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LITTLE MACHINE
Sally Fitzgibbons wins the 6-star Phillip Island Roxy Surf Fesitval, Women's Pro Junior, and takes the WQS lead
Photos: Photos: ASP/Covered Images/Steve Robertson
WOMEN LITTLE MACHINE
January 28, 2008
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Really, it's all in a day's work for Sally.
 
The 17-year old has already won three out of four events this year -- just barely a month into 2008. She took the World Junior Champs in Sydney, the Women's Pro Junior earlier in the event at Phillip Island, later dominating the 6-star as if she needed a little frosting on that cake. Brazil's Bruna Schmitz (another 17-year-old) gave Sally a good run, though, swapping high-scoring rides back and forth during their final heat.

"Bruna surfed extremely well and I guess when you're surfing against someone like that, one high score is never going to be enough," Sally explained. "I put my head down because I knew I had to get another one, and I'm just stoked to come through with the win."
The Australian did just that with a 9.75, edging Bruna out of victory. "I am really, really happy to get this far," she said of second place (and $2,300 bucks). "Sally is a very good competitor; she's really strong and always gets the good waves. I still scored a 9.00 in the final so it was close."

Both Jessi Miley-Dyer and Bethany Hamilton came really close to that final, but neither girl could find the wave they needed in the tricky low tide conditions. "I just couldn't find any waves out there but I'm still stoked to have made the semis," Bethany said after she was defeated by Schmitz. Still, the event marked the best finish in a 'QS so far for her. "I've needed a good result to boost my confidence and it finally happened. Now I'm just going to keep doing my best in all the events and put my heart into it."

And despite posting the highest individual wave score of her semifinal match-up against Sally, Jessi simply couldn't find that back-up ride. "I had a pretty bad heat because I waited too long for a wave," she admitted. "I guess it's a good warm up for the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast but, if anything, it's a lesson learned on what not to do in a heat."
"...for there to be two 17-year-olds in the final of a 6-Star WQS tells you that women's surfing is about to take off."
-- Chelsea Hedges
Former ASP World Champion Chelsea Hedges made a guest appearance at Woolamai Beach, and was amazed at the level of surfing seen in this year's competition. "It's scary to think I'll be coming up against these girls in the next few years," Hedges, who has taken a break from elite competition due to her pregnancy, said. "The talent among the juniors is pretty unbelievable and for there to be two 17-year-olds in the final of a 6-Star WQS tells you that women's surfing is about to take off."

The 6-Star WQS Roxy Surf Festival is one of two 6-Star WQS events in Australia and one of six in the world. The Roxy Surf Festival is held in association with the Victoria State Government "Play it Safe by the Water" and proudly supported by ASP Australasia, Surfing Victoria, Bass Coast Shire Council and Phillip Island Nature Park.

Roxy Surf Festival 6-Star WQS Final Result
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons def Bruna Schmitz

Roxy Surf Festival 6-Star WQS Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons def Jessi Miley- Dyer
Heat 2: Bruna Schmitz def Bethany Hamilton
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