QUARTERFINALISTS DECIDED AT KRUI PRO WOMEN’S QS1,000 
- SURFERS FROM 6 COUNTRIES REMAIN IN CONTENTION
- MEN'S DIVISION SET TO RESUME TOMORROW
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Lucia Martino from Spain going to work on the long lefts on offer at the Krui Pro today.
Credit: © WSL / Tim Hain

FRENCH DUO DELPERO AND DUPONT WIN LONGBOARD PRO ESPINHO

- POWERFUL SURF CHALLENGES EUROPE'S BEST LONGBOARDERS
- EDOUARD DELPERO AND JUSTINE DUPONT SIGNAL TITLE INTENTIONS
- MORE INFORMATION AND FULL REPORT AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Victors Edouard Delpero (FRA) and Justine Dupont (FRA).
Credit: © WSL / Masurel

PRAIA DE BAIA, Espinho - Portugal (Sunday, March 18, 2018) — The Longboard Pro Espinho finished today in size-able surf at Praia de Baia just a stone’s throw from the northern city of Porto.

Justine Dupont and Edouard Delpero of France took to the winners podium after a hard fought battle through two-days of size-able surf.

On the men’s side of the draw Edouard Delpero (FRA) consistently charged through his heats netting several of the event’s highest heat totals by snagging set waves and mixing critical turns with traditional noseriding, a difficult feat today in the challenging surf.

“I just wanted to surf well,” said Delpero of the final. “Ben (Skinner) surfed really good through the event. We both had a lot of trouble paddling out and we both got really smashed. In the two last heats I broke two of my boards, just snapped them.”

After surprise exits by in-form surfers Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) and last year’s champ Emilien Fleury (FRA) the field was open for Delpero and Ben Skinner to advance throughout the day with Skinner taking out Edouard’s brother Antoine in Men’s Round of 16.

“To win would have been great,” said Skinner. “But to be in the final with Edouard is great too. He’s such an amazing surfer and to me, he and his brother Antoine are the two best longboarders in the world. And it was nice to at least take one of them down, but nice to surf against Edouard in the final.”

Event oddities included more several broken boards, a 15-minute paddle out attempt by last year’s champ Emilien Fleury (FRA) as well as an interference by Rémi Arauzo (FRA) in his heat Quarterfinal against Edouard Delpero.

“I was not sure I had priority,” said Delpero. “Like, he put the dog on me and I was going too fast to pull back so I just told myself that if I don’t have priority I’ll just go for it because I was going too fast and there was no way to stop. He didn’t hassle me for the waves so I don’t know why he did that.”

On the women’s side of the draw standouts Chloe Calmon (BRA), Lindsay Steinriede (USA)and Dupont all surfed well, with the conditions ultimately favoring the surfing of big-wave maven Dupont.

Having logged multiple winter sessions at Nazaré and Belharra, Dupont had one game plan in mind throughout the entire event - make it to the outside and get the bigger set waves. And remain calm while doing it.

“My strategy was to go outside and to take the best two waves and to make it through each heat,” said Dupont. “Not to stress and just to go heat-by-heat and to take it easy.”

The Longboard Pro Espinho ran from March 16-18, 2018 and the Junior Pro Espinho will run from March 21-25, 2018 in Espinho, Portugal. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com. 

The Junior and Longboard Pro Espinho are organized by GPDESIGN Brand Communication and Câmara Municipal de Espinho, sponsored by Camara Municipal de Espinho and Suported by Castros Iluminações, Hotels GroupM Espinho, PraiaGolfe Hotel, Padaria Pepim, Comercial Tec, CP-Comboios de Portugal, Greencoast Surfschool,  with media partners: RTP, FuelTV, Porto Canal, MegaHits, Surftotal, BeachCam, and SurfPortugal among others, official forecaster Magicseaweed.

MEN’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 13.50
2. Ben Skinner (GBR) 6.26

MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Heat 1: Ben Skinner (GBR) 16.26 def. Benoit Carpentier (FRA) 8.84
Heat 2: Edouardo Delpero (FRA) 17.83 def. Jack Unsworth (GBR)2.97

MEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Ben Skinner (GBR) 6.73 def. Ben Howey (GBR) 2.57
Heat 2: Benoit Carpentier (FRA) 13.10 def. Alvaro Fernandez (ESP) 7.50
Heat 3: Edouardo Delpero (FRA) 14.90 def. Rémi Arauzo (FRA) 6.17
Heat 4: Jack Unsworth (GBR)12.06 def. Augusto Olinto (BRA) 9.94

MEN’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Ben Howey (GBR) 9.84 def. Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) 5.17
Heat 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) 14.73 def. Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.00
Heat 3: Alvaro Fernandez (ESP) 7.40 def. Federico Nesti (ITA) 5.93
Heat 4: Benoit Carpentier (FRA) 9.23 def. Julian Schweizer (URY) 9.17
Heat 5: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 12.83 def. Evan Rogers (GBR) 2.67
Heat 6: Rémi Arauzo (FRA) 10.44 def. Emilien Fleury (FRA) 5.00
Heat 7: Augusto Olinto (BRA) 6.73 def. Moana Domenech (PYF) 5.74
Heat 8: Jack Unsworth (GBR) 5.84 def. Diogo Goncalves (PRT) 3.44

MEN’S ROUND OF 24 RESULTS
Heat 1: Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) 17.17, Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.83, Joao Dantas (PRT) 10.33
Heat 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) 9.43, Ben Howey (GBR) 6.33, Thierry Andre (FRA) 3.83
Heat 3: Federico Nesti (ITA) 8.83, Julian Schweizer (URY) 7.83, Fabrizio, Gabrielli (ITA) 4.10
Heat 4: Benoit Carpentier (FRA) 10.97, Alvaro Fernandez (ESP) 6.00, Pier Loustau-Lasplaces (FRA) 0.00
Heat 5: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 17.47, Emilien Fleury (FRA) 4.23, Luis Cruz (PRT) 2.63
Heat 6: Rémi Arauzo (FRA) 11.44, Evan Rogers (GBR) 7.86, Aurelien Meynieux (REU) 6.50
Heat 7: Augusto Olinto (BRA) 9.76, Diogo Goncalves (PRT) 6.37, Juan Villasante (ESP) 3.76
Heat 8: Jack Unsworth (GBR) 8.07, Moana Domenech (PYF) 7.50, Robin Henry (FRA) 5.27

MEN’S ROUND 0F 28 RESULTS
Heat 1: Joao Dantas (PRT) 7.33, Ben Howey (GBR) 5.56, Wenderson Bludo (BRA) 5.53
Heat 2: Julian Schweizer (URY) 7.57, Pier Loustau-Lasplaces 2.07, Sebastiao Maia (PRT) 2.04
Heat 3: Emilien Fleury (FRA) 7.57, Aurelien Meynieux (REU) 6.84, Eduardo Bage (BRA) 6.00
Heat 4: Augusto Olinto (BRA) 10.00, Robin Henry (FRA) 4.36, Joao Gama (PRT) 2.44

WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS
1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 10.40
2: Chloe Salmon (BRA) 0.90

WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 8.66 def. Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 4.57
Heat 2: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 5.77 def. Emily Currie (GBR) 4.27

Women’s Quarterfinal Results
Heat 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 13.35 def. Kathleen Barrigao (PRT) 6.94 
Heat 2: Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 7.16 def. Nienke, Dulnemeijer (NLD) 2.03
Heat 3: Emily Currie (GBR) 5.23 def. Jennifer Pendlebury (GBR)2.30
Heat 4: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 9.10 def. Valentini Macroni (ITA) 2.97

Women’s Round of 12
HEAT 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 8.60, Emily Currie (GBR) 6.40, Francesca Rubegni (ITA) 4.20

TAUMATA PUHETINI AND GABRIELA BRYAN VICTORIOUS AT PAPARA PRO OPEN TAHITI  
- OCEAN MACEDO AND KEALA TOMODA-BANNERT FINISH RUNNER-UP 
- BRYAN LEADS WOMEN'S REGIONAL PRO JUNIOR AND QS RANKINGS

Caption: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Taumata Puhetini (PYF) raise their country flags during the closing ceremony at Taharu'u Beach. Credit: © WSL / Rolland

PAPARA, Tahiti, French Polynesia – (Thursday, March 15, 2018) -- Taumata Puhetini (PYF)and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) were victorious today at the Papara Pro Open Tahiti, a World Surf League (WSL) Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 event, after stomping the field of competitors and absolutely dominating their respective final heats against Ocean Macedo (HAW) and Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW).

The Papara Pro Open Tahiti featured four divisions of competition, including a Men’s and Women’s Pro Junior, which Bryan earned runner-up in earlier this week. Today’s win was sweet redemption for the Kauai surfer and she now leads both the Pro Junior and Women’s QS WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui regional rankings.

Puhetini is one of Tahiti’s most talented athletes and earned an even bigger name for himself after today’s win. He went against Macedo in an exciting Hawaii versus Tahiti clash and opened the man-on-man Final with an excellent 9.50 for a backside full rotation air. The projection from Puhetini combined with creative surfing was unparalleled and he ended the competition with a 17.50 combined heat total.


Puhetini had a unique approach and combined maneuvers to earn the top scores of the event. Image: WSL/Rolland

“It feels pretty good, to win at home and represent all the Tahitians, my family and friends, it’s amazing,” said Puhetini. “I know Ocean is a good surfer, he is still pretty young, he’s only 15 years old, but I knew that I had to choose the best waves during the heat and that’s what happened.”

From Papeno‘o, the Tahitian has earned a place among the world’s best, competing in the Billabong Pro Tahiti Men’s Championship Tour (CT) event for the last four years.

“I feel blessed. Everywhere I go surf, like Taharu‘u or my home break Papeno‘o or Teahupo‘o, I feel blessed every day,” Puhetini said.

Macedo tallied a 7.13 and 7.00 in the first few minutes of the Final and fought hard throughout the 30-minute heat, however Puhetini displayed the entire repertoire of judging criteria wave after wave. After earning an 8.00 to backup his near-perfect score, Puhetini combed Macedo, meaning, Macedo needed a combination of two scores to take the lead.


Macedo won his Semifinal heat against Noa Mizuno (HAW) with an 8.33 and 8.50. Image: WSL/Rolland

“It was definitely tough going against someone who knows the break like the back of their hand, but it was really fun,” said Macedo, who won the 2017 Hurley Surf Club Pro Junior at Turtle Bay Resort in October and a slot in the World Junior Championships.

In the women’s division, Bryan was on a tear in the Final, which saw a battle between two hard-charging Kauai surfers. Bryan took off on multiple long, right-handed waves to highlight her impeccable frontside surfing and ended with a 17.33 to take out Tomoda-Bannert.

“It was my goal coming over here to win the QS, and of course the Pro Junior, but I’m so stoked to win my first ever QS and it was super cool to win it here in Tahiti,” said Bryan. “Keala and I have had a lot of heats together and we’re constantly back and forth. She’s a great friend and we surf all the time together, so it was really cool to surf a Final with her.”


Bryan (left) and Tomoda-Bannert both live and surf on the North Shore of Kauai. Image: WSL/Rolland

Bryan is off to a powerful start to 2018 after winning the Sunset Pro Junior in January, placing second in the Papara Pro Junior Vahine earlier this week and now earning the Papara Pro Vahine women's QS 1,000 title.

“I had a list of goals this year and both of them just got ticked off,” Bryan continued. “One of my goals was to win a Pro Junior, one of them was to win a QS. I’ve just been working really hard so it’s cool to finally have all the hard work pay off.”

Tomoda-Bannert was not far behind Bryan’s excellent scores and earned an 8.20 and 7.50 in the Final with excellent wave selection and committed, above the lip surfing. This is the 16-year-old’s best competitive result and first Final appearance in a QS.

“Runner-up feels great, me and Gabi have been competing for a really long time, we live on the same island, we surf the same place every day and I had fun out there with her,” said Tomoda-Bannert. “For the QS, this is my first time going into the Final so I’m happy. I’m real excited for the Pipe Pro. I hope that we can go to Teahupo‘o while we’re still in Tahiti to practice.”


In the Semifinal against 2018 Papara Pro Junior Vahine winner Leila Riccobuano (HAW), Tomoda-Bannert scored a 9.00 and 9.10 for committed attacks like this. Image: WSL/Rolland

The next event in the WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region is the Wahine Pipe Pro QS 1,000 and Pipe Pro Junior, which has a holding window from March 27 – April 3 and takes place at the famed reef break of Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore.

 
RESULTS
Athletes listed in first through fourth, all surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.

Men’s Final
1st – Taumata Puhetini (PYF), 17.50
2nd – Ocean Macedo, 14.03

Women’s Final
1st – Gabriela Bryan, 17.33
2nd – Keala Tomoda-Bannert, 15.70

Men’s Semifinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 3rd place
SF1: Ocean Macedo, Noa Mizuno
SF2: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF)

Women’s Semifinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 3rd place
SF1: Gabriela Bryan, Karelle Poppke (PYF)
SF2: Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Leila Riccobuano

Men’s Quarterfinals, 1st advances, 2nd = 5th place
QF1: Ocean Macedo, Noah Hill (USA)
QF2: Noa Mizuno, Robert Grilho
QF3: Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), Vehiatua Prunier (PYF)
QF4: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), O’Neill Massin (PYF)

Caption: Lakey Peterson (USA) and Julian Wilson (AUS) earned the first CT wins of the year at the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. 
Caption: © WSL /  Sloane

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COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (Thursday, March 15, 2018) - The first stop on the 2018 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast, witnessed an incredible start to the season as Lakey Peterson (USA) and Julian Wilson (AUS)claimed victory today in extraordinary conditions at Kirra on the Gold Coast of Australia. 

Unpredictable performances and massive upsets shocked surfing’s biggest stage at this year’s season opener to remind the world that anything can happen on the Championship Tour. In addition to Peterson and Wilson taking the wins today, a new generation of surfers stepped up to showcase their progression, determination, and potential.  

Peterson blitzed through the competition with the goal to surpass her 2017 Roxy Pro runner-up finish. The Californian was unstoppable as she took down two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in the Quarterfinals, Malia Manuel (HAW) in the Semifinals, and Keely Andrew (AUS) in the Final.


Caption: Lakey Peterson (USA) flies out of a Kirra barrel to earn her first CT victory since 2012. 
Caption: © WSL /  Cestari

“I don’t even know what to say to say -- there is too much emotion,” Peterson said. “I feel like I’ve been working for seven years to get another win. Just to finally have it, it’s super surreal, and I’m so grateful. It beats you down if you don’t ever win something. It’s been a while, so the hard work pays off. I just got such a great support crew. It’s so awesome. Mike [Parsons] and I have literally been working together forever and that win means so much to the both of us.”

Peterson is one of the most consistent high-scoring surfers on Tour and continues to push performance boundaries in the competitive space. The intensity and innovation brought by Peterson are now paying off with her first CT win since 2012. Last season, the Californian had previously earned runner-up finishes at this event and in France but now overtakes Wright for the top spot on the Jeep Leaderboard. 


Caption: Lakey Peterson (USA) celebrates her win at the 2018 Roxy Pro Gold Coast. 
Caption: © WSL /  Sloane

“I’m going to hold onto that Jeep yellow jersey until the very last event,” continued Peterson. “My goal is to stay steady the whole year and just believe in myself and enjoy the ride. I feel like I’m finally comfortable with my life and with my surfing where I just really want to enjoy it. Thanks to the WSL for giving us such great conditions today, and pushing us and really helping us elevate our level. It’s just such a fun time to be a part of it all, and I just feel humbled and blessed to be here doing what I love.”

Peterson dominated the Final from the get-go, posting an excellent 8.00 point ride for a long barrel ride. She then backed it up immediately with a 7.67, leaving Andrew in a combination situation (needing two scores). Andrew was unable to find a wave of substance, which left Peterson to take the first event win of 2018. 

Previously, Andrew took down Australian superstar Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Semifinals and six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarterfinals. The runner-up result for Andrew is the second Finals appearance of her career. Andrew, who powerfully charged into the new season, will look to continue to climb the rankings and earn her first CT victory. The 23-year-old Australian will now vault from 11th to 2nd on the Jeep Leaderboard. 

Wilson has had a rollercoaster start to his season after injuring his shoulder in late January, then welcoming his child into the world with his wife, Ashley, last week. The Sunshine Coast local was unsure if he would compete at this event but surprised all with the first win of the season and the fourth CT win of his career. 

“This is a childhood dream come true to come down from the Sunshine Coast and win the Quiksilver Pro,” Wilson said. “This is the closest event to home for me and watching guys win this event when I was younger is what lit the fire for me to want to be on Tour, so to win, is very special. I learned a lot about myself at this event, and through this injury, and the birth of my baby girl, Olivia, and my wife, Ashley. Honestly, watching the birth of my first child gave me an unbelievable strength to just suck up the pain in my shoulder, and come down here, and do what I needed to do. My wife has been a huge inspiration through the whole experience, so I want to thank Ashley for that."

Wilson has always been in the World Title conversation, but this win provides the 29-year-old with his best ever start to his Title campaign. Wilson will sport the yellow Jeep Leader Jersey heading into the next stop on the CT, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition, which startsMarch 28 and runs through April 8, 2018. 

"I’m happy to have a better result in Australia than I did after all three events in Australia last year," continued Wilson. "There’s a massive positive in that. I’m looking forward to Bells, to compete again and work off this injury.”


Caption: Today's win for Julian Wilson (AUS) at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast now moves him to the top spot on the Jeep Leaderboard. 
Caption: © WSL /  Sloane

The intense men’s Final saw the two Australians, Wilson and Adrian Buchan (AUS), punch wave-for-wave, fighting their way out of massive tubes for the win. Wilson kicked off the heat with a fiery start, a near-perfect 9.93, by coming out of a huge barrel. Wilson and Buchan continued to charge the Kirra sets, resulting in a close race for first. Buchan attacked back with a 6.50 and an 8.60 but was unable to overtake his compatriot. 

Having won two CT events in his career, Buchan is no stranger to the pressure on the big stage. The technically-gifted, rail-surfer moved through the field with precision, even on the final day, where the hollow Kirra waves would put most goofy-footers at a disadvantage. In the end, Buchan was up against the ropes with a rampaging Wilson running away with the lead, but he admitted that he was happy to finish second to his close friend.  

“Obviously you want to win events, but I’m so happy to see Julian [Wilson] take this one out,” Buchan said. “I know he’s had so much to deal with recently with his injury and becoming a father, so this win would feel so amazing for him. Sharing pumping Kirra with one other person out -- who happens to be your mate -- is incredible. I don’t think you could ask for anything better than that.” 

Griffin Colapinto (USA), the standout rookie from San Clemente California, amazed the world today with the first Perfect 10 of the 2018 CT season. Colapinto miraculously made his way out of three deep barrels in one wave to set the bar for the new season. 

“I’ve never had three barrels on one wave so it felt amazing, particularly in a heat,” Colapinto said. “I think it was the best wave of my life. I’m so happy to get third in my first event. I’m loving the CT and hope I won’t be going anywhere for a very long time. I’m loving it here in Australia, the people on the Gold Coast are the best.”

The 19-year-old has been outshining surfing’s veterans in the first event of his rookie season, including his wins over Joel Parkinson (AUS), the 2012 WSL Champion and Gold Coast favorite, and veteran Michel Bourez (PYF). Unfortunately, Colapinto was unable to advance out of his Semifinal matchup against Wilson but will still exit as the rising-star of the event. All eyes will be on the young challenger this season to see how far he will push professional surfing in his rookie year. 

Owen Wright (AUS), 2017 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner, was stopped in the first Quarterfinal by Buchan after struggling to find a rhythm at Kirra. Wright will exit with a 5th place result, moving to 5th on the Jeep Leaderboard. 

Earlier today, rookie Tomas Hermes (BRA) delivered another shock to the first event of the year by eliminating Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the Quarterfinals. Toledo’s result will boost him from 10th to equal 5th on the Jeep Leaderboard. Hermes’ Semifinal result blasts him up to 3rd on the rankings and well in the 2018 Rookie of the Year race. 

The world’s best surfers will now head to Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, Stop No. 2 on the WSL Championship Tour, starting March 28 through April 8, 2018. 

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Final Results:
1 - Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.43
2 - Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.10

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.00 def. Tomas Hermes (BRA) 9.17
SF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.77 def. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.66

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.50 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 2.50 
QF 2: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 8.73 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.33
QF 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.44 def. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 10.00
QF 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 16.43 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.44

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Final Results:
1 - Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.67
2 - Keely Andrew (AUS) 5.67

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Results:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.00 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.33
Heat 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) 7.50 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 6.77

2018 WSL Men’s CT Jeep Leaderboard (After Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):
1 -Julian Wilson (AUS) 10,000 pts
2 - Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7,800 pts
3 - Griffin Colapinto (USA) 6,085 pts
3 - Tomas Hermes (BRA) 6,085 pts

2018 Women’s CT Jeep Leaderboard (After Roxy Pro Gold Coast):
1 -Lakey Peterson (USA) 10,000 pts
2 - Keely Andrew (AUS) 7,800 pts
3 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 6,085 pts
3 - Malia Manuel (HAW) 6,085 pts

KAULI VAAST AND LEILA RICCOBUANO TAKE HOME FIRST WINS AT PAPARA PRO JUNIOR IN TAHITI 
- WYATT MCHALE LEADS REGIONAL JUNIOR RATINGS AFTER RUNNER UP FINISH
- KAUAI'S GABRIELA BRYAN EARNS 9.0 IN FINAL

Caption: Papara Pro Junior winners Kauli Vaast (FRA) and Leila Riccobuano (PYF) during the awards ceremony at Taharuu Beach. Credit: © WSL / Lienard

PAPARA, Tahiti, French Polynesia – (Monday, March 12, 2018) -- Kauli Vaast (FRA) and Leila Riccobuano (HAW) were victorious today at the Papara Pro Junior, each taking home their very first professional wins over formidable Hawaii finalists. A World Surf League (WSL) Men’s and Women’s Pro Junior, the event will count toward regional rankings for the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region - the ultimate goal being a slot into the 2018 World Junior Championships. The win also bodes well momentum-wise for the pair as they head into the Men’s and Women’s Papara Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, which begins tomorrow.

Vaast and Riccobuano both displayed smart surfing from start to finish and confident approaches in the shifting lineup, powering through ten hours of competition in 3-4ft surf at Papara. A Tahitian standout, Vaast had to dramatically change his approach to succeed at the beach break, since his home break of Teahupo‘o features heaving barrels over razor-sharp reef. His versatility – from powerful turns to progressive airs – is what landed him today’s win.

“Feels good because the conditions were hard and I am happy to win,” said Vaast. “I live in Teahupo‘o so I surf only the reef, so when I came here it was not like Teahupo‘o, it’s hard and I’m happy to win on this beach break. When I started the contest I was thinking, ‘I just want to pass my first heat,’ and when I came in the Final I was like, ‘okay I just want to surf,’ and I got two good waves and I won. I work really hard with my dad, he helps me surf everywhere, Hira (Teriinatoofa), he coaches me sometimes here. Thank you to my sponsor and my family and everyone for this contest.”


Vaast's quick surfing and backhand attack was a true standout from today's competition. Image: WSL/Thomas

The Men’s Final opened with the second-highest score of the heat, a 7.75 from Vaast, who unleashed a series of maneuvers on his backhand and claimed an early lead. But with a flurry of waves gracing the lineup, there was plenty of scoring opportunities for the other three finalists and Noah Hill (USA) opened his campaign with his two best rides of the 25-minute heat, a 5.50 and 6.65. Hill, the 2016 Papara Pro Junior winner, tallied up scores and battled Vaast for first place. The two international surfers traded waves for the first half of the heat until eventual runner-up Wyatt McHale (HAW) asserted his dominance by jumping from fourth to second after backing up his 6.25 with a 5.95.

“Kauli was just smashing it the whole time and I saw that I was in fourth, but second wasn’t that far away,” said McHale. “So at the end I figured I might as well go for second and bump up a few points, so that’s what I did and I got a few little ones.”

McHale is coming off a final appearance at the Sunset Pro Junior, the first regional junior event of the year that took place in January, and talked about his goals for 2018. “I’m definitely pretty stoked, obviously the goal is to win, but runner-up is good and to follow that up after my fourth place at Sunset, I’m pretty stoked to be consistent and hopefully get one more good result before the end of the year,” McHale continued. “I definitely want to qualify for World Juniors and if I could win the region that would be awesome too, but main goal is World Juniors.”

The Final was extremely close and McHale took second place by only five-hundredths of a point from Hill. In similar fashion, Hill earned third place by less than half a point over fourth place finisher Sage Tutterow (HAW), who maintained a solid rhythm throughout the Final and surfed a total of nine waves with a combined heat total of 11.90. After today’s excellent placing, the Kauai native now sits among the top five on the regional rankings, with McHale claiming the top spot.

In the Women’s division, it was an all-Hawaii Final featuring Riccobuano, Gabriela Bryan (Kauai), Luana Coelho Silva (North Shore, Oahu) and Keala Tomoda-Bannert (Kauai). In an impressive display of power and commitment, the surfers unleashed their best and went head-to-head for the win, with Bryan posting a near-perfect 9.0 and Coelho Silva in the lead for majority of the heat. But Riccobuano tallied two strong scores – a 7.35 and 6.50 – to victory, the first of her entire surfing career.

“Oh my goodness, I’ve never won a Menehune or anything until today and I am so excited and so happy,” said Riccobuano. “It took hard work, and I didn’t have the best first or second heat, but I kind of pulled it together. It was so stressful, I was so happy it was an all-Hawaii Final because they’re all my friends and we hang out all the time and it was really fun.”


Smart surfing and a confident backhand earned Riccobuano her maiden WSL win. Image: WSL/Rolland

Riccobuano earned runner-up at the Papara Pro Junior last year and bettered her regional standings with today’s win to take the No. 2 spot behind Bryan. “I’m staying with Gabi, which is kind of funny,” Riccobuano continued. “I was so stressed out during the Final, I knew I had like a couple seconds left to get one more score because since she had a 9 she just needed to get another one and I don’t know how I did it, but I did it.”

Bryan held onto priority for a good portion of the Final and with five minutes on the clock, nailed three beautiful turns on her forehand for a 9.0 – the best score of the day – and the lead.

“I was in fourth before that and it was very slow so I knew all I had to do was wait because I couldn’t get a good score on a small wave,” said Bryan. “So it came, I got a 9 and then I knew that I had to back it and I just ran out of time.”

Bryan hopes to carry her confidence into the Papara Pro Vahine QS 1,000 and has been training hard in all conditions to prepare for the year.

“I’ve been working really hard and training a lot and just practicing in all conditions because if you can get high scores in any waves you’ll be better off in contests,” Bryan continued. “Hopefully at the Turtle Bay Resort Pro Junior I can claim the regional title for the Junior division and go to Worlds, that would be really awesome. So heading into that final Pro Junior of the year, my goal is to obviously win and come out on top for the overall rankings.”

The Papara Pro Men’s and Women’s QS 1,000 will likely get a start tomorrow around 7:30amlocal time, with Round 1 of the Men hitting the water first. The Papara Pro Open features four different divisions including a Men's and Women's QS 1,000 and a Men's and Women's Pro Junior, and has a holding period of March 11 - 16. Live scoring will be available on WorldSurfLeague.com and the Papara Pro event pages, and the final day of competition will be broadcast LIVE by Polynesie 1re at http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/. 
 
 
RESULTS
Athletes listed in first through fourth, all surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.

Men’s Final
1st – Kauli Vaast (PYF), 16.00
2nd – Wyatt McHale, 12.20
3rd – Noah Hill (USA), 12.15
4th – Sage Tutterow, 11.90

Women’s Final
1st – Leila Riccobuano, 13.85
2nd – Gabriela Bryan, 12.25
3rd – Luana Coelho-Silva, 12.25
4th – Keala Tomoda-Bannert, 8.10

Men’s Semifinals, 1st and 2nd advanced, 3rd = 5th place, 4th = 7th place
SF1: Noah Hill (USA), Wyatt McHale, Ryder Guest, Cole Alves
SF2: Sage Tutterow, Kauli Vaast (PYF), Luke Swanson, Maxime Ratia (PYF)

Women’s Semifinals, 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 5th place, 4th = 7th place
SF1: Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Leila Riccobuano, Aelan Vaast (PYF), Kelta O’Rourke
SF2: Gabriela Bryan, Luana Coelho Silva, Ariana Shewry, Savanna Stone

Men’s Quarterfinals, 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 9th place, 4th = 13th place
QF1: Ryder Guest, Cole Alves, Warren Pecket (PYF), Eimeo Czermak (PYF)
QF2: Noah Hill (USA), Wyatt McHale, Levi Young, Kayam Amar (ISR)
QF3: Kauli Vaast (PYF), Maxime Ratia (PYF), Logan Bediamol, Makana Franzmann
QF4: Luke Swanson, Sage Tutterow, Robert Grilho, Elijah Hanneman

Women’s Quarterfinals, 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 9th place, 4th = 13th place
QF1: Leila Riccobuano, Aelan Vaast (PYF), Ynes Balcon-Mouzaoui (PYF)
QF2: Keala Tomoda-Bannert, Kelta O’Rourke, Tehani Tafaatau (PYF), Gillian McKenzie
QF3: Savanna Stone, Luana Coelho Silva, Tiana-Breeze De Mooij (NZL), Heimiti Fierro (PYF)
QF4: Gabriela Bryan, Ariana Shewry (NZL), Angelina Yossa, Kai Corrie

Men’s Round 1 (Round of 32), 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 17th place, 4th = 25th place
H1: Warren Peckett (PYF), Levi Young, Kalani Rivero, Jaques Monchau (PYF)
H2: Cole Alves, Kayam Amar (ISR), Dylan Franzmann, Manakei Kahiha (PYF)
H3: Noah Hill (USA), Ryder Guest, Kainehe Hunt, Felix Bourgoin (PYF)
H4: Wyatt McHale, Eimeo Czermak (PYF), Brodi Sale, Keanu Taylor
H5: Makana Franzmann, Sage Tutterow, Haumana Ateni (PYF), Ocean Macedo
H6: Kauli Vaast (PYF), Robert Grilho, Erwan Figuri (PYF), Makana Pang
H7: Luke Swanson, Logan Bediamol, Zac Hedemann, Tamahei Temu (PYF)
H8: Elijah Hanneman, Maxime Ratia (PYF), Gavin Hogan, Stellio Bobet (PYF)

Men’s Trials Heat, top three advance to Round 1
H1: Warren Peckett (PYF), Stellio Bobet (PYF), Keanu Taylor, Haunui David (PYF)

Caption: Third-year CT surfer Keely Andrew (AUS) upset the competition today by eliminating 6x WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarterfinals of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast. 
Caption: © WSL /  Sloane

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COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (Monday, March 12, 2018) - The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Stop No. 1 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), continued today with the women’s Semifinalists decided in clean three-to-four foot (1 - 1.2 metre) waves. With the conditions holding up all day, event officials decided to run through Rounds 2, 3, and the Quarterfinals. Now only four surfers remain in contention for the 2018 Roxy Pro Gold Coast title. 

In what was undoubtedly the upset of the entire event, six-time Roxy Pro Gold Coast event winner Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) was taken down by fellow Queenslander Keely Andrew (AUS). Six-time WSL Champion Gilmore looked in good touch throughout the day but fell victim to a slow ocean in Quarterfinal 4 waiting with priority until the final minutes, only to find a midrange score. Needing to improve her situation in the dying seconds, Andrew took off on a smaller wave and got to work, tagging it all the way down the point to post a 6-point ride and progress into the Semifinals. Gilmore finishes her home event in a respectable Equal 5th position.  

“I’m a bit shocked right now,” Andrew said. “Surfing out here against Steph [Gilmore] at her home break was incredible. The waves looked fun all day, but it slowed down a lot in our Quarterfinal. I was so nervous because she only needed a small score, and I only found out that I’d won when I got back to the surfer’s area. I’ve worked really hard in the offseason and it feels so good to know that the hard work has paid off.”

2017 Roxy Pro Gold Coast runner-up Lakey Peterson (USA) was in ominous form today. The Californian posted excellent scores all the way to the Quarterfinals where she eventually eliminated reigning WSL Champion and current World No. 1, Tyler Wright (AUS). Peterson’s trademark frontside arcs sent a shot over the bow of her fellow competitors as she hunts for her first CT Victory since 2012. 

“It’s crazy -- it’s only two days into the season and I’m into the Semis,” Peterson said. “We’ve had perfect, quintessential Snapper today with long perfect waves and sunshine. Tyler [Wright] is a two-time World Champion for a reason and she’s someone I look up to, but I always feel like I surf my best against the best. The only option I had to beat her was for me to surf my best, so I couldn’t hold back. There was nothing I could do to change her surfing, so I just focused on mine and it worked out in the end.”


Caption: Californian Lakey Peterson (USA) will advance to the Semifinals after defeating 2x WSL Champion and Jeep Frontrunner, Tyler Wright (AUS), in the Quaterfinals. 
Caption: © WSL /  Sloane

After an injury-plagued 2017 season, Hawaii’s Malia Manuel comes into 2018 with the aim of involving herself heavily in the World Title conversation from the start of the season. The stylish natural-footer has already achieved this with an amazing display at Snapper Rocks. Manuel’s best performance came in Quarterfinal 2 where she posted one of the highest heat totals of the event, a 15.83 (out of a possible 20), to overcome three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), who leaves in Equal 5th place. 

“I’ve met Carissa [Moore] in the Quarters a couple of times here in the past and she’s beaten me every single time,” Manuel said. “I remember some of those matchups and they were a bit slow and hard to choose what waves to take, but today we had so many waves and this is exactly what you want from your first event of the year. This will be my first Semi at Snapper and it’s a great start to the year for me. Hopefully, I can use this momentum as it’s a long year ahead.”

Current World No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) looked destined to end up in the Semifinals as she tore through the field at Snapper Rocks. In Quarterfinal 3, she had the tough task of challenging 2018 CT Rookie Caroline Marks (USA) -- who had been taking down the big names all day -- with an impressive display of backhand surfing. Marks’ run came to an end at the hands of Fitzgibbons who was on fire, posting the highest heat total of the entire event, a 16.57 (out of a possible 20).

“It feels so good to be out there on a dreamy day like this,” Fitzgibbons said. “The waves have this perfect shape to them. I was out there in my own world enjoying surfing and I’ve found myself in the Semis. It’s been an exciting day to watch. There’s been a lot of excellent surfing and fins being thrown and I really enjoy the progressive side of the sport. I’ve been having so much fun in my freesurfs, and I’ve been trying to bring some of that into my heat surfing.”

Although Marks was unable to overcome Fitzgibbons, she finishes her first CT event as a rookie in Equal 5th after taking down some of surfing's biggest names including Sage Erickson (USA),Silvana Lima (BRA), and Gilmore. 

“I think a few years ago, I would have been star-struck and not sure of what to do out there,” Marks said. “But now, even though they’re my idols, I really want to beat them and go and out and perform and win. Today wasn’t my day, but I just need to focus on the positives.”

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. AEST for a potential 7:00 a.m.start. 

Surfline, WSL forecast partner, is calling for:

Mid period, mid size E swell from former Cyclone Hola will likely build in through Tuesday. Confidence is increasing that a new low/tropical cyclone will set up larger ENE to E swell Wed-Thu, easing slowly into and over the weekend as the swell direction shifts more ESE/SE. Long range guidance points to more mid size ESE/SE swell around the last couple days of the event window.

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.06 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 8.10
Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.33 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 11.16
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.40
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.17 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.80
Heat 5: Keely Andrew (AUS) 15.33 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.50
Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.76 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.27

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.26, Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.76, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.64
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.96, Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.04, Coco Ho (HAW) 11.86
Heat 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.17, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.40, Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.76
Heat 4: Keely Andrew (AUS) 14.97, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.16, Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.53

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results: 
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.23 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.67
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.83 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.60
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.57 def. Caroline Marks (USA) 13.77
Heat 4: Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.87 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 10.83

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Matchups: 
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Matchups:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 3: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Michael February (ZAF)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Heat 7: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs, Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 10: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 11: Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 12: Jesse Mendes (BRA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)