Stephanie Gilmore has concocted a pair of high-scoring waves to rescue her Bells Beach campaign and oust long-time rival Lakey Peterson.
The reigning world champion trailed for most of their round-of-16 heat but stole a wave under priority and then doubled down with another nice combination.
Her 5.63 and 5.57-point efforts (11.20 total) were just enough to pip Peterson’s six and five-point waves (11), with the American allowed onto a wave in the final three seconds but unable to produce the score she needed.
Gilmore has never lost before the quarter-final stage at the Victorian break and, ranked 14th, needs a big result to boost herself into the top-10 and above the mid-season cut line.
She will surf against Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb in the final eight, while Australia’s No.1-ranked Molly Picklum also progressed, along with Isabella Nichols and defending champion Tyler Wright.
Sally Fitzgibbons was beaten by Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson, while Picklum edged another Australian, Sophie McCulloch.
The women’s quarter-finals and men’s round of 16 are on standby.
Local wildcard Xavier Huxtable emerged as a giant killer on Sunday, shocking Australia’s world No.1 Jack Robinson.
He will face countryman Connor O’Leary in the round of 16.
Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan will also fly the flag, but multiple world champion Kelly Slater’s elimination left him in grave danger of missing the mid-season cut.
– AAP
