INTERNATIONAL NEWS - From a competitive surfing standpoint beachbreaks are the great equalizers. Even the world's best beachies are notoriously fickle, opening the door for anything to happen.
On paper upsets seem more likely to occur in beachbreaks.
But there's the other side of that argument, which is that the best surfers are those who always seem to be in rhythm, no matter the condition.
Their acute ability to adapt on the fly has been honed through countless hours of surfing every possible matrix of tide, wind, current and swell.
On Wednesday the world's best women were waging battle in pedestrian beachbreak conditions that 99% of the surfing world can relate to. While we'd always rather see our favorite surfers in hollow reefs and points, being able to witness their approach to the same blue-collar slop the rest of us live is educational.
On Wednesday the world's best women were waging battle in pedestrian beachbreak conditions that 99% of the surfing world can relate to. While we'd always rather see our favorite surfers in hollow reefs and points, being able to witness their approach to the same blue-collar slop the rest of us live is educational.
By day's end, Sally Fitzgibbons, Courtney Conlogue, Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore had advanced directly to the Quarterfinals with their Round Three victories. For the record, they own four of the top six spots in the current rankings.
And keep in mind the friendly fire up there. In Round Three, the best heat of the round involved a dream match between Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore and Laura Enever.
And keep in mind the friendly fire up there. In Round Three, the best heat of the round involved a dream match between Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore and Laura Enever.
