Rookies making waves
THE winds of change are blowing on the World Surf League women’s tour, with three world champions knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks by surfers out to force a changing of the guard.
Defending world champion Tyler Wright, six-time champ Stephanie Gilmore and threetime world leader Carissa Moore were all bundled out of the event by surfers chasing their first Gold Coast trophy.
Sunshine Coast surfer Keely Andrew, 23, beat Gilmore in the last heat of the day.
“I’m in it to win it. I’m not here to make up the numbers, so I’m excited to see it all going the way I want it to,” Andrew said.
“All the girls are surfing so well and there’s a whole new generation that are coming through after (mine) that are even more fearless.
“I feel that if you’re going to be on this stage, you have to think that you deserve to be here and you have to really surf your best.”
The sole survivor of the “big four” was Sally Fitzgibbons, who survived an early scare to beat teen tyro Caroline Marks.
The 16-year-old, who missed her birthday last month while crossing the international date line on her way to Australia, surfed Snapper Rocks with a maturity beyond her years and beat Gilmore in Round 3 yesterday as both advanced to the quarters.
But she was unable to repeat against Fitzgibbons.
“I had a heat with super grom Caroline (Marks) last year as a wildcard over in France,” Fitzgibbons said.
“I knew what she was capable of and I had to really calm myself into the zone and make really smart decisions.
“That means that she’s already keeping all of us really honest and I think she’s definitely one that’s going to stay on tour for a long time.”
Wright was beaten by Lakey Peterson, a Roxy Pro finalist last year who believes she is finally working competition surfing out in her seventh year on the championship tour.
“At the end of the day, you’ve really got to focus on yourself and it’s taken me seven years to realise that,” Peterson, 23, said.
“I was pretty much thinking Tyler would get two eights, so I thought I’d have to beat that.”
Hawaiian Malia Manuel was in sparkling form yesterday, advancing from Round 2.
The 24-year-old is determined to be in the title race this season.
“I never really say it but I want to be relevant and I want to be in that world title conversation more than ever this year,” Manuel said.
Gilmore’s exit comes after she faced young guns all week.
“What we’re trying to encourage for young girls at the moment is just go out there and be fearless and take opportunities when you can and just shine really,” Gilmore said.