Billabong Girls Easter Surf Festival

Surfing Queensland
Maroochydore QLD
15 - 18 April

“World’s Best Bundled Out”

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 April, 2006 : - - A day of upsets on the Sunshine Coast has seen world tour surfers Trudy Todd (Coolangatta) and Samantha Cornish (Crescent Head) eliminated in the second round of the Billabong Girls Easter Surf Festival at Maroochydore.

World number three ranked Cornish was bundled out of the 1 Star Rated World Qualifying Series (WQS) event by former top tier competitor Pauline Menczer (Ocean Shores) and Central Coast surfer Melissa Sherringham while fifth ranked Todd was convincingly beaten by West Australian Sarah Beardmore and Caloundra’s Linda Fisher.

Both surfers struggled in the blustery 1m conditions, failing to post any score higher than a two-point ride in their respective heats.In contrast to the shock loss of the top ranked pair, fellow World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers Silvana Lima (BRZ) and Serena Brooke (Coolangatta) had little problems moving through to tomorrow’s Quarter Finals from their round two match-up’s.

Noosa’s Rebecca Oakley became the second local surfer through to the Quarter Finals after progressing in second position from her opening heat of competition behind Tweed Heads surfer Lauren McGregor. Both McGregor and 19-year-old Oakley narrowly edged out Jessica Hickson (Boomerang Beach) and Ayla Whitney (Thirroul) in today’s second round.

In a day of low scoring heats, it was former pro Menczer and 15-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons who broke the mold, posting strong wins and emerging as early favourites. Dynamic South Coast surfer Fitzgibbons (Gerroa) won four divisions at the Billabong Girls Easter Surf Festival in 2005 including a career best result after finishing runner up to Rebecca Woods (Copacabana) in the 1 Star Rated WQS component.

Only entered in three divisions this year, the young natural footer started strongly in her second round WQS heat, winning comfortably over Nicola Atherton (Bronte), eliminating Cecelia Enriquez (USA) and Angie Koops (NZ). “The waves are just like last year,” said Fitzgibbons. “There are some really fun little left and right peaks with double-ups that are running through to the beach.”

“I’m a bit older now so I have only entered three divisions this year, I just want to concentrate on those.” “Silvana and the other WCT girls just rip, but if I can focus on just catching my own waves and surfing my own heat I should be able to do well.” The 15-year-old has already won two Australasian Pro Junior events in 2006, defeating her older opponent Atherton in the final on both occasions.

Her two wave total of 14.75 out of a possible 20 was enough to win the heat easily over Atherton’s 10.40 and secure the rounds highest combined score. “I have surfed against Nicola a lot this year and I guess it is just the luck of the draw that I have won,” said Fitzgibbons. “The waves have just come my way.”

Fitzgibbons will face Atherton again in the Quarter Finals in what is proving the most anticipated heats of the event to date. The pair will surf against Brazilian WCT surfer Lima and former top ranked star Amee Donohoe (MacMasters Beach). The Billabong Girls Easter Surf Festival will finalise on Tuesday with Maroochydore being the most likely venue.

The Billabong Girls Easter Surf Festival is supported by Vodafone, Sea FM, Surfing Australasia and Surfing Queensland.

WQS Quarter Final Match-Ups
Quarter 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS) Silvana Lima (BRZ) Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) Nicola Atherton (AUS)
Quarter 2: Lauren McGregor (AUS) Rebecca Oakley (AUS) Serena Brooke (AUS) Tara Christie (AUS)
Quarter 3: Pauline Menczer (AUS), Melissa Sherringham (AUS) Lyndsay Noyes (AUS) Mischa Davis (NZ)
Quarter 4: Sarah Beardmore (AUS) Linda Fisher (AUS) Jenny Quam (USA) Airini Mason (NZ)

Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au