Stephanie Gilmore starts off with a roar at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic
Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore stamped her authority in the opening round of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, fourth of the seven stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Tour, by claiming victory in the third heat
of Round 1 with an outstanding performance at Dee Why point in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, April 19.
The dominant win enabled her to make her way straight into the third round of the event without having to surf in the second round.
Australia’s Nikki Van Dijk was forced to settle for runner-up place, while New Zealand’s Sarah Mason finished last. Both the surfers were consequently forced to make a trip to the relegation Round 2 to earn their place in the third round.
Gilmore, former four-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No.1 on the ASP Women’s World Tour rankings, has been on a roll since the start of the season, prevailing in two of the three events.
Looking to build her momentum at Dee Why point right away, the 24-year-old Australian showed absolutely no mercy to her young rivals during the third heat of Round 1. Bringing her experience into play, Gilmore caught a juicy wave halfway through the heat
to score an 8.50 off it and immediately followed it up with a massive 9.25-point ride to finish with a heat-total of 17.75 points. The score held up until the end to earn her victory.
Both she and Mason had a really close encounter with the intimidating Dee Why reef, sustaining bruises and scratches.
“The direction of the swell is straight onto the reef,” Gilmore said. “I took off on the first one and slammed onto the reef and I cut my elbow. When I turned around Sarah [Mason] was holding onto her face. You switch from heat mode to going and asking if
she’s ok. She slammed her face on the reef which isn’t nice and it rattles you a little bit. You second guess which ones to take off on.”
Van Dijk, the 17-year-old event wildcard, put on a pretty impressive performance as well, finding a couple of seven-point rides to finish with a heat-total of 14.10 points.
Mason was clearly shaken up after the reef incident and struggled to recover her confidence. She eventually finished with a heat-total of 6.80 points, which included a 3.90 and 2.90-point wave.
Both Van Dijk and Mason still have an opportunity to extend their life in the event by bouncing back in their Round 2 heats.
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