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MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC: DAY ONE
Steph, Sofia, usual suspects plug through Round One in Peru
The gap closed after Portugal. And Stephanie Gilmore knows it. While she still holds onto the ASP ratings lead, Silvana Lima and Coco Ho are well in contention to challenge the Throne.
However, Steph's no slouch. In fact, she's the two-time defending champ in Peru and controlled things from the outset, netting the highest heat total of the day with some powerful turns on her backhand. Despite enduring the trans-Atlantic journey from Portugal and the subsequent lay days, Gilmore was excited to get back in the mix.
"I think when there are a few days off everyone gets pretty antsy to get started," Gilmore said after winning her Round One heat in clean two-foot surf. "I really enjoy this wave out here at Lobitos and surfing my backhand. I like it so I am excited to be straight through to Round Three and I am excited to see who gets through as well."
Local Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich used her years of experience at the break to advance directly through to Round Three.
"It is great to be competing at home," Mulanovich said. "Hopefully the waves get more consistent but I think it is going to be a good show for everyone. It is great to have the whole family here and the fans, they are fun."
Silvana Lima, current World Number Two, survived a closely fought affair, edging past Samantha Cornish and wildcard Anali Gomez.
"It was coming so slow but it is really fun," Lima said. "You can make a lot of maneuvers. I think it is going to be better in the next days. The swell is coming and that will make it better for everyone. I think everyone is excited for the waves that are coming."
While the top seeds took out five of the six Round One heats today, the big upset came when Melanie Bartels was relegated to the elimination Round Two by an in-form Rebecca Woods and rookie Alana Blanchard.
"I was pretty down for a couple of days after Portugal," Woods said. "Hassling heats are always difficult and that is what it turned into out there. The waves are perfect when they come."
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.
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November 5, 2009
