Sally Fitzgibbons’ run of outstanding form has taken her through to a quarter-final showdown with former champion Sofia Mulanovich at the Women’s Surf Festival on New Zealand’s Fitzroy Beach.
The Australian teenager, currently the ASP’s world number five, scored the highest heat total of the event, an 18.07 out of a possible 20 in round three. That included the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.40 out of a possible 10 for a series of powerful forehand manoeuvres punctuated a progressive grab-rail reverse on the end section.
Clearly, the Aussie is in her element: “It’s more of a level playing field today,” said the 19-year-old. “It’s shifty, thumpy beachbreaks and I love these as they remind me of home. I started my heat of really well and I knew that if I wanted to get the big scores I would have to really push the progressive side of my surfing and that’s what I did.”
But as sensational as her performance was, it wasn’t the biggest talking point of the day after Sarah Mason, a 15-year-old wildcard entry from New Zealand, defeated three-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore.
The champion held a solid lead throughout the majority of the bout, but the young Kiwi pulled out an impressive right-hander for a 6.93 and a last-ditch 7.10 out of a possible 10 to take the win.
'It’s shifty, thumpy beachbreaks and I love these as they remind me of home' – Sally Fitzgibbons
“I’m buzzing right now,” Mason said. “I’m so excited. This is the biggest win of my career. I was down for most of the heat, then I got a pretty good right-hander and that put me back in the hunt. I was just hoping that I could get another opportunity to score. That came right at the end and when I heard I got the score, I was blown away.”
Gilmore’s loss means the iconic natural-footer will miss her first final since October last year. But she remained magnanimous in defeat. “I felt like I was in pretty good form but I must have got too comfortable,” said Gilmore (seen below congratulating Mason on winning her wildcard). “I made a few priority mistakes towards the end and Sarah (Mason) took advantage. She’s an excellent surfer and today proved she’s a dangerous competitor.”
Mason was also cheered to victory by a partisan crowd on the beach. “It’s so cool to have everyone on beach cheering you through,” Mason said. “Every time I finished a wave, I could hear everyone clapping and cheering. It gives you a great confidence.
“It’s been a great week for me, winning the New Zealand Open and then the Pro Junior and now this. I’m just focussing on the next heat and I hope to keep going.”
Quarter-Final Match-ups
Melanie Bartels (HAW) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Sarah Mason (NZL)
Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
You can watch videos and highlights at nzsurffestival.co.nz and for the latest ASP tour standings and more, visit aspworldtour.com
© ASP
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