Aussies looking to ride a wave of success in Brazil
Competition at the World Surf League's Rio Pro has been put on hold again, with conditions still not suitable for heats.
After three consecutive lay days, conditions have not improved at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break, with onshore wind and waves closing out in the six-foot range on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). "We were surprised today at how strong the swell and the currents were at Praia de Itauna,'' said WSL spokesman Renato Hickel.
"We watched a lot of the free surfs and there are definitely no opportunities to run heats.
"We made a couple of calls, hoping that conditions would improve, which did not happen, so we decided to call the event off for the day. Now we're putting all our bets on a full day tomorrow."
The women's draw is up to the quarter-final stage, with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright flying the Australian flag.
World No.3 Picklum, who can take over the rankings lead with another heat win, faces Peru's Arena Rodriguez, competing in her first Championship Tour event.
The 19-year-old produced the biggest shock of the event when she knocked out world No.1 Gabriela Bryan.
Picklum is the only surfer in the world's top five to make the quarter-finals.
Two-time world champion Wright will take on local hope and fan favourite Luana Silva for a semi-finals berth.
Australia's leading male surfers Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will both be in action in the elimination round.
Robinson takes on Indonesia's Rio Waida, while Ewing has drawn Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan is already through to the round of 16 after dominating his heat against Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi and Brazilan Alejo Muniz.
Competition at the World Surf League's Rio Pro has been put on hold again, with conditions still not suitable for heats.
After three consecutive lay days, conditions have not improved at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break, with onshore wind and waves closing out in the six-foot range on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). "We were surprised today at how strong the swell and the currents were at Praia de Itauna,'' said WSL spokesman Renato Hickel.
"We watched a lot of the free surfs and there are definitely no opportunities to run heats.
"We made a couple of calls, hoping that conditions would improve, which did not happen, so we decided to call the event off for the day. Now we're putting all our bets on a full day tomorrow."
The women's draw is up to the quarter-final stage, with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright flying the Australian flag.
World No.3 Picklum, who can take over the rankings lead with another heat win, faces Peru's Arena Rodriguez, competing in her first Championship Tour event.
The 19-year-old produced the biggest shock of the event when she knocked out world No.1 Gabriela Bryan.
Picklum is the only surfer in the world's top five to make the quarter-finals.
Two-time world champion Wright will take on local hope and fan favourite Luana Silva for a semi-finals berth.
Australia's leading male surfers Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will both be in action in the elimination round.
Robinson takes on Indonesia's Rio Waida, while Ewing has drawn Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan is already through to the round of 16 after dominating his heat against Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi and Brazilan Alejo Muniz.
Competition at the World Surf League's Rio Pro has been put on hold again, with conditions still not suitable for heats.
After three consecutive lay days, conditions have not improved at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break, with onshore wind and waves closing out in the six-foot range on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). "We were surprised today at how strong the swell and the currents were at Praia de Itauna,'' said WSL spokesman Renato Hickel.
"We watched a lot of the free surfs and there are definitely no opportunities to run heats.
"We made a couple of calls, hoping that conditions would improve, which did not happen, so we decided to call the event off for the day. Now we're putting all our bets on a full day tomorrow."
The women's draw is up to the quarter-final stage, with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright flying the Australian flag.
World No.3 Picklum, who can take over the rankings lead with another heat win, faces Peru's Arena Rodriguez, competing in her first Championship Tour event.
The 19-year-old produced the biggest shock of the event when she knocked out world No.1 Gabriela Bryan.
Picklum is the only surfer in the world's top five to make the quarter-finals.
Two-time world champion Wright will take on local hope and fan favourite Luana Silva for a semi-finals berth.
Australia's leading male surfers Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will both be in action in the elimination round.
Robinson takes on Indonesia's Rio Waida, while Ewing has drawn Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan is already through to the round of 16 after dominating his heat against Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi and Brazilan Alejo Muniz.
Competition at the World Surf League's Rio Pro has been put on hold again, with conditions still not suitable for heats.
After three consecutive lay days, conditions have not improved at Brazil's Praia de Itauna break, with onshore wind and waves closing out in the six-foot range on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). "We were surprised today at how strong the swell and the currents were at Praia de Itauna,'' said WSL spokesman Renato Hickel.
"We watched a lot of the free surfs and there are definitely no opportunities to run heats.
"We made a couple of calls, hoping that conditions would improve, which did not happen, so we decided to call the event off for the day. Now we're putting all our bets on a full day tomorrow."
The women's draw is up to the quarter-final stage, with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright flying the Australian flag.
World No.3 Picklum, who can take over the rankings lead with another heat win, faces Peru's Arena Rodriguez, competing in her first Championship Tour event.
The 19-year-old produced the biggest shock of the event when she knocked out world No.1 Gabriela Bryan.
Picklum is the only surfer in the world's top five to make the quarter-finals.
Two-time world champion Wright will take on local hope and fan favourite Luana Silva for a semi-finals berth.
Australia's leading male surfers Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will both be in action in the elimination round.
Robinson takes on Indonesia's Rio Waida, while Ewing has drawn Frenchman Marco Mignot.
With two more competitions before the Finals-bound top five head to Cloudbreak in Fiji to decide the world champion, Ewing is ranked six and Robinson seven.
Sydney rookie Joel Vaughan is already through to the round of 16 after dominating his heat against Japan's third-ranked Kanoa Igarashi and Brazilan Alejo Muniz.
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