Courtney Conlogue has won the 2016 Women’s Rip Curl Pro. The Californian sealed the win by 0.10 over two-time winner, Sally Fitzgibbons in an explosive final. Conlogue fought back after the Australian controlled much of the heat. With ten minutes remaining the American scratched into one of the best waves of the day, earning herself a 9.03 with a series of searing carves and switchblade snaps.
A runner up at the first event of the season at Snapper Rocks, Conlogue continued to build on her momentum throughout the week securing the win along with the yellow jersey and now finds herself ranked number one in the world.
“Ever since I was little I was watching Bells, said the Californian after the win. “I’ve always grown up wanting it so to finally win is like, ‘yeah I did’. To have Sally in the final … those are the best wins.”
Conlogue was forced to withdraw from the event in 2014 after suffering an ankle injury in a freesurfing incident. In 2015 she surfed her way into world title contention, falling just short in the final event of the season. Throughout her time at Bells the Californian has made a point of being first in the lineup each morning and surfing in all conditions.
“I’m putting a lot of time in to every single location and just trying to make it work out. I can give myself the best opportunity on form and make it to the finish line.”
The Californian attributes her mental fortitude to solid preparation and is looking forward to putting together a successful world title campaign in 2016.
“I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I don’t think there’s any reason to overthink things. I’ve given myself a good start and I just have to keep applying everything that I’ve learnt in the last year and put the time in.”
In other results, Carissa Moore threw down the hammer in the quarterfinals against Stephanie Gilmore. The Hawaiian put together the highest heat total of the day with an 18.87 heat total dropping a 9.00 and 8.60 to take the win. Moore fell to Sally Fitzgibbons in the semis.
Tatiana Western-Webb continued her blistering form on the CT taking home a third place finish at Bells Beach. The Hawaiian fell to eventual event winner, Conlogue in the semis but not before taking the Californian down to the wire and throwing down a few backside hooks that had the crowd screaming “Occy!”
Courtney Conlogue rings the Bells. Photo: WSL/CestariRip Curl Women’s Pro Final Results:
1 –
Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.53
2 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.43
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.16 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.37
SF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.83 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 15.67
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.60 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 13.33
QF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 19.23 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.26
QF 3: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.00 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.13
QF 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.67 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.67
2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Top 5 (after Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach):
1. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 18,000 pts
2. Tyler Wright (AUS) 15,200 pts
3. Carissa Moore (HAW) 13,000 pts
4. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 11,700 pts
5. Joanne Defay (FRA) 11,700 pts
