WORLD No.1 Stephanie Gilmore has surfed into the final of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach where she will meet American defending champion Courtney Conlogue.
Gilmore defeated American Lakey Peterson in their semi-final at the Victorian contest on Monday, to book her spot in the world tour event decider.
Gilmore is a three-time winner at Bells Beach, but last won the event back in 2010.
Less than an hour earlier world champion Tyler Wright was in pole position for her first Rip Curl Pro crown when disaster struck in her semi-final against American Courtney Conlogue.
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Stephanie Gilmore heads out on finals day.Source:News Corp Australia
Wright’s board buckled under her with less than five minutes to go, leaving her no time to return to the beach for a replacement.
The disaster allowed Conlogue to ride a wave to victory and into the final of the Australian contest.
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Wright, bidding for her first ever Bells crown, had defeated Hawaiian Coco Ho in her quarter-final of the day and was on top of Conlogue in their semi-final when she suffered the equipment damage.
World Champion Tyler Wright surfing at Bells Beach.Source:News Corp Australia
Sally Fitzgibbons with a fan at Bells Beach.Source:News Corp Australia
An injured Sally Fitzgibbons’ bid for her third crown at the Victorian surf spot ended in the quarter-finals when she was beaten by American Lakey Peterson.
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Fitzgibbons fell on her second wave, a mistake which cost her a spot in the semi-finals.
Fitzgibbons was unable to warm-up due to a foot injury which triggered back spasms.
The Australian sliced her foot open last week on her surfboard fin and required stitches.
Her earlier than hoped for exit means Fitzgibbons will no longer be in the world tour lead, a position she shared with Gilmore heading into Bells Beach.
Originally published as Gilmore in final, disaster strikes Wright
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