ANIMALS: Surfing Dog Helps Empower Veterans and Kids May 022:00
This cute pooch is hitting the waves for a good cause. Waves of Empowerment is a group that helps children with special needs and disabilities get the chance to surf. The children are paired with surfing dog Ricochet and are accompanied by veterans who are suffering from PTSD. The exercise is a means of therapy for both the children and the veterans. Credit: TIG Media via Storyful
US surfer Courtney Conlogue is hoping to reignite her world title bid at the US Open.
AUSTRALIAN rookie Bronte Macauley has a first-up encounter at the Vans US Open with the women deemed most likely to prevent Australia winning the women’s world crown of surfing this year.
American Courtney Conlogue has been installed as favourite for the US Open crown despite sitting in fourth place on the world tour rankings behind Aussie trio Tyler Wright, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons.
Gilmore, a six time world champion, doesn’t even rate a mention in a piece on the World Surf League site rating the women with the best chance of knocking Wright from No. 1 at Huntington Beach — the midway point of the women’s championship tour.
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Instead it is Conlogue, with two wins, a fifth and a pair of ninths this season, being touted as the favourite for victory at her local break.
Courtney Conlogue and Stephanie Gilmore after the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach earlier this year.Source:News Corp Australia
Reigning world champion Tyler Wright currently wears the No.1 jersey.Source:Supplied
Macauley will tackle Conlogue and fellow American Saige Erickson Ericsson in her round one heat with Wright slated to take on Hawaiian Coco Ho and a wildcard.
Gilmore, who has never won at Huntington Beach, has possibly the toughest test of the Aussies with her round one heat with defending champion Tatiana Weston-Webb from the US and inform French surfer Pauline Ado.
Tatiana Weston-Webb finished runner-up to Conlogue at the last world tour event in massive swell in Fiji.
“It will be tough to beat the girls, especially Courtney (Conlogue) on her home turf, but I’ll do my best,” Gilmore said.
Fitzgibbons will take on feisty Aussie rookie Keely Andrew and South African Bianca Buitendag, an injury replacement for American Malia Manuel.
Originally published as American looming as Aussie surf danger
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
