GILMORE’S MIS-STEPH KEEPS TITLE RACE OPEN
AUSTRALIAN Stephanie Gilmore has squandered the chance to secure a seventh world surfing crown after a shock Round 3 elimination from the Roxy Pro France.
American Courtney Conlogue, a good mate of Lakey Peterson, Gilmore’s major rival for the world crown, pulled off the upset yesterday at Hossegor, forcing the world title race to the final event of the women’s world tour in Maui next month.
Gilmore jumped on a Hail Mary wave in the elimination third round of the event with just over two minutes on the clock and needing an 8.33 score.
She came up just short with an 8.27 ride, sending Conlogue through to the quarter-finals and the world title race to the final event in Hawaii.
Despite the loss Gilmore is still favoured to win a recordequalling seventh world crown of surfing at the Hawaii event.
The Australian surfer won her first world title in 2007 as a rookie and then followed up with crowns in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.
If she wins the world title Gilmore equals the record of Australian surf legend Layne Beachley, who won six world titles between 1998 and 2003 and her seventh in 2006.
The only woman able to beat Gilmore for the world crown this year is American Peterson.
Meanwhile, Byron Bay surfer Matt Wilkinson has survived two sudden-death clashes to move into the final 12 at the Quiksilver Pro.
After being beaten by South Africa’s Jordy Smith and Hawaii’s Zeke Lau in the opening round, Wilkinson was pitched into a knockout battle against Tahiti’s Michael Bourez, which he won to advance to another sudden-death clash in Round 3. Wilkinson won the opening exchange against Brazilian Italo Ferreira after both surfers caught a keeper in the opening set of the heat, with his 7.43 proving the difference in a tight heat.
Ferreira scored 7.27 for his opening ride and while Wilkinson looked to have the heat won when he notched a 6.47 on his sixth ride late in the heat, he was forced to wait nervously for scores after Ferreira tucked into a neat little barrel he thought handed him a winning score.
It registered 0.1 more than the Aussie’s ride but Wilkinson’s work on his opening wave proved the difference.
After a couple of strong years on tour, Wilkinson has had a disappointing 2018 season.