Rookie Robinson Earns Career-First CT Event Win

2021 World Title To Be Decided at Rip Curl WSL Finals, From September 9 – 17, 2021

Gilmore earned her 32nd CT victory today, continuing to break her own record, after taking down a competitive field, including World No. 1 and reigning four-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW), in today’s Semifinals and World No. 2 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in yesterday’s Quarterfinals.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Gilmore. “Malia (Manuel) was my pick for the whole event. She was on the right waves and surfing so beautifully. That Final was tough because every time she paddled past me she had the ‘AI Forever’ on her back and just felt like she had the mana. I knew it was going to be a tough Final, but that’s the best feeling ever.”

Gilmore’s win now moves her up into the fourth position heading into the Rip Curl WSL Finals, the one-day event in San Clemente to decide the 2021 World Champions. Gilmore will be the fourth seed, ahead of Johanne Defay (FRA).

Today marked Manuel’s sixth time in the Finals, but she has still yet to find the CT win through her 10 years on the CT. Manuel needed to win the event in order to requalify for the CT next season and missed out by one spot to California’s Courtney Conlogue (USA). Manuel will take to the Challenger Series for a chance to get back among the Top 17.

“I’m so honored to be here and I’m so grateful for the WSL family – everyone had long days to make this run smoothly,” said Manuel. “We got incredible waves and I’m happy to be standing up here with some incredible surfers. Steph (Gilmore) brings out the best surfing in me and I had a lot of fun. I think I’ve [felt that mana] all week just with little things and I’ve been really emotional all week – I’ve cried after every heat – and I think that has something to do with it.”

CT rookie Jack Robinson (AUS), earned his first CT event win today, after defeating Deivid Silva (BRA) in the Final, Mateus Herdy (BRA) in the Semifinals, and Frederico Morais (PRT) in the Quarterfinals.

“We did it and I don’t even know where to start,” said Robinson. “It’s like a feeling I got when I qualified and I’m still in that state of processing it. Everything pushed me just trying to find all the right things to come together, so many things, and got a good team of support around me. The Doras, my wife Julia, my family, sponsors, I couldn’t do it without them.”

The Corona Open Mexico pres. Quiksilver is the last event of the regular season before the Rip Curl WSL Finals, and similar to how he qualified for the CT in 2019, Robinson was able to top off his rookie year with a win in the final event.

“I was trying to carry the energy even before this I came down here,” added Robinson. “When I’m in a certain zone I don’t say too much and I was in that zone this week and just being able to rise above the level of surfing that everyone was at, I felt like I could do that in every heat. This win and everything is for Toro of Toro Surf Trips, his son passed away and it’s really sad, and just want to send big love and prayers to him.”

“I feel really happy to get second place in my first Final on Tour and congrats to Jack,” said Silva. “He just surfed amazing. The wins over Adriano (de Souza) and Gabriel (Medina) were crazy. I’m so happy for second and thank you, everyone, for your support here in Barra de la Cruz, thank you.”

A battle of WSL Champions unfolded between four-time, reigning WSL Champion, Moore and seven-time WSL Champion Gilmore in dramatic fashion. Gilmore’s signature style and technique took the win in this heat over Moore’s power surfing, leaving the Hawaiian to exit in Equal 3rd place. Despite the loss, Moore will still head to the Rip Curl WSL Finals with the top seed, needing to win a best-of-three on the day.

Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons fell to Manuel in Semifinal 1. Straight off the opening horn, both surfers went for their first exchange and did not back down from each other. The heat saw multiple exchanges and lead changes, with the heat eventually going to Manuel with her final score giving her the win.

The WSL Final 5 for the women and men is now locked, and these top-ranked surfers will now start preparing for the Rip Curl WSL Finals in San Clemente, Calif. The Rip Curl WSL Finals is the new one-day event that will determine the 2021 World Champions and will hold a competition window from September 9 – 17, 2021.

WSL Final 5 – Women’s
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW)
2 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
3 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
4 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
4 – Johanne Defay (FRA)

WSL Final 5 – Men’s
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2 – Italo Ferreira (BRA)
3 – Filipe Toledo (BRA)
4 – Conner Coffin (USA)
5 – Morgan Cibilic (AUS)

Yesterday, the WSL announced the cancellation of the Tahiti Pro following the French Government’s declared state of emergency for French Polynesia due to COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moving French Polynesia into a Level 4 zone and advising people not to travel. The WSL will not be replacing the Tahiti event on short notice, given the global health and safety conditions at the moment.

Read the full statement from the WSL. 

Watch the Rip Curl WSL Finals: September 9 – 17
The event window for the Rip Curl WSL Finals, the one-day event to crown the 2021 World Champions, opens September 9 and holds a competition window through September 17. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The Corona Open Mexico pres. by Quiksilver is proudly supported by our partners Corona, Quiksilver, Jeep, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Expedia, and DraftKings.

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Final Results:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.83
2 –  Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.27

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Final Results:
1 – Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.16
2 – Deivid Silva (BRA) 15.14

Corona Open Mexico Men’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Deivid Silva (BRA) 13.23 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.90
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 16.00 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 11.50

Corona Open Mexico Women’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.20 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.87
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.40 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.57

More information available at WorldSurfLeague.com.

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