Sally Fitzgibbons prevails over Lakey Peterson to clinch 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing title
The last stop of this year’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Tour, 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing, wrapped up with the Final that went down at the Huntington Beach Pier, California, on Saturday, August 7.
Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons prevailed over America’s Lakey Peterson in a hard fought battle to claim victory, becoming the 2011 Women’s Nike US Open of Surfing champion.
The final day of the competition promised a thrilling finish to what had been a week full of intense and exciting battles between the ASP Top 17. With clean two-to-four foot waves gracing the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday, expectations for an electrifying
final seemed justified.
The final pitted 20-year-old Fitzgibbons against 16-year-old wild-card entry, Peterson. The Australian sensation was undoubtedly a favourite to win the contest, though the performances by the local surfer earlier in the day surely placed the possibility
of an upset on the cards.
Both the surfers were high on confidence, especially Peterson who had earned her way into the final by triumphing over the 2011 ASP Women’s World champion, Carissa Moore.
As the Final kicked off, Fitzgibbons took control of the battle early on, locking a wave to showcase the stylish tricks in her arsenal and earning an impressive 7.50 for the effort. She immediately followed it up with a 6.73-point wave to move to a heat-total
of 14.23 points.
Peterson remained patient for most part of the heat, but eventually made a charge in the final minutes. However, she failed to edge past her rival after finishing with a heat-total of 12.40 point, which included a 6.13 and 6.27-point wave, surrendering the
win and hence the title to her Australian rival.
This was Fitzgibbon’s third elite victory of the season, allowing her to finish as runner-up in the 2011 ASP Women’s World Tour.
Talking to the reporter after the Final, Fitzgibbons said, “It’s such an unbelievable feeling to get chaired up the beach. There is just a sea of people and it’s one of my biggest achievements. To get three wins this year, it has been a really special year
and although I didn’t get the title, I can’t believe I’ve won this event.”
Peterson was pretty excited with the way the competition had turned out as well and felt honoured to get an opportunity to compete against the progressive Australian surfer in the final. She was delighted to make it into the finals in her very first World
Tour event.
With the conclusion of the 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing, the ASP Women’s World Tour was a wrap.
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