last time out at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia where she lost in the semi-finals to Gilmore. Having made the quarter-finals at the season’s first event, the Roxy Pro, before losing to Coco Ho, she will want to continue her progress and reach the final in New Zealand.
The heat draw for the Surf Festival has been kind to Fitzgibbons, and if she can navigate her first round heat – which also consists of Chelsea Hedges and Bruna Schmitz – she will stay clear of both Gilmore and Ho until the final, at least.
The draw hasn’t been so kind to Moore, however, as she faces Gilmore and New Zealander Sarah Mason in the first round. Moore will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing outing at Bells Beach where she was beaten by Fitzgibbons in the first round.
The TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival will of course play a crucial role in the requalification campaigns of the world's best female surfers as well as the all–important hunt for the prestigious ASP Women's World Title. And, ahead of the event, 2009 tour Rookie of the Year, Ho was full of praise for Fitzgibbons.
“I've met the fifth seed, Sally Fitzgibbons in both quarterfinals this season, and she's definitely my toughest competitor and always gets me to push my limits,” the 18–year–old said.
Find out how Fitzgibbons and Moore get on in New Zealand, with the official ASP Tour website.
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