STREET FIGHT:
WHY GOLD COAST 600 IS GOING TO BE MORE INTENSE THIS YEAR
THE numbers are in and Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright are now in pole position to claim the 2017 women’s world surfing crown after their major rival crashed out of the Roxy Pro France.
The Australian duo advanced into the semi-finals of the event to be surfed later this week with both chasing their second event win of the season in Hossegor.
An all-Australian showdown in the final is also on the cards with the pair drawn in separate semi-finals – Fitzgibbons against triple world champions Carissa Moore and Wright against another American, Lakey Peterson
The absence of Courtney Conlogue from the semifinals after she was beaten in her quarter-final by Peterson, is a major boost for the Australian pair with just one event on the world tour remaining at the conclusion of the Roxy Pro France.
The Australians will likely be ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world at the end of the event with their two allowed drops for the season worked into the scorelines
Wright’s form in France has impressed, with the reigning world champion competing with a cumbersome brace on her knee after she tore her MCL in a free surfing mishap.
“I do want to get rid of the brace but I’ve been advised that I can’t just yet,” Wright said.
“I feel good, I’m competing sharp again and putting heats together.”
Wright last year won her maiden world crown at the French event, a title she dedicated to her brother Owen, as he battled back to health from a brain injury, and her family.
Fitzgibbons, who has yet to finish worse than fifth in an event all year, suffered a scare en route to booking her semi spot opposite Moore.
“Bianca (Buitendag) kind of had the home court advantage, she’s been living here for a while, and I knew she knows the shifty beachbreaks pretty well,’’ Fitzgibbons said.
“But I could only do my best, I was making decisions under pressure, a few paid off and a few didn’t.”