Just 12 men and eight women remain in contention at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contests.
Condensed Heats: Rip Curl Women's Pro | Rip Curl Pro
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach Heat Analyzer
Recap: Round 2 & Round 3, Heats 1 & 2 | Round 1
Full Results
Defending World Champ Stephanie Gilmore finds a perfect line for a near-perfect score.
The women's action got going in clean, solid surf at Bells with a perfect canvas on which to perform.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) took advantage almost as soon as the horn sounded. The reigning World Champ lost the Tour leader's symbolic yellow jersey after the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, and appeared to be fired up with a first blow that featured her signature, sweeping carves and hits at the lip. She earned an 8.67, a score that put her heat opponents, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), on the defense.
She quickly followed it up with yet another impressive performance, reminding everyone -- and especially the judges -- why she has rung the prestigious bell here three times already. Her second score was even bigger and better, earning a near perfect 9.70 to force Buitendag and Weston-Webb into a combination situation.
Courtney Conlogue pushes the limits on her last wave of Round 3 and narrowly avoids a hazardous inside section.
In contrast to Gilmore's domination just minutes before, the next and final heat of Round 3 was hardly a done deal. Instead, it featured lead changes, long waits for waves and stellar performances. It was Coco Ho (HAW) who found her rhythm early on, staying active and putting together a modest scoreline. At the halfway point, though, Courtney Conlogue (USA) found a bomb for 8.00 points and moved out in front.
Ho grabbed it back with a 7.40, building her scoreline further. And never one to be left out of the action, World No. 3 Tyler Wright (AUS) found a set wave for a 9.07 that bumped her into second place.
Tyler Wright finds a nine-point ride on a powerful righthander at Bells Beach.
But it was Conlogue who finished the heat on a high note, taking on a solid wave all the way to the beach, where she narrowly missed hitting a rock on the closeout. Bells has a particular meaning for the California native. Last year she was among the Tour frontrunners at the start of the season, until an injury at Bells (the third women's CT event in 2014) halted her progress and kept her out of competition for three events.
Despite her commitment, though, the score she needed was not to be, coming up short by just .20. Ho, with her slow and steady approach, won the heat and advanced directly to the Quarterfinals.
Catch the remaining women in Round 4 when the Rip Curl Women's Pro action resumes on worldsurfleague.com and the new WSL app.
Recap: Hacking Up a Canvas
WSL
Condensed Heats: Rip Curl Women's Pro | Rip Curl Pro
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach Heat Analyzer
Recap: Round 2 & Round 3, Heats 1 & 2 | Round 1
Full Results
The women's action got going in clean, solid surf at Bells with a perfect canvas on which to perform.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) took advantage almost as soon as the horn sounded. The reigning World Champ lost the Tour leader's symbolic yellow jersey after the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, and appeared to be fired up with a first blow that featured her signature, sweeping carves and hits at the lip. She earned an 8.67, a score that put her heat opponents, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), on the defense.
She quickly followed it up with yet another impressive performance, reminding everyone -- and especially the judges -- why she has rung the prestigious bell here three times already. Her second score was even bigger and better, earning a near perfect 9.70 to force Buitendag and Weston-Webb into a combination situation.
In contrast to Gilmore's domination just minutes before, the next and final heat of Round 3 was hardly a done deal. Instead, it featured lead changes, long waits for waves and stellar performances. It was Coco Ho (HAW) who found her rhythm early on, staying active and putting together a modest scoreline. At the halfway point, though, Courtney Conlogue (USA) found a bomb for 8.00 points and moved out in front.
Ho grabbed it back with a 7.40, building her scoreline further. And never one to be left out of the action, World No. 3 Tyler Wright (AUS) found a set wave for a 9.07 that bumped her into second place.
But it was Conlogue who finished the heat on a high note, taking on a solid wave all the way to the beach, where she narrowly missed hitting a rock on the closeout. Bells has a particular meaning for the California native. Last year she was among the Tour frontrunners at the start of the season, until an injury at Bells (the third women's CT event in 2014) halted her progress and kept her out of competition for three events.
Despite her commitment, though, the score she needed was not to be, coming up short by just .20. Ho, with her slow and steady approach, won the heat and advanced directly to the Quarterfinals.
Catch the remaining women in Round 4 when the Rip Curl Women's Pro action resumes on worldsurfleague.com and the new WSL app.
Tatiana Weston-Webb
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Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach
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Highlights from the 2015 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach to air on U.S. television Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
Relive the biggest airs and incredible triumphs from Bells Beach this Saturday on ABC.
Carissa Moore has won back to back events, see what she was riding for victory No. 2.
Soak up the sounds from the south of Australia with the WSL's broadcast music.