Ageing Australian bewilders younger opponents on epic Rip Curl Finals Day!
In one of sport’s great comeback stories, the Australian Stephanie Gilmore has sucked the juice out of the universe to win her eighth world title at Lower Trestles, California.
Gilmore, who is thirty-four, came into Finals Day rated fifth in the world and, according to the format, had to win three consecutive heats to get a shot at the reigning champ Carissa Moore in a best-of-three showdown for the crown.
In deteriorating two-to-three-foot surf, Gilmore rode the crumbling little waves in a hypnotically rhythmic manner, for no reason is she regarded as the most stylish surfer on earth, to beat the younger Hawaiian in two straight heats.
BeachGrit readers will recall how, four days ago, Nick Carroll drove his considerable sword into Stephanie Gilmore’s world title hopes in a sizzling interview on the Ain’t That Swell podcast.
“I will say she’s got absolutely no chance of winning this world title,” said the sixty-three-year-old Carroll, described as “his Holy Frothness” for a storied forty-year-plus career in surf media.
Moore made the grand error of failing to catch the first wave of heat one, leaving Gilmore to surf with all the authority of a broken nerve in a tooth.
“It’s been a story of momentum today for Steph,” said Kelly Slater.
“Fuck yeah!” screamed Gilmore after the win. “It’s been a wild day!”
Still, said the champ, “This year belongs to Carissa Moore. She’s the real world champ!”
The win, Gilmore’s eighth, smashes Layne Beachley’s record for most world titles.
Epic.
So we’re not gonna talk about Steph’s “I wanted to prove this sistem wrong” remark at her lineup interview?? It seems someone scolded her back at the beach, so she “loved the format” afterwards…
Incredible performance from Gilmore. Surfed at a much higher level than the rest.
There is a new queen of trestles !
Filipe Toledo
WSL is boring as f..k. Dull commentators, dull athletes. The athletes have absolute zero charisma. The only person with any depth, insight and intelligence is Kelly Slater. Regular commentator “what size board you riding?” How about ‘who gives a f..k
Regular athlete “I’m just stoked to be out there” what a snooze fest. That’s why MMA/UFC is great. It has characters who don’t give a shit what they say.
Says a lot about waht you think…
“The only person with any depth, insight and intelligence is Kelly Slater”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Right? And you know in the Wozzle meetings they say things like we need to grow the sport through our athletes. Hence the WORTHLESS unbearable interviews happening during live action featuring 30 of the least interesting and annoying humans imaginable. NO MORE INTERVIEWS!!!
THE QUEEN VII IS DEAD !
LONG LIVE QUEEN STEPHANIE VIII !
Could Australia please use Stephanie’s face on coins and notes from this day forward instead of King Chuck III of Australia, as she is slightly more relevant and , shock horror , was born and succeeded in Australia ? And possibly think of cutting the umbilical chord with the British Royal Family ( German ,Russian, Greek etc etc ) after our birth as a nation ,121 years ago ?
Did you crop out all the loses below?
Found thrown out the window in Manly….
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Symbolic Acupuncture , left Layne’s balloon punctured ?
Pro surfing has become corporate non sense. How can anyone care who wins. I live here. Trestles is nice.
But the finals should be in Hawaii where power surfing has a chance to mean something.
Ooops accidently put this in the wrong blog this morning –
It’s great that Steph came through – but the icing on the cake is how pissed off Beachley is at this very moment!
Pip was very lucky to win today.
I agree it’s not the best location, I don’t think Chopes is the best option either as it favours who caught the best wave.
Something like J-Bay would be epic. Turns, barrels and with a heavy emphasis on being a complete Surfer.
I agree, but it kinda favors regular foots.
Need a wave that can go right or left.
Pipeline/Backdoor
Surf Ranch?
(ducks heavy objects being thrown)
Go to the Ments. Two day finals program, one day on a left , next day on a right. I’ll let smarter people work out the heat details.
It actually looked pretty good for the first heat of the day ,
Gilmore v Hennessy and then went down hill as the North Wind picked up …. which Italo pounced on all the way Vs Ewing ( catch more waves please ) and Vs Robinson ( catch at least 2 good waves ) who were a little too choosy ..
I’m still gonna say we want Lowers on tour though.
was that you that commented on Steph Gilmores insta account? Negatron was the username.
Nope not me.
Interstesting as many who follow that profile are also names on this forum. Someone is pissing off people with your name.
Oh well, nothing I can do about it. Not the first time someone that I’ve banned has tried to annoy me.
Perks of the job.
There is no longer any reason to reference Layne Beachley ever again
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
As you mentioned it. How gritty was Layne!!
I skipped the post-show but I’m guessing she kicked one of her cats
Layne won 6 IN A ROW ! A feat which none other in pro surfing , with or without a uterus has achieved !
And this probably annoys THE SMELLY SKATER even more than …you ?
Stephanie calling Carissa ‘the real world champ’ is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Is Gilmore stupid?
Guilty conscience, Survivor’s Guilt, Imposter Syndrome…
And maybe some humility
Carissa had enough points before this event to be World champ and would’ve been Crowned one of it wasn’t for the Finals day format.
Fuck yeah!
Shitty Californian surf ….the event was designed for filipe* to win ,no matter how many barrels he dodged all year he still is crowned champion*
The Californian surf today: https://media4.giphy.com/me…
Why is the trophy so small these days?
So filipe * can lift it above his head
Mid-year cut.
Because professional surfing is small.
It matches the surf conditions.
Layne will 2/3 of the way through a 40oz by now.
Any comments from Nick?? Gone to ground ?
I am Groot?
I am Groot!!!
Massive Tool?
Massive!!
Does he have a wank room like his brother?
Great post-title interview (no thanks to strider obvs). System is wrong and the title should’ve been carissa’s. Nice one Steph.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c… Did I miss something here? Carissa was completely dominated!
I find it hightly offensive this event wasn’t postponed due to the obvious sad news from across the pond! In honor of the Queen, please crank up your volume to 11 while listening to the below:
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
So epic she said:”lets prove this whole system is wrong😂😂