Stephanie Gilmore and Sofia Mulanovich bounce back after Round 1 loss in Rip Curl Women’s Pro
Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore and Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich emerged triumphant in their respective Round 2 heats of Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta that continued at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia, on Wednesday, April 4.
Gilmore got the better of her compatriot Nikki Van Dijk in the third heat to advance through into the third round, bringing the competition to a premature end for her rival in the process.
The fourth heat saw France’s Justine Dupont succumb to Mulanovich to find herself removed from the race for the event title while sending her rival into the next round of the event.
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Top 17 surfers had arrived at Bells Beach to resume their campaign for the coveted ASP Women’s World title and had no intention of letting the opportunity of earning crucial championship ranking points go to waste. However, the failure to perform well on day 1 of the latest ASP Women’s World Tour event had forced a handful of surfers to surf in Round 2 to earn their place in the third round.
The third heat pitted the former four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Gilmore against Van Dijk in a battle for survival.
The 24-year-old Gilmore had exhibited a formidable form during the first stop of the 2012 ASP Women’s World Tour, Roxy Pro Gold Coast. Looking to bounce back after an early stumble at Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach, the Australian surfer stepped up her game in the third heat to take the win.
Locking her first business-wave, she posted an impressive 8.00 on the score-board and went on to add another 5.33 to her account to finish with a heat-total of 13.33 points. The score remained unbeatable until the end to seal the fate of the battle in her favour.
Van Dijk failed to challenge her rival’s score after finishing with a heat-total of 11.23 points, which comprised of a 3.83 and 7.40-point wave. The inadequate response resulted in her elimination from the competition.
The fourth heat pitted Mulanovich against Dupont in a battle for the Round 3 spot.
The Peruvian surfer went down to business right from the word go, locking her first business-wave in the opening minutes of the heat to post a 7.00 on the score-board. After a long and thorough hunt, she added an additional 6.27 points to her account to finish with a heat-total of 13.27 points.
Dupont responded with a heat-total of 11.64 points, which included a 5.67 and 5.97-point wave. As a result, she was forced to concede victory to her rival, sending her through into the next round while getting eliminated from the competition herself.
Tags: