ASB MAGAZINE: Team Australia has finished on a high after team captain Sally Fitzgibbons claimed the Gold Medal in the women’s division today at the UR ISA World Surfing Games at Long Beach, Tahara. Fitzgibbons defeated Paige Hareb (New Zealand), Bianca Buitendag (South Africa) and Summer Macedo (USA) in a dominant display, posting a massive 18.64 point heat total in small but contestable conditions in the final to secure the women’s individual Gold Medal and a Silver Medal for Team Australia.
Fitzgibbon won six of the seven heats she contested over the week-long event in a dominant display of surfing.
Aussie Holly Wawn had an extremely strong campaign, falling just one heat short of the final while teammate Phillipa Anderson charged through the repechage rounds to finish strongly in repechage 10 to help secure Team Australia a silver medal behind host nation Japan.
For full results visit http://isasurf.org/wsg/2018/
The team, who are supported by Surfing Australia’s Elite Program Manager Bede Durbidge and Coach Tim Macdonald, finished:
Women:
Sally Fitzgibbons (Team Captain) – Gold Medal
Holly Wawn – Round 6 main draw
Philippa Anderson – Repechage round 10
Men:
Kai Tandler – Round 3 main draw
Callum Robson – Repechage round 3
Dextar Muskens – Repechage round 6
Team Australia – Silver Medal
Athletes have been selected based on their rankings on the 2018 World Surf League World Championship Tour, Qualifying Series or Australia/Oceania Junior Tour. The Australian Open Surfing Team is proudly supported for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Hydralyte Sports.
The ISA worked closely with the World Surf League (WSL) when choosing the dates of September 15-22 as to ensure the 2018 ISA World Surfing Games did not overlap with any high-level Qualifying Series event or World Championship Tour event. In doing so, their collective goal is to encourage top-level participation around the globe by giving both QS and WCT competitors the opportunity to compete at the 2018 ISA WSG.
Given that the waiting period for the both the Men’s QS 10,000 in Cascais, Portugal and the Men’s 3,000 QS in the Philippines begins September 24, the Open Men’s division of the 2018 ISA WSG will be completed no later than September 21 to allow participating QS athletes the ability to arrive at their next destination prior to the start of competition. The Open Women’s division is still scheduled to end on September 22, depending on conditions and the length of competition needed.
VIA PRESS RELEASE
