In cooking waves much like she’d ride back home in Vic Bay, Bianca Buitendag carved to victory over wildcard Bethany Hamilton in Round 2 of the Swatch Women’s Pro at Trestles.
Bianca Buitendag showed great style in Round 3.
The Southern Cape local started the match-up strong with a score of 8.50 on her opening ride for a series of well-timed backhand hooks. Bethany, who became a mom recently on 1 June, took some time to get into rhythm. And by the time the Hawaiian did, Bianca had already added to her opening score with a solid 7.60, which left Bethany needing a combination of scores to take the win.
While her three month-old baby Tobias and his father, Adam, watched on, Bethany fought back strong with a 7.53 halfway through the heat, leaving herself with a requirement of 8.57 to seal victory.
Bianca then picked up another 7-point right, while Bethany tried to find the score she needed on a pair of lefts. They weren’t offering as much scoring potential though, and she had one last shot at a right with only two minutes remaining. Bethany started the ride well with some good backhand turns, but fell and was unable to complete the ride.
Bethany Hamilton was ripping but found her rhythm too late against the world number 4.
Bianca advanced to Round 3, where she faces Lakey Petersen (USA) and Californian Sage Erickson – who recorded Round 2’s highest heat total – in a non-elimination match-up.
After Round 2 of the Swatch Women’s Pro was completed, the men took to the water for Round 2 of the Hurley Pro, and there was nearly an upset in the very first heat; Filipe Toledo (BRA), one of the favourites to take the title at Lowers, just squeaked through to Round 3 over wildcard Ian Crane (USA), who came out firing with a 7.33 that he backed-up with an excellent 9.10. Filipe fought back with an 8.00, before grabbing the score he needed with a composed finish on his last wave to earn an 8.50.
Heat 7 did end in upset for John John Florence though, who looked out of rhythm against Glenn Hall (IRE). Another early exit for the Hawaiian who is still surfing with an ankle brace following injury.
Parko was ripping and advanced to Round 3 with an 18.74 total.
Joel Parkinson put together the highest total of the day in Heat 9, when he combo-ed CJ Hobgood (USA) with a combined score of 18.74. Miguel Pupo then defeated Michel Bourez (PYF) in the final heat before contest organisers called it a day.
Two more match-ups remain in Round 2 before the Round 3 draw can be decided. Go to worldsurfleague.com to review the heats and see all the photos and results from yesterday’s action.
