The Top 17 will have a couple of dangerous additions in the mix at the upcoming Fiji Women's Pro. With Lakey Peterson still sidelined, Bronte Macaulay will again step in for her and Bethany Hamilton will be the event wildcard.
Bethany Hamilton got some practice rounds in before the Fiji Women's Pro, thanks to a huge swell. - WSL / Bill Sharp
Hamilton is already making noise. She flew in early to catch the huge waves that hit Restaurants and Cloudbreak over the weekend, and scored some solid ones. Earlier this year, she proved her mettle in bigger conditions with a stunning performance at Pe'ahi, which helped earn her a Big Wave Awards nomination for Overall Performance. Hamilton, who previously competed on the Qualifying Series, last competed in a CT event in September, at the Swatch Women's Pro.
Bethany Hamilton tore up Restaurants at the start of the new swell. Video by Aaron Lieber.
Macaulay has also had her share of stunners this year. She has competed in all four elite Tour events so far, and has yet to lose a Round Two heat -- including one against Championship Tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons on the Gold Coast, who had never lost in Round Two before. Macaulay also outscored six-time champ Stephanie Gilmore in Round One of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
The injury replacement gets an A grade from the desk after another stunning Round One performance.
Watch Bethany, Bronte and the rest of the Top 17 at the Fiji Women's Pro beginning May 29 and get instant updates on your phone with the WSL app. The action will stream live daily on the WSL website and app.
Bethany Hamilton to Compete in Fiji Women's Pro
Paula Lehman
The Top 17 will have a couple of dangerous additions in the mix at the upcoming Fiji Women's Pro. With Lakey Peterson still sidelined, Bronte Macaulay will again step in for her and Bethany Hamilton will be the event wildcard.
Hamilton is already making noise. She flew in early to catch the huge waves that hit Restaurants and Cloudbreak over the weekend, and scored some solid ones. Earlier this year, she proved her mettle in bigger conditions with a stunning performance at Pe'ahi, which helped earn her a Big Wave Awards nomination for Overall Performance. Hamilton, who previously competed on the Qualifying Series, last competed in a CT event in September, at the Swatch Women's Pro.
Macaulay has also had her share of stunners this year. She has competed in all four elite Tour events so far, and has yet to lose a Round Two heat -- including one against Championship Tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons on the Gold Coast, who had never lost in Round Two before. Macaulay also outscored six-time champ Stephanie Gilmore in Round One of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
Watch Bethany, Bronte and the rest of the Top 17 at the Fiji Women's Pro beginning May 29 and get instant updates on your phone with the WSL app. The action will stream live daily on the WSL website and app.
Bronte Macaulay
After a successful stint in Hawaii, Macaulay's locked into preparing for the Australian leg of the Tour in some familiar waters.
The charger from Western Australia has struggled to translate her talent and the respect of her peers into Championship Tour points.
The first-ever digital version of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing saw male and female surfers stacking clips from Pipe, Haleiwa and Sunset.
With weeks of pumping surf on the Seven Mile Miracle, John John Florence leads a pack of heavy hitters as the clips are stacking.
West Australia's Laura Macaulay has successfully charged one of the world's heaviest waves.
Fiji Women's Pro
Mid-season, and the world's best face off against the mythic wave known at Cloudbreak.
Her career-best CT performance was another reminder of her super-human spirit.
Sage Erickson captures a smooth ride as the sun sets over the sea in her first Fiji GoPro Challenge entry.
Sage Erickson turns amateur videographer when she grabs a clip of Tavarua boatman Lucas Dirkse in her second entry into the Fiji GoPro
The WSL's first week in paradise was a busy one.