BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Wednesday, April 20, 2011) Reigning four-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore (Aus) showcased a strong return to form in round one of the Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells presented Ford Fiesta.
The 23 year old surfed with confidence and utilized her classic point style to post a heat tally of 16.30 and advance directly into round three of the ASP world tour event.
Gilmore's trademark cutback was a highlight of the heat, defeating tour rookie Courtney Conlogue (USA) and wildcard Bethany Hamilton (Hawaii).
American Conlouge opened strongly but then fell on crucial rides to finish with a heat total of 9.00. Hamilton suffered a slow heat to finish with a heat total of 6.50 (out of a possible 20).
2011 ASP Women's World Tour debutant Pauline Ado (FRA) caused a major upset outpointing world number 1 Carissa Moore (Haw) in their opening round one heat.
Ado, who has previously won a junior event at Bells, surfed with speed and precision on the Rincon high tide. The French star used better wave selection to hold out a strong challenge by Moore who is now relegated into tomorrow's sudden death round two heats.
Ado said she could not relax until the siren as Moore was always capable of obtaining a high score.
A disappointed Moore said it was not the result she was after.
Ado finished with a heat total of 14.60, nudging out Moore on 14.44 and Aussie wildcard Nikki Van Dijk's 10.63.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Mandy McKinnon Email: mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com +61 (0) 417 079941
RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.93, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.70, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.66
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.94, Laura Enever (AUS) 8.84, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.54
Heat 3: Pauline Ado (HAW) 14.60, Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.44, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 10.63
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.30, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 9.00, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 6.50
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.10, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 12.83 Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.47
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.90, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.00, Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.37
RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Rebecca Woods
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