Bianca Buitendag has finished second at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks. It’s the best result the Vic Bay local has registered during the nine events she has contested on the Dream Tour since qualifying as a rookie in 2013, and it ensures she heads to the next event at Margaret River ranked second in the world.
Starting the day with a solid win over Californian Lakey Peterson in the semi-finals, Bianca was looking to be the first backhand surfer since Chelsea Hedges in 2007 to win at Snappers. To do that she was going to need to beat one of the Gold Coast’s best, 5-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore.
Stephanie Gilmore proved the one to beat at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
To claim her spot in the final against Bianca, Steph surfed a tough semi-final battle with current world champ, Carissa Moore (HAW).
The two tallest competitors on the Women’s Dream Tour paddled out to do battle. Stephanie started strongly, while Bianca looked nervous and fell on some crucial turns – maneouvres she was executing with ease and style in the earlier rounds of competition. With the tide filling in fast, Steph used her local knowledge and forehand advantage to sit closer to the rocks, picking off the better waves in the heat and amassing a total of 15.80pts, which left Bianca in a combination situation as the final horn sounded.
Bianca with her coach Mathias Maallem, scanning the lineup at Snapper Rocks.
Still, Bianca will be stoked with her result on the Gold Coast. She can file the result as ‘a lesson in Finals surfing learnt’ and will head to Margaret River, predominantly a powerful left-hander, ranked second in the world and with her right foot forward.
Check out the heat reviews and highlights on www.aspworldtour.com.
* After claiming US$25,000 prize money for finishing runner-up, Bianca announced that she would be donating her winnings to charity. What a champ! See her post heat interview below.
And promptly donated all her winnings from the event to 3 local charities – class act in and out of the water and great ambassador for SA surfing.
yup..,pure class right there…what a freaken legend..
You heard her with Rosie”This year is to be dedicated to God”.
You can see her pray at the beginning of each heat ….such a strong individual.
Heart of gold right there.