Surf Girl – July 2019

SurfGirl Magazine 155

I

t’s been a busy and exciting season so far on the Women’s World Tour, with five events completed

as we go to press. In June, the defending event winner and World No. 1, Stephanie Gilmore, had all

the momentum on her side heading into the Oi Rio Pro event in Brazil. However, it wasn’t to be this

time, as in a high performance semi final with Carissa Moore, the two exchanged incredible rides and

Carissa narrowly beat Steph and went on to the final with tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons.

En route to her 11th CT win, Sally eliminated Carissa Moore in the final, and good friend Keely Andrew

(AUS) in the semi finals. We’re stoked for Sally, who has come runner-up to the World Title three times,

and with this win it could be a breakthrough year after her success leading up to the season’s halfway

mark.“It’s definitely one of those times where you feel so alive,” said Sally Fitzgibbons. “The whole

process of running down through the crowd, cheering and paddling out is pretty sick when it all comes

together. After all these years it’s still special and to be in the final with a friend like Carissa (Moore). It

could’ve gone either way and it just went my way today; it was unbelievable, this is insane.”

Steph has now earned a third-place result in Brazil and moves on to the next stop on the WSL CT at

J-Bay, where she is again the defending event winner. Gilmore will focus on repeating last year’s success

to stay on top of the world rankings.

WOMEN’S WORLD

TOUR NEWS

WSL / POULLENOT

WSL / CESTARI

WSL / CESTARI

IT’S ALL TO PLAY FOR, AS THE TOUR VETERANS

BATTLE IT OUT.

Sally Fitzgibbons Carissa Moore

Lakey Peterson