The first ever Women’s WCT event at Trestles got underway yesterday in clean head high peaks. The Swatch Women’s Pro is the seventh stop on the 2014 Women’s World Championship Tour, and the high scores registered throughout the opening day were testament to just how rippable the waves were.
The sea-green walls at Lower Trestles in Round 1 looked similar to a fun day at Vic Bay, which is the reason – we like to think – that Bianca Buitendag top-scored. The Southern Cape local carved, smashed and stylishly flowed on her two counting rides to score a heat total of 17.36 (out of 20). How’s this for style…
Bianca’s Round 1 victory over Lakey Peterson (USA) and good friend Joanne Defay (FRA) ensured that she skipped Round 2 and straight into the third, where she faced Tyler Wright (AUS) and Alessa Quizon (HAW). The world number three, Tyler, took out the win in the non-elimination heat and secured her spot in the Quarter Finals. This relegated Bianca to a tough Round 5 heat with Australian Dimity Stoyle, where she will have to win in order to advance.
Stephanie Gilmore was ripping in Round 3.
Although Bianca top-scored in Round 1, five-time world champ, Steph Gilmore, tore the Trestles peaks apart in Round 3 for the opening day’s highest heat total – 17.83 out of 20 points. The eternally stoked Australian currently lies fourth on the world rankings, and will be aiming for victory at the Swatch Women’s Pro to put more pressure on the Top 3.
Watch all the heat reviews and check out all the results on aspworldtour.com
