Steph Gilmore and Jack Robbo Win Corona Open Mexico
BARRA DE LA CRUZ, Oaxaca, Mexico (Friday, August 13, 2021) - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Jack Robinson (AUS) have won the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver after four consecutive days of competition at Barra de la Cruz in Huatulco, Mexico. The Australians claimed victory in the four-to-seven-foot waves throughout today's Semifinals and Finals, winning the last CT event of the regular 2021 season.
Gilmore Becomes First Female CT Winner at Barra de la Cruz
Gilmore earned her 32nd CT victory today, continuing to break her own record, after taking down a competitive field, including World No. 1 and reigning four-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW), in today’s Semifinals and World No. 2 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in yesterday’s Quarterfinals.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Gilmore. “Malia (Manuel) was my pick for the whole event. She was on the right waves and surfing so beautifully. That Final was tough because every time she paddled past me she had the ‘AI Forever’ on her back and just felt like she had the mana. I knew it was going to be a tough Final, but that’s the best feeling ever.”
Gilmore’s win now moves her up into the fourth position heading into the Rip Curl WSL Finals, the one-day event in San Clemente to decide the 2021 World Champions. Gilmore will be the fourth seed, ahead of Johanne Defay (FRA).
“I haven’t won a contest in awhile,” continued Gilmore. “I was hoping to climb up the rankings maybe one spot for the finals at Trestles so I didn’t have to surf as many heats on finals day (laughs). This is sick. Ever since seeing this event in 2006 for the men and losing Snapper off the Tour, this is the next best thing. I think knowing when Tahiti was canceled and this was the last event, all the pressure was on trying to stay ahead of the world’s best women in the lineup. This place is incredible and it’s just like home and I really love it here, I’m so proud to win here.”
Today marked Manuel’s sixth time in the Finals, but she has still yet to find the CT win through her 10 years on the CT. Manuel needed to win the event in order to requalify for the CT next season and missed out by one spot to California’s Courtney Conlogue (USA). Manuel will take to the Challenger Series for a chance to get back among the Top 17.
“I’m so honored to be here and I’m so grateful for the WSL family - everyone had long days to make this run smoothly,” said Manuel. “We got incredible waves and I’m happy to be standing up here with some incredible surfers. Steph (Gilmore) brings out the best surfing in me and I had a lot of fun. I think I’ve [felt that mana] all week just with little things and I’ve been really emotional all week - I’ve cried after every heat - and I think that has something to do with it.”
Rookie Robinson Earns Career-First CT Win, First Season Win for Australian Men
CT rookie Jack Robinson (AUS), earned his first CT event win today, after defeating Deivid Silva (BRA) in the Final, Mateus Herdy (BRA) in the Semifinals, and Frederico Morais (PRT) in the Quarterfinals.
“We did it and I don’t even know where to start,” said Robinson. “It’s like a feeling I got when I qualified and I’m still in that state of processing it. Everything pushed me just trying to find all the right things to come together, so many things, and got a good team of support around me. The Doras, my wife Julia, my family, sponsors, I couldn’t do it without them."
The Corona Open Mexico is the last event of the regular season before the Rip Curl WSL Finals, and similar to how he qualified for the CT in 2019, Robinson was able to top off his rookie year with a win in the final event.
“I was trying to carry the energy even before this I came down here,” added Robinson. “When I’m in a certain zone I don’t say too much and I was in that zone this week and just being able to rise above the level of surfing that everyone was at, I felt like I could do that in every heat. This win and everything is for Toro of Toro Surf Trips, his son passed away and it’s really sad, and just want to send big love and prayers to him.”
Throughout the Final, Silva harnessed the fighting spirit left by Adriano de Souza (BRA) from his retirement celebration minutes before the Final started. Despite the loss in the Final, Silva earned his career-best result in Mexico with the runner-up finish. The Brazilian took out Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in today's Semifinals and World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) in yesterday's Quarterfinals. Silva’s efforts this week have secured his spot on the elite CT for next season, moving him up from 27th place on the rankings to 14th place.
“I feel really happy to get second place in my first Final on Tour and congrats to Jack,” said Silva. “He just surfed amazing. The wins over Adriano (de Souza) and Gabriel (Medina) were crazy. I’m so happy for second and thank you, everyone, for your support here in Barra de la Cruz, thank you.”
World No. 1 Moore and World No. 3 Fitzgibbons Fall in Semifinals
A battle of WSL Champions unfolded between four-time, reigning WSL Champion, Moore and seven-time WSL Champion Gilmore in dramatic fashion. Gilmore’s signature style and technique took the win in this heat over Moore’s power surfing, leaving the Hawaiian to exit in Equal 3rd place. Despite the loss, Moore will still head to the Rip Curl WSL Finals with the top seed, needing to win a best-of-three on the day.
Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons fell to Manuel in Semifinal 1. Straight off the opening horn, both surfers went for their first exchange and did not back down from each other. The heat saw multiple exchanges and lead changes, with the heat eventually going to Manuel with her final score giving her the win.
WSL Final 5 Now Sets Sights on Lower Trestles for One-Day World Title Battle
The WSL Final 5 for the women and men is now locked, and these top-ranked surfers will now start preparing for the Rip Curl WSL Finals in San Clemente, Calif. The Rip Curl WSL Finals is the new one-day event that will determine the 2021 World Champions and will hold a competition window from September 9 - 17, 2021.
WSL Final 5 - Women’s
1 - Carissa Moore (HAW)
2 - Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
3 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
4 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
4 - Johanne Defay (FRA)
WSL Final 5 - Men’s
1 - Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2 - Italo Ferreira (BRA)
3 - Filipe Toledo (BRA)
4 - Conner Coffin (USA)
5 - Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Final Results:
1 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.83
2 - Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.27
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Final Results:
1 - Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.16
2 - Deivid Silva (BRA) 15.14
Corona Open Mexico Men’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Deivid Silva (BRA) 13.23 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.90
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 16.00 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 11.50
Corona Open Mexico Women’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.20 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.87
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.40 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.57
Comments
I’m guessing that means Jack re-qualifies too - apart from this great result he didn’t seem to do so well this year and I guess he needed this good result or may have missed the CT for next year?
Enjoyed watching (the highlights) of this event and the variety of waves in this years make-do tour
We’ll see once the ‘finals day’ format unfolds and if the planned for additional drama/excitement (I guess that’s their plan) quashes any feelings that the crowned champion doesn’t have the usual claims to legitimacy having won more based on their performance on a single day at a single spot than from their performance over the entire year in an array of conditions
Well done Jack and steff - some humble gracious words from Jack in particular - that’s the kind of winner I feel good cheering for
Yep, he came 14th. Likely would have made it even with a mid-range result but the win really signifies Jack's arrival on tour. He was always pegged for top 10 at least. This shows he has the capacity for strategy and consistency.
Great to see Jack ripping and getting pitted and winning. Just looks a little stiff and awkward in some top turns and cutties, wonder if he can or should do something about that.
Yeeew!! Great news to wake up to, even better the Brazzos crying on FB hahahahaha
I would be soo stoked to link even two of the backhand snaps that D Silva was doing BUT when are the judges going to stop giving solid scores for 8 identical backhand snaps????
Agree it gets so boring.
Completely agree. Couldn't believe robbo only got a 6.8 for the first wave which had a tight barrel, multiple turns and stuck an air at the end (high risk move considering it's at the end of a good ride). Seems more egregious given that we have been constantly reminded that the judges are looking for variety, yet they only seem to reward big snaps and hail Mary single move airs.
Was shocked at the score of that wave as well!
Totally agree on the 6.8- I think the first wave of Sally Fitz's semi was similarly under scored. And yep, committed backhand getting 8's with the same turn, over it. Seems that its only Goofy's who get it too, not natural going left.
Sally was unlucky not to beat Malia who was over scored on one wave..........Jack stood firm and calm against a firing Silva....both guys surfed great and was a nail biter heat right to the end and Steph thought she was back at snapper ........WSL you did good........
Agreed, didn't see the point of difference on MM's wave.....I think it was the A.I. claim she threw in at the end.
Stoked to see Jack and Steph win.
Impressed with the other Mens finalists too (Deivid Silva, Mateus Herdy. Frederico Morais)... always good to see new names at the top.
Jacks a different guy isn’t he. On his own trip it seems like.
Good on him
Yeah he does doesn’t he. They were saying his confidence was low after the pool, at which point Yagos dad stepped in as coach and focused on his mental strength
The way he comes across in his press conferences he is just really calm and collected. Never frothing too hard and carrying on.
Awesome to see Aussies getting the win. Is that correct that Jack won by just 2 one-hundreths of a point?
Nice
Will Jack now head to the "Tentative" Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang?
Good to see Jack get a win.
And man those waves look fun, im going to have to get over there one day.
Most of the female competitors wore shorts. I thought they looked great. It put more of a focus on their surfing rather than the glamour distraction.
Who's looking at the butts? C'mon Wally, that went out in the Olympics volleyball!
Nothing on MSM sites about a double Aussie win in the first CT off the back of the ‘lympics.
(ABC, smh, news.com and guardian)
Maybe it means something. Maybe it don’t.
Not a ripple. Meanwhile, there’s a story about climbing on the abc website today and a couple of days ago they interviewed some skate shop owners on the Goldie
ABC news channel mentioned it on their hourly headlines this morning with footage, was good to see
Cool. I was just looking at the sites. Don’t watch much TV.
Just had it in ch 7 news too! Strange the online sites didn’t cover it
Half the fun was just to watch, and mind surf, a quality long right point.
That is an acquired taste of a keen surfer - not a mass audience appeal draw card.
Well done Jack. The big set barrel he did not make gave a hint of what could have been with a bigger swell on the low tide - some really interesting tube riding from behind the rocks by Jack would have been great to see.
GR8 wave & fantastic to see the Aussie come out on top on a high quality point break. Well done & congrats to Jack, Steph, Morgs & Sally on their high quality ripping, displaying the best of Aussie surfing.
COMPs ARE FOR DICK HEADs.
Comps are capitalism's raison d'etre.
So who goes through next year ? Is it top 20 ? Then top 10 from this years QS ?
Yip the top 20 as it stands, but reshuffled with ADS, Flores retiring and whether Wilson (all of them finished inside the top 20) decides to sit out the first half before the cutoff. As it stands Matt McG is sitting at 21 so he should be given 1 of 2 WSL wildcards. And then the top 12 from the CS
Just had a look and Owen is now 25th :( wonder if another retirement coming or if he’ll go all in on the challenger series. He should do pretty well in the CS locations
I do reckon so. My fellow Saffa Matt McG will get the WC spot and it'll be a bonus if Owen does too but they'll likely give 2nd WC to the 13th placed surfer on the CS - I think that's how it works (sometimes). Regardless, Owen is a champ and will finish in the top 12
Just personally thought D Silva’s backhand reos although magnificent were not that close in score to a great barrel negotiation then critical aerial then ripping it to shore ; thought mixing it up scored well within criteria?
I reckon Jack surfed like a man possessed , very impressive
Very deserved win
I thought Jack won the final easily. As others have mentioned some bizarre judging criteria kept the other bloke in the game. It was reminiscent of the time that Medina beat Parko at Snapper. On that occasion robotic backhand re-entries on 4ft waves trumped sand dredging barrels on 5 footers from behind the rock. Parko was robbed.
And while I'm having a whinge, they're underscoring Slater majorly at the moment. Some of his carves only he can do, such as that carving 360 thing.
Agree 100%
Slater was underscored. He was smooth as and seemed to have just a bit more speed than anyone.
Totally agree Spuds,...and do love those trophy's
Agree spuddups , that parko medina final was a joke , parko getting barrels and carving big hacks versus the same flick repeated 15 times .I thought jack won that final by a couple points . .
So much for dire recent predictions that Brazzos had every connest in their pocket from here on...
The Oz leg played to their strengths .
If next years schedule comes off both JJF and Robbo will be dominating pending JJF self detaching limbs being resolved .
Hope Morgan continues to do well too
Slater was underscored.
the judges were on the piss
... hiccup..
Yeah it seems a strange beast, judging. The final was a split 3-2 decision with each judge making a subjective call on who should win and the points awarded for Jack’s wave just facilitated that decision. Jack may have deserved the win but also got really lucky. Could have easily gone the other way.
I agree Slater was underscored. I think Jack was also. Great comp.
As Scott Morrison would probably say, "How good is Australian surfing!". A big congratulations to Steph and Jack.