The current professional and amateur longboard World Champions will go head to head in the final of the Cancer Institute NSW Women's LQS competition at Kingscliff after they posted impressive semifinal wins.
Former WSL World Champion and current ISA World Title holder Tory Gilkerson will face current WSL World Champion and former ISA title holder Honolua Blomfield in the event grand finale.
Gilkerson put in the most consistent performance of the morning to defeat Hawaiian Kirra Seale in the second semifinal. The Californian who now calls Australia home, got off to a flying start recording rides of 6.33 and 5.83 to set up her victory. Kirra's best wave was also her first, but it was just a 4-pointer in the small conditions and she had to be content with 7.97 for the heat while Tory won the event with a 12.16.
Tory said while the small waves made conditions hard she still had a lot of fun in the heat and was able to find the best waves available.
Honolua Blomfield, 19, made it through to the final of the Cancer Institute of NSW Women's LQS defeating Sunshine Coast Surfer Emily Lethbridge, 16. In a battle of the young guns Honolua scored 3.33 early in the heat with Emily opening her scoring with a 2.17 and then a 3.90 to take the lead in a seesawing final. Both surfers had small waves through the middle of the heat before Honolua struck back with a 4.60 and 4.10. Emily recorded a 4.00 and 2.50 to stay within striking distance but she ran out of time.
With Blomfield progressing 8.77 to 7.98 but it wasn't the end of the day for Lethbridge who will now compete in the juniors and amateurs.
"I was probably in the wrong spot," Honolua admitted. "But I'm still stoked to have made it to my first Kingscliff final."
Women's Competition Heats Up at ALSO
WSL
The current professional and amateur longboard World Champions will go head to head in the final of the Cancer Institute NSW Women's LQS competition at Kingscliff after they posted impressive semifinal wins.
Former WSL World Champion and current ISA World Title holder Tory Gilkerson will face current WSL World Champion and former ISA title holder Honolua Blomfield in the event grand finale.
Gilkerson put in the most consistent performance of the morning to defeat Hawaiian Kirra Seale in the second semifinal. The Californian who now calls Australia home, got off to a flying start recording rides of 6.33 and 5.83 to set up her victory. Kirra's best wave was also her first, but it was just a 4-pointer in the small conditions and she had to be content with 7.97 for the heat while Tory won the event with a 12.16.
Tory said while the small waves made conditions hard she still had a lot of fun in the heat and was able to find the best waves available.
Honolua Blomfield, 19, made it through to the final of the Cancer Institute of NSW Women's LQS defeating Sunshine Coast Surfer Emily Lethbridge, 16. In a battle of the young guns Honolua scored 3.33 early in the heat with Emily opening her scoring with a 2.17 and then a 3.90 to take the lead in a seesawing final. Both surfers had small waves through the middle of the heat before Honolua struck back with a 4.60 and 4.10. Emily recorded a 4.00 and 2.50 to stay within striking distance but she ran out of time.
With Blomfield progressing 8.77 to 7.98 but it wasn't the end of the day for Lethbridge who will now compete in the juniors and amateurs.
"I was probably in the wrong spot," Honolua admitted. "But I'm still stoked to have made it to my first Kingscliff final."
Cancer Institute NSW Women's Pro
The current Women's World Longboard Champion takes her first win down under while Pioli takes his fourth ALSO title.
The second Longboard QS of the year hit the water at Kingscliff, NSW at the Australian Longboard Surfing Open.
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