Moore Kicks Year Off with Roxy Pro Triumph

Highlights: Finals Day at Roxy Pro

Elite surfing and pioneering style at its finest on Day 14 of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast.

WSL Heat Analyzer
Recap: Round 1
Recap: Round 2
Recap: Rounds 3 and 4

In a rematch of their 2014 Gold Coast Semifinal, Carissa Moore (HAW) turned the tables and got the best of reigning World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) to win the Roxy Pro Gold Coast. The win puts her at the top of the Championship Tour (CT) rankings and she'll don the yellow jersey at the next event, the Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach.

Among the most anticipated heat of the day was the Quarterfinals matchup between Gilmore and Silvana Lima (BRA). Lima had been a thorn in Gilmore's side earlier in the contest, dealing her a painful loss in Round 1. Matched up again in the Quarters, Lima turned up the pressure right away, opening with a progressive mix of cutbacks and floaters for an 8.00. Gilmore faltered on her first two waves but found her footing at the 20-minute mark, putting together a few of her classic carves for a 7.17 and the lead.

In a departure from her characteristic, active approach to heats, Lima had just a single wave in her scoreline for 15 minutes, finally taking off on one for a 6.17. But Gilmore was right behind her, putting together a longer line of maneuvers and capping it off with a big finishing move for her own excellent-range score (an 8.83). Lima fell on her Hail-Mary attempt, giving Gilmore the win and go-ahead to the Semifinals.

Gilmore: I Had to Stick to What I Do Best

Rosy Hodge catches up with Stephanie Gilmore after the reigning World Champ defeated long-time rival Silvana Lima in the Roxy Pro Quarterfinals.

Another standout during the Quarterfinals was the Heat 1 upset that women's Tour rookie Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) doled out. She defeated fellow Hawaiian Malia Manuel with a powerful backhand attack, allowing only one lead change -- and that didn't last long. She took advantage of the next set wave, scoring a 7.23 for a rail-to-rail drive with less than 10 minutes left. Manuel's last-minute effort fell short of what she needed, sending her out of the contest and putting the rookie in the Semifinals.

Gilmore and Weston-Webb's battle kicked off the Semifinals and the reigning Champ had fully returned to form. She drew out her turns and confidently maneuvered her board across the building faces to earn a 16.26 two-wave total. Despite the rookie's best efforts, Gilmore advanced into her second consecutive Final at the Gold Coast.

Moore was also on the rise. After scoring her first ride nine-point-range score of the year during the Quarters, she earned yet another, with 9.03 during her Semifinal heat against Tyler Wright (AUS).

Moore Is Back with Power-Hacks, Big Scores

In case you weren't sure the first time, Carissa Moore earns a 9.03 during the Roxy Pro Semifinals.

Moore carried her momentum into the Final, locking in another score in the nine-point range early on, a 9.40 for an aggressive rail-to-rail attack. Gilmore kept her at bay with two solid scores for dramatic carving maneuvers and a layback hack to polish off her second keeper score, but after earning a 9.03 backup score Moore left no room for a comeback. She took the win, carrying her momentum from Maui to Australia.

Watch condensed versions of each heat from the Roxy Pro, starting with the Final.

See complete contests results. And tune in daily starting April 1 to watch Top 17 compete at the Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach, Stop No. 2 on the women's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour.