AUSTRALIA — Malia Manuel’s run through the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach came to an end when she was bettered by Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore in the quarterfinals Saturday in Australia. The Wailua native rode waves of 6.83 and 8.0 for
AUSTRALIA — Malia Manuel’s run through the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach came to an end when she was bettered by Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore in the quarterfinals Saturday in Australia.
The Wailua native rode waves of 6.83 and 8.0 for a combined score of 14.83, but Gilmore was too tough for Kauaian rookie. Gilmore posted waves of 9.77 and 8.03 for a combined total of 17.80 to advance to the semifinals.
In the semis, Gilmore advanced with a combo score of 17.10, edging Tyler Wright’s 14.77 and O‘ahu’s Carrisa Moore was ousted by Sally Fitzgibbons in the other semi, 15.27 to 11.50.
In the final, Fitzgibbons narrowly edged Gilmore for the title, 10.76 to 10.33.
For Manuel, it was her second consecutive fifth place finish at a World Tour event. She currently sits in sixth place, behind Moore, in the ASP Women’s World Title Ranking.
The Women’s Tour will shift to New Zealand next week for the TSB Bank NZ Surf Festival, beginning Wednesday.
