THE long-awaited south-westerly swell finally arrived on Saturday at the Corona Open J-Bay, the sixth stop on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), after two consecutive lay days.
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The four-to-six foot (1.2-1.8 metre) waves were critical for the elimination heats in the men's round of 32 and women's round of 16 (heats 1-6) as both utilised the overlapping format to take advantage of the conditions.
In the women's draw, Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons continued to build on her win in Rio, by storming into the J-Bay quarter-finals.
Waves of 7.00 and 6.33, for a combined 13.33, was enough for Fitzgibbons to oust Australia's Macy Callaghan (11.93).
The former Kiama High School student will now face Hawaii's Malia Manuel in the final eight.
While in the men's competition, Culburra Beach's Owen Wright edged out France's Joan Duru 11.40 to 11.27, in the round of 32 - thanks to waves of 5.90 and 5.50.
The Culburra Beach Boardrider will now face local hope Jordy Smith in the round of 16, when surfing resumes in South Africa.
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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.
