Perfect 10 ensures Steph rules in Bali
SEVEN-TIME women’s world champion Stephanie Gilmore’s win at Keramas at the Corona Bali Protected was nothing short of sensational.
Her WSL peers conceded she would have beaten most of the guys with that winning performance.
Gilmore was the only competitor to score a perfect 10 and rightfully so.
The final day of the 11-day waiting period produced the best waves so far on the 2019 Dream Tour and Steph capitalised on it.
That winning wave, her fifth perfect 10 of her career and her 30th CT (Championship Tour) victory, has more than vindicated the World Surf League’s decision to offer equal gender prizemoney.
Gilmore had an abysmal start to the year with an early round loss at Dbah against California’s rising star Caroline Marks. She recovered at Bells to post a quarter-final result.
In the semis at Keramas, Steph fought off a seesaw battle with one of her toughest adversaries, Courtney Conlogue.
That was the crucial heat as if Steph lost and CC won, the Californian would have gone to the lead with possibly two CTs under her belt after winning Bells.
In the end, it was a oneway final against another fierce foe, Sally Fitzgibbons, who had no answer for Gilmore’s seamless attack.
Steph was quietly primed for the final day, retrieving the leader’s yellow jersey firmly in the back of her mind.
Gilmore is back in the driver’s seat rated No.1 heading to Margaret River. It’s the fourth event with six to go and another important step on the road to an eighth world title.
Still a long way ahead but, as 11-times world champ Kelly Slater says, it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
Steph is now where she needs to be, her surfing is at peak form, and her Darren Handley 5/10 working a treat.
Former World Tour competitor and two-time Pipe and J-Bay champion, West Australian Jake ‘The Snake’ Paterson, is Steph’s latest coach and key to her preparation.
Steph’s perfect winning ride was a text-book ride based on pure instinct.
Gilmore has bounced back better than ever and while the Aussie guys are taking a shellacking, Steph is making all Australians feel super proud as the rest of the world looks on with pure admiration. boards are