Bronte Macaulay Eliminates Defending Event Winner Lakey Peterson

WSL Champions Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore Through to Quarterfinals

The Corona Bali Protected is Lima’s first event back in 2019 after suffering a knee injury at the Corona Open J-Bay last year. The Brasilian’s renewed intensity has been evident in her last two heats, and she will utilize this confidence coming up against Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Quarterfinals.

“When I saw that I was coming up against Caroline (Marks), I was so nervous,” Lima said. “She is such an amazing surfer with such a perfect backhand, so it was going to be really hard to beat her. Taking that win gives me one-hundred percent confidence in myself and my surfing. It’s such a good feeling. This is my first event back and now I’m in the Quarterfinals, which is so good for me and my seed especially for the Olympic qualification.”

Marks will exit Stop No. 3 of 10 in Equal 9th, her worst result after a first-place finish on the Gold Coast and third place at Bells Beach.

“I had a really good freesurf this morning and one yesterday afternoon so to lose that heat is a big bummer,” Marks said. “I made a few mistakes out there especially being too selective with the waves I caught. I should have stayed more active rather than sitting and waiting, but I guess I can learn from that. That’s the best thing about losing is that you can learn a lot. I wanted to win this event so losing is the worst thing ever. I really hate it but it definitely makes me way more fired up for the next event. Silvana (Lima) surfed really well in that heat and definitely got the best waves, so I wish her luck with the rest of the event.”

“I had a feeling it was going to get slow with the tide running out,” said Macaulay. “It was quite small so you had to be on the right waves. My dad said to be aware of how slow it could be out there and I just tried to capitalize on my opportunities. It is nice just to breakthrough that round. It is a really hard one to get through, so just to do that an be in the Quarters is really nice. It is just a huge confidence booster and hopefully, I can keep going and have some better heats. Lakey (Peterson) is just incredible. It is a bummer that we didn’t get to just open up and surf. I love Lakey, she is one of my good friends on Tour. But, I think the best is still yet to come.”

“I knew I had to be on my game to beat Keely (Andrew) because we’ve had a few matchups in the past and she’s always come out on top,” Gilmore said. “Especially in waves like this, she is so fast and dynamic in small waves, so I knew I had to be on the set waves and make the most of the opportunities I had. Last year at Keramas, I was left waiting for a score and that is a scary place to be. I just wanted to make sure I got two decent waves and finished them. My loss here last year was a real turning point in my season. I love it here and want to perform well and would love to win the event. The board I’m riding is actually the one I won Bells and J-Bay on last year, so it felt nice to pull it out because it feels insane.”

Three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) stopped Paige Hareb (NZL) in the opening heat with two 6-point rides. Hareb came close to her first heat win of the year but fell less than one point short of advancing. The New Zealander dropped off Tour for 2015 but battled back on the Qualifying Series to rejoin the elite contingent last season. With requalification on the line again, Hareb will focus on turning her season around at the Margaret River Pro to secure her position on the CT.

“That was such a good win for so many reasons,” Hennessy said. “I’m stoked to make it to the Quarterfinals because it gets me closer to my first Semifinal appearance. It will help my ranking for requalification and also with the Rookie of the Year race. It’s just so wonderful to be here in Bali. Keramas is a really tidal wave so it’s fun to try and judge what it is going to do through the morning, as surfers we all have to be good at that.”

Courtney Conlogue (USA) continued her epic 2019 start, progressing into the Quarterfinals for the second straight event. Conlogue surfed a smart heat to take down current World No. 2 Malia Manuel (HAW) in a rematch of the recent Bells Beach Final.

Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) defeated World Title hopeful Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Round of 16 to land herself her first Quarterfinal appearance of 2019. Van Dijk found a good rhythm as the tide dropped and conditions slowed, while Weston-Webb struggled with wave selection, resulting in her 9th place elimination.

The Corona Bali Protected and Red Bull Airborne will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and Facebook.com/WSL .

Also check local listings Spectrum 20… WSL broadcast partner.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Red Bull Airborne Bali Remaining Qualifying Round Matchups (H4-6):
Heat 4: Ian Crane (USA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Jack Freestone (AUS), Mason Ho (HAW), Kalani David (HAW), I Made Darma Yasa (IDN)
Heat 5: Noa Deane (AUS), Reef Heazlewood (AUS), Finn McGill (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW), Oliver Kurtz (USA), Eric Geiselman (USA)
Heat 6: Yago Dora (BRA), Chippa Wilson (AUS), Eithan Osborne (USA), Matt Meola (HAW), Lee Wilson (IDN), Bronson Meydi (IDN