![]() ![]() There were a lot of closeouts and you really had to pick the right one." There was a lot of pressure on Stephanie Gilmore at the event - WSL Dark Red Turning to Purple "The wind was so hard at times you were being blown off the back of the waves. "It was hard out there today," said Steph on the day. ![]() Looking back at my notes from the contest this is a quote from Steph about the conditions. Steph had her revenge and kept her title hopes alive when she met Bulard again in Round 3 after Hardman made the women surf three times that day. Fitzgibbons on the other hand locked in one to the top heat scores of the day. Steph had joked at the press conference the previous day that she was looking forward to competing after such a long break but she came unstuck in her first round when the contest wildcard, French surfer Cannelle Bulard, pushed her into second place. There was a lot at stake, a lot of media pressure and at the mobile site, not a lot of places to hide. She was ahead of Sally Fitzgibbons on the ratings and had an outside chance of sealing the Title in Portugal. ![]() Reigning World Champ Stephanie Gilmore came into the Rip Curl Pro looking to take out another World Title. Damien Hardman's calls were direct and to the point - WSL / JOLI Not the Perfect Start Standing on the cliffs overlooking Lagido you could see spray from the raging ocean rising 50 feet or more into the air and if you did a 45 degree turn you could see huge swells rolling in through a gap in the cliffs and at one stage, even see some of the CT men trying to tow-in on the massive swells. There is a small village on the headland across from Baleal accessed by a one way road across the sand. The site was in a Bay called Baleal which was protected from the massive waves that had forced the move. The women were sent out in solid four to six foot surf that was kept relatively clean by a howling offshore wind and believe me they were made to work after their four-month break since their last event. With a completely onshore mess at the main site there was no Supertubos for the women but a relocation to Lagido, a back up site on the other side of the Peniche Peninsular. The men were put off for the day and the women were thrown right into a maelstrom. On Day One of the waiting period and he pushed the "Go" button. Two-time World Champ Damien Hardman was directing the show for the Rip Curl Pro Portugal and like his surfing, his Contest Director calls were direct and to the point. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |