Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Schedule: Round 4 (Heats 1-4)
Conditions: Peaky two-to-three-foot waves
Recap of Rounds 2 and 3
Round 4
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
Dimity Stoyle took an early lead with a pair of midrange scores. But Lakey Peterson soon found her feet and her rhythm. As the next few sets rolled in, the California native fired up the familiar power and skill that led her to a win here in 2012, scoring a 6.67 and a 7.77 before a calm surface cooled off the action.
With fewer than 10 minutes on the clock, Stoyle fought back with a solid right-hander that won her a 7.33 and put her back in the running. Peterson responded, driving down the line and throwing snaps that scored her a 7.67 and extended her lead, putting Stoyle back in the hot seat.
In the final minute the pressure was on, with Stoyle needing an 8.11, and Peterson holding priority. When the last wave of the heat rolled in, Peterson took off, blocking a final score from the Australian and taking the win.
Results: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.44 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 11.83
Heat 3: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
The first half of Heat 3 saw a series of even exchanges unfold between New Zealand's Paige Hareb and French rookie Johanne Defay. Defay took the early lead, while Hareb hunted down the small 4.65 needed for first position.
The scrappy heat continued, but Defay eventually belted a left in toward the pier and established a more comfortable lead with a 7.77, which held to the final horn.
"We have a lay day tomorrow, so I'm going to rest after two big days and think about the Quarterfinals," said Defay. "I like to keep to myself when I'm here with my family, friends, and coach so I can stay focused."
Results: Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.10 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.03
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
Tyler Wright got off to a dream start against fellow Australian Laura Enever, posting an excellent 9.00 for two big backhand snaps on a left toward the pilings shortly after the start of the heat.
Waves continued to pour in for Heat 2 and a flurry of exchanges upped the competition between the two Aussies. Enever posted a few midrange scores, but Wright locked into a left, backing up her first excellent score with a 6.40. The effort left Enever in a combination situation within the first 10 minutes of the heat.
Wright continued to light up the rippable Pierbowl conditions, bagging an excellent 8.67 for a clean frontside air, extending her stranglehold on the heat.
Wright's 17.67 heat total marked the second-highest of Vans US Open competition.
"I felt good," said Wright. "Yesterday I didn't catch a lot of waves and Malia (Manuel) went to town, but even then I still felt confident in my abilities. This morning, there are a lot of waves and not so many lulls. I really love my board and the combination creates an environment that allows me to go out there and do my thing."
Results: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.63 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 9.13
Heat 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Two Quarterfinal-hungry surfers took to the water for the first heat of the second elimination round. Nikki Van Dijk and Tatiana Weston-Webb took advantage of improved conditions, see-sawing their way through the opening half of Heat 1, with multi-carve drives toward the pilings. After trading fours and fives, the Kauaian established the first comfortable lead of the affair, using her forehand attack to set her lead seven points apart.
Van Dijk was up for the challenge, scoring a 7.17 on a large set wave with clean backhand surfing down the line. Weston-Webb kept busy but poor wave selection found her situation hold through the next 10 minutes. A cat-and-mouse chase kept the regular-footer in first priority, which she utilized to keep Weston-Webb off the final scoring opportunity and advance into the Quarterfinals.
“That was a really fun heat and Tatiana (Weston-Webb) is surfing really well so congratulations to her,†said Van Dijk. “She's pushing all the girls on Tour as a wildcard. Malia (Manuel) is surfing amazing right now so I've got nothing to lose in my Quarterfinal against her. I just want to do my best surfing and I'm stoked to be in the Quarters. I'd love to keep going so I'll just push it as hard as I can, have fun and enjoy surfing Huntington."
Results: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.90 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.50
Vans US Open: Women's WCT Round 4 Recap
WSL
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Schedule: Round 4 (Heats 1-4)
Conditions: Peaky two-to-three-foot waves
Recap of Rounds 2 and 3
Round 4
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
Dimity Stoyle took an early lead with a pair of midrange scores. But Lakey Peterson soon found her feet and her rhythm. As the next few sets rolled in, the California native fired up the familiar power and skill that led her to a win here in 2012, scoring a 6.67 and a 7.77 before a calm surface cooled off the action.
With fewer than 10 minutes on the clock, Stoyle fought back with a solid right-hander that won her a 7.33 and put her back in the running. Peterson responded, driving down the line and throwing snaps that scored her a 7.67 and extended her lead, putting Stoyle back in the hot seat.
In the final minute the pressure was on, with Stoyle needing an 8.11, and Peterson holding priority. When the last wave of the heat rolled in, Peterson took off, blocking a final score from the Australian and taking the win.
Results: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.44 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 11.83
Heat 3: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
The first half of Heat 3 saw a series of even exchanges unfold between New Zealand's Paige Hareb and French rookie Johanne Defay. Defay took the early lead, while Hareb hunted down the small 4.65 needed for first position.
The scrappy heat continued, but Defay eventually belted a left in toward the pier and established a more comfortable lead with a 7.77, which held to the final horn.
"We have a lay day tomorrow, so I'm going to rest after two big days and think about the Quarterfinals," said Defay. "I like to keep to myself when I'm here with my family, friends, and coach so I can stay focused."
Results: Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.10 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.03
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
Tyler Wright got off to a dream start against fellow Australian Laura Enever, posting an excellent 9.00 for two big backhand snaps on a left toward the pilings shortly after the start of the heat.
Waves continued to pour in for Heat 2 and a flurry of exchanges upped the competition between the two Aussies. Enever posted a few midrange scores, but Wright locked into a left, backing up her first excellent score with a 6.40. The effort left Enever in a combination situation within the first 10 minutes of the heat.
Wright continued to light up the rippable Pierbowl conditions, bagging an excellent 8.67 for a clean frontside air, extending her stranglehold on the heat.
Wright's 17.67 heat total marked the second-highest of Vans US Open competition.
"I felt good," said Wright. "Yesterday I didn't catch a lot of waves and Malia (Manuel) went to town, but even then I still felt confident in my abilities. This morning, there are a lot of waves and not so many lulls. I really love my board and the combination creates an environment that allows me to go out there and do my thing."
Results: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.63 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 9.13
Heat 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Two Quarterfinal-hungry surfers took to the water for the first heat of the second elimination round. Nikki Van Dijk and Tatiana Weston-Webb took advantage of improved conditions, see-sawing their way through the opening half of Heat 1, with multi-carve drives toward the pilings. After trading fours and fives, the Kauaian established the first comfortable lead of the affair, using her forehand attack to set her lead seven points apart.
Van Dijk was up for the challenge, scoring a 7.17 on a large set wave with clean backhand surfing down the line. Weston-Webb kept busy but poor wave selection found her situation hold through the next 10 minutes. A cat-and-mouse chase kept the regular-footer in first priority, which she utilized to keep Weston-Webb off the final scoring opportunity and advance into the Quarterfinals.
“That was a really fun heat and Tatiana (Weston-Webb) is surfing really well so congratulations to her,†said Van Dijk. “She's pushing all the girls on Tour as a wildcard. Malia (Manuel) is surfing amazing right now so I've got nothing to lose in my Quarterfinal against her. I just want to do my best surfing and I'm stoked to be in the Quarters. I'd love to keep going so I'll just push it as hard as I can, have fun and enjoy surfing Huntington."
Results: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.90 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.50
Vans US Open of Surfing
Tyler Wright took the winner's podium at the Vans US Open, and talks details about the board that helped her get there.
Check out the best photos from the climax of women's WCT and men's Prime events in Surf City.
Australians Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) face off for the event win at Huntington Beach.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) match up in the all-Aussie Semifinal heat.
Hawaiian Malia Manuel faces off against Aussie Tyler Wright, in a battle for a spot in the Final.
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