ID :
114175
Tue, 03/30/2010 - 19:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/114175
The shortlink copeid
Hedges stars at Bells Beach
Former world surfing champion Chelsea Hedges starred on the opening day of the Rip
Curl Pro at Bells Beach, posting the highest score in inconsistent conditions.
Hedges, the 2005 world champion, took a year off from full-time competition two
years ago.
She has steadily regained form and last week won an event in WA.
On Tuesday she scored 17.20 out of 20 in round one of the Rip Curl Pro, the second
event on the men's and women's world tours.
"I haven't won a contest for a while so that win last week got me pumped up," Hedges
said.
"I got that feeling back again, so coming up to Bells, it was a perfect start.
"I'm taking each heat as it comes and trying to build momentum throughout the contest."
Hedge's round-three opponent will be South African Rosanne Hodge, who won her
second-round heat.
Australia's world No.1 Stephanie Gilmore and defending Bells champion Silvana Lima
of Brazil also won their opening heats in the one-metre surf.
The two round-two heats were then held before organisers called off the competition
for the day.
Gilmore found the conditions tough, but was able to beat Tyler Wright and Brazilian
Bruna Schmitz.
"We went on hold right before my heat and when we restarted it was still a bit
inconsistent," said Gilmore, the three-time defending world champion.
"I didn't really put up a decent score until halfway through the heat."
Gilmore's round-three opponent will also be Wright, the younger sister of emerging
star Owen Wright.
Tyler will have plenty of inspiration for a major upset - last year at Bells, Owen
announced himself as a rising star of world surfing when he beat nine-time time
world champion Kelly Slater.
Organisers are hopeful of starting the men's competition on Wednesday morning, with
a decision to be made at 7.30am (AEDT).
Curl Pro at Bells Beach, posting the highest score in inconsistent conditions.
Hedges, the 2005 world champion, took a year off from full-time competition two
years ago.
She has steadily regained form and last week won an event in WA.
On Tuesday she scored 17.20 out of 20 in round one of the Rip Curl Pro, the second
event on the men's and women's world tours.
"I haven't won a contest for a while so that win last week got me pumped up," Hedges
said.
"I got that feeling back again, so coming up to Bells, it was a perfect start.
"I'm taking each heat as it comes and trying to build momentum throughout the contest."
Hedge's round-three opponent will be South African Rosanne Hodge, who won her
second-round heat.
Australia's world No.1 Stephanie Gilmore and defending Bells champion Silvana Lima
of Brazil also won their opening heats in the one-metre surf.
The two round-two heats were then held before organisers called off the competition
for the day.
Gilmore found the conditions tough, but was able to beat Tyler Wright and Brazilian
Bruna Schmitz.
"We went on hold right before my heat and when we restarted it was still a bit
inconsistent," said Gilmore, the three-time defending world champion.
"I didn't really put up a decent score until halfway through the heat."
Gilmore's round-three opponent will also be Wright, the younger sister of emerging
star Owen Wright.
Tyler will have plenty of inspiration for a major upset - last year at Bells, Owen
announced himself as a rising star of world surfing when he beat nine-time time
world champion Kelly Slater.
Organisers are hopeful of starting the men's competition on Wednesday morning, with
a decision to be made at 7.30am (AEDT).