Steph to take best shot
IT’S been a happy hunting ground in the past but Stephanie Gilmore says she will need to be at her “entertaining best” to breathe new life into her world surfing title bid with success at the Swatch Pro at Lower Trestles.
With a win in 2014 and a runner-up position last season at the cobblestone break in California, Gilmore is favoured to improve her current world ranking of No.4 at the venue this week.
“Lowers is one of the greatest waves in the world in my book,” Gilmore said.
“It is just so fun, playful
and perfect. It is one of the world’s greatest arenas for professional surfing because it lets every surfer showcase what they want to do on the wave.
“Lowers has been so good
to me. I’ve won here before and made a final last year.’’
But Gilmore says surfers must bring strong form to the event or risk being exposed.
“Lower Trestles shows every little imperfection in someone’s surfing,” she said. “It brings out the worst but it also brings out the best, and you have to surf at a new level and have to pay attention to those fine details.
“You have to be an entertainer. That is what this event is, you have to be the most entertaining surfer out there.”
Compatriot Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons enter the women’s Swatch Pro, running alongside the men’s Hurley Pro, with the top world rankings, while American Courtney Conlogue is third.
Despite it being one of the tightest races for the women’s crown in recent times, Wright is feeling no pressure.
“Being in the Jeep leader jersey at Trestles is a good position to be in,” she said.
■ MATT Wilkinson’s world title hopes faded dramatically at Lower Trestles last year but the top-ranked Australian believes he’s learnt his lesson.
Wilkinson, 28 led the championship for much of 2016 but his 25th placing on the eighth tour leg at the Californian break appeared to hammer his confidence.
The world No.3 failed to progress past the third round of the remaining three events to finish fifth last year.
“Last year, I started so well then slowly just let it slip away,” Wilkinson said. “But I definitely gave my best and learned a lot about myself.
“Now, being in that leading pack just makes me a little more hungry to get some more ground on people.”