Five-time surfing world champion Stephanie Gilmore says ending a 20-month wait for her next event title at her home break would be huge.
Gilmour eased through her quarter-final of the season-opener at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast to set up a Thursday blockbuster semi-final against American world champion Carissa Moore.
It means she’s tantalisingly close to ending a tour title drought stretching back to the Roxy Pro in Biarritz, France in July, 2012 and she says that would lay down a clear marker for the long season ahead.
“Last year Tyler (Wright) kicked off the year with a win here and it really set off her entire year,” said Gilmore after dowing American Courtney Conlogue 15.43 to 13.50 to reach the last four.
“I’ve definitely had years where I haven’t done well here and still gone on to win the world title. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
“But starting off the year strong, there’s something to it. It lets your opponents know you mean business and it just sets up your year for a successful string of results.”
Standing in Gilmore’s way is the diminutive Moore, who couldn’t replicate her brilliant 19.50 out of 20 score from Tuesday’s third round, but did enough to overcome fellow Hawaiian Malia Manuel and move into the semis.
The two-time world champion and 2011 Gold Coast winner said a match-up with Gilmore would be tough, but enjoyable.
“This is her spot and she gets to perform in front of a home crowd,” Moore said.
“She’s been surfing really on point and she’s fired up.
“I’m just excited to surf against her.”
The other semi-final will be contested between South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag and American Lakey Peterson after they eliminated Australians Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons.
Buitendag easily overcame defending event champion Wright, scoring 14.93 to Wright’s 7.67 in their quarter-final.
Fitzgibbons, last year’s runner-up on the Gold Coast, couldn’t find the high-scoring form needed to stay alive in the competition and was beaten by 3.06 points by Peterson.
Organiser will make a call on whether to resume competition on Thursday at 7am AEST.
