SWELL ON THE HORIZON FOR FIJI WOMEN’S PRO – POSSIBLE START EARLY IN HOLDING PERIOD WITH WORLD ELITE POISED TO TACKLE CLOUDBREAK

Pic WSL: Tyler Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons, Carissa Moore, Courtney Conlogue, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Stephanie Gilmore

TAVARUA, Fiji (Saturday, May 28, 2016) – The Fiji Women’s Pro, Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, is set to get underway with the world’s best female surfers preparing in the island paradise to do battle at the world-class lefthand reef breaks of Cloudbreak and Restaurants.

A 4-6′ SW (double overhead) at 12-14 seconds fills Monday afternoon (They’re 22 hours ahead of Hawaii…comp could start 9-10am HI time).

The field is led by Tyler Wright (AUS), current WSL Jeep Frontrunner after winning three of the first four events, and challenged by Courtney Conlogue (USA) and reigning three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW).

Bethany Hamilton (HAW), global sporting icon and shark attack survivor, has been allocated the WSL Wildcard for the Fiji Women’s Pro. Hamilton will take on current frontrunner Wright and Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in Round 1.

Californian Lakey Peterson (USA) remains out with her ankle injury sustained pre-season. She will be replaced by Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in Fiji.

When competition commences, up first will be Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW) and Alessa Quizon (HAW) in the opening heat of Round 1.

The Fiji Women’s Pro will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the WSL app.

The event is also being carried by the WSL’s LIVE broadcast partners Fox Sports Australia, CBS Sports in the United States, ESPN Brasil, Globosat, Edgesport, Sky NZ, Sport TV, Canal + Deportes, Channel Nine, MCS, Starhub, and Oceanic Time Warner Cable 250 & 1250 in Hawaii.

Fiji Women’s Pro Round 1 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW)

Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Keely Andrew (AUS)

Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Bethany Hamilton (HAW)

Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)

Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sage Erickson (USA), Chelsea Tuach (BRB)

Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Laura Enever (AUS)