Sally Fitzgibbons claims victory at Newcastle’s Surfest

NEWCASTLE, NSW/Australia

Sally Fitzgibbons dominated the surf winning the ASP 6-Star Hunter Ports Women’s Classic on Saturday at Merewether beach making this her second ASP win in a row. Wave selection proved difficult, however, Fitzgibbons managed to edge out Malia Manuel’s (HAW) impressive maneuvers of which she performed so smoothly earlier in the day as she eliminated the reigning ASP Women’s World Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW) in the Quarterfinals of Newcastle’s 2012 Surfest.

“Today was a bit of a struggle to find the good ones,” Fitzgibbons said. “I just had to pick the eyes out of it to find the best waves. The competitive rhythm is back and it’s all feeling good. The first few events this year have gone really well for me. I finished 3rd on the Gold Coast which is good, but also tough not to make the Final. There are things I’ve learned and I’ll use them at Bells. As a 13-year-old we had a Pro Junior event here at Merewether and I was just a little grommet and I took it out, so Newcastle is a special place for me.”

HUNTER PORTS WOMEN’S CLASSIC FINAL RESULT:

1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.70 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.00

HUNTER PORTS WOMEN’S CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS: SF

1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.20 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 12.17 SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.04 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.00

HUNTER PORTS WOMEN’S CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: QF

1: Sage Erickson (USA) 14.93, def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.93 QF 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.66 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.17 QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.34 def. Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 10.37 QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.84 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.50

SURFSPOTS-GPS