- 2018-03-12
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SPORTS
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Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ World Surf League: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast & Roxy Pro Gold Coast Kick Off
The 1st stop on WSL Men's Championship Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and Women's Championship Roxy Pro Gold Coast kicked off on March 11, 2018.
Both event ran Round 1 at Queensland in Australia in five-to six foot.
Before the event, the 3-time World Champion Mick Fanning announced that this month's Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be the last event of his WSL Championship Tour career.
"The crowd was incredible," Fanning said. "In years gone past, I might have tried to block it out, but sitting and surfing out there I really tried to soak it in. I just want to thank everyone for coming down. It would be awesome to win here, but I'm not aiming to win the event for myself. I want to go out and put on a show and perform as a way to thank my family, friends and fans for all the support for all these years."
The 11-time World Champ Kelly Slater (USA) was slated to compete against Fanning in Round 1, but he was a no-show. Because he had surgery his foot 3-1/2 weeks ago. He's instead aiming to arrive by Round 2 (which, because Round 1 is a non-elimination round, is permitted in the WSL rulebook).
Also Courtney Conlogue (USA) was withdrawing from the opening event. She was injured her foot while training at Snapper Rocks.
“I’m going to be out of the water for a bit, I had to withdraw from the Roxy Pro," Conlogue said. "I’m looking forward to being back - I’m not sure when - but I’m doing the best to heal as quick as I can.”
Defending champion of Quiksilver Pro, Owen Wright (AUS) got a good start with 9.90 points, defeated Michael Rodrigues (BRA) and Joel Parkinson (AUS).
Rookie Griffin Colapinto (USA) defeated reigning world champ John John Florence (HAW) in Heat 6.
“I’ve got two goals this season," 19-year-old rookie said. "The first is to finish in the top ten, the other is to have as much fun as I possibly can. So far, I’m having a lot of fun."
Meanwhile, in Roxy Pro, the 3-time world champ Carissa Moore (HAW) earned the highest score of the day, despite a near-miss in the lineup.
Reigning world champ Tyler Wright won the 1st place in Heat 3 and steadily advanced to Round 3. Macy Callaghan (AUS) beat, the 6-time world champ and defending champ of this event, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 9.90, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 5.20, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 4.57
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.17, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.26, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4.53
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.66, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.64
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.60, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.30, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 7.27
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.26, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.44, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 6.05
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.50, John John Florence (HAW) 7.50, Mikey Wright (AUS) 2.00
Heat 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.63, Keanu Asing (HAW) 7.83, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 5.60
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.30, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.67, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.07
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.24, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 9.94, Yago Dora (BRA) 6.86
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.56, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.00, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 5.50
Heat 11: Connor O'Leary (AUS) 13.16, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 7.63, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 7.46
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.60, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 9.80, Kelly Slater (USA) 0.00
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.53, Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.50, Caroline Marks (USA) 9.70
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.16, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 10.50, Keely Andrew (USA) 9.87
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.17, Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.60, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 7.90
Heat 4: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.84, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6.50, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 1.27
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (USA) 12.77, Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.93, Silvana Lima (BRA) 3.63
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 9.93, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.70, Sage Erickson (USA) 7.83
All photos copyright by World Surf League.- source : World Surf League
