LIHU‘E — Alana Blanchard, Bethany Hamilton and Nage Melamed were all eliminated from the Pantin Classic during Wednesday’s action, the first full day of women’s surfing at the event. The ASP women’s six-star event began with 48 competitors and was
LIHU‘E — Alana Blanchard, Bethany Hamilton and Nage Melamed were all eliminated from the Pantin Classic during Wednesday’s action, the first full day of women’s surfing at the event.
The ASP women’s six-star event began with 48 competitors and was down to 18, halfway through the second round before the tides called an end to the day.
There were four- to five-foot waves on hand at the Spanish shore, leading to some big scores, including a perfect 10-point ride from Australia’s Tyler Wright, who added a 9.80 for a 19.80 out of 20 in her first round heat.
Blanchard and Hamilton each made it through their first heats into the Round of 24, but Melamed was just edged out in a difficult opening foursome.
Her third-place total of 9.03 was bested by former world champion Sofia Mulanovich (10.43) in first and Claudia Goncalves (9.84) in second.
Hamilton managed a first place in her heat, totaling 15.10 with top scores of 7.17 and 7.93. She advanced alongside South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge, who scored an 11.97.
Blanchard and contest crusher Courtney Conlogue each made it through in their third heat of the opening round. Conlogue was first with a 14.26, as Blanchard came in second with an 11.54.
Hawai‘i’s only two remaining competitors could not get the waves to score in the second round.
Blanchard finished third in the first heat, scoring a 7.03. Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons notched scores of 8.17 and 9.17 on her final two waves for the easy first-place finish, while France’s Pauline Ado grabbed second with a 10.16 go.
Hamilton took fourth in the final heat of the day, a low-scoring round with very little on offer. She managed just three rides and 4.33 combined points.
Argentina’s Ornella Pellizari (10.17) was first and South Africa’s Nikita Robb (9.56) took second.
For all information on both the men’s and women’s events, go to www.aspeurope.com/events2010/pantin/
