WISH UPON FALLEN STARS
UNHERALDED Queensland surfer Keely Andrew knocked out surfing queen Stephanie Gilmore (below) in the quarter-finals of the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast yesterday, and immediately declared: “I’m in it to win it”. In a day of carnage at Snapper Rocks, world champions Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore were also bundled out.
KELLY Slater may have pulled out of the Quiksilver Pro but his presence is still being felt in the announcement of teams for the inaugural Founders Cup of Surfing.
The specialty event will be the first public tournament to be held at Slater’s surf ranch in Lemoore, California, with Mick Fanning among those to represent Australia, despite his impending retirement.
Tweed Coaster Stephanie Gilmore will captain the Australian team, which includes Fanning, Byron Bay’s Matt Wilkinson, Julian Wilson and world champion Tyler Wright.
Slater, who officially pulled out of the Quiksilver Pro yesterday with a foot injury, will captain a US team including world champion John John Florence and three-time women’s titlewinner Carissa Moore.
World Surf League commissioner Kieren Perrow said the Founders Cup would be a special event on the 2018 calendar.
“We’re really excited to be opening up this amazing facility to the public with this teams event,” Perrow said.
Surf ranch boasts a 640m man-made wave featuring both barrel and manoeuvre sections and has been tested by several WSL surfers.
The facility will also host a championship tour event in September.
Slater is to compete in both, although he contest the Quiksilver Pro, confirming yesterday he would be forced withdraw with a foot injury.
Slater missed the opening round Sunday and had hoped to rejoin the event in Round 2.
Michael February will take his place on the Gold Coast, with the South African set to take a full-time spot after the Bells Beach stop in place of the retiring Fanning.
“I thought I was going to miss out on the first two events of the year, so this is a positive getting into at least one of those two,” February said.
“I used to come here (to Snapper) when I was really young but I haven’t been here for SURF BOSS KIEREN PERROW to
three or four years, and I came for that last really good swell at Kirra (earlier this summer) and got to feel out everything.
“I love this place and I love this wave.”
February may compete at Kirra, with Perrow confirming the break could be considered for the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros.
“The WSL Commissioner’s Office is looking at all options Kirra included - for the upcoming week’s swell window,” Perrow said in a statement.
“There’s a significant pulse forecast this week that could present options for Kirra. We’ll continue to monitor and make assessments each day.”
IT’S SOMETHING NEW FOR SURFING, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN