GERROA'S Sally Fitzgibbons has charged into the quarter-finals of the Oi Rio Pro, stop number five on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL), after a number damaging performances in the Saquarema conditions.
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Fitzgibbons first survived by the skin of her teeth in round two, after finishing second to local hope Taina Hinckel, in the four-to-six foot+ (1.2 -1.8 metre) waves.
Hinckel finished on 11.10, just 0.10 ahead of Fitzgibbons but the latter avoided elimination by edging out Australia's Nikki Van Dijk by just 0.07.
After that close call, the former Kiama High School student returned to her brilliant best by eliminating France's Johanne Defay 13.84 to 10.94 in the round of 16.
The current world number four will now face world number six Lake Peterson (United States) in the quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, Culburra Beach's Owen Wright was knocked out of contention by France's Joan Duru in round three, 12.40 to 10.13.
Wright's two siblings Tyler and Mikey both withdrew from competing at this event.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
