Gilmore beats world champ in surf duel of generations
Gilmore, 37, is through to the quarter-finals in her first World Surf League event for nearly two years after beating the 19-year-old American on Thursday in the round of 16 at Burleigh Heads.
The Australian eight-time world champion relished her tactical battle with the reigning world champion and current world No.2, edging her out 12.84 to 12.50 after Simmers fell at a crucial point in the heat.
"Caity's one of my favorite surfers - she's the current world champion, she's probably everyone's favorite surfer," wildcard entry Gilmore said.
"She's so unpredictable and just fluid and really great to watch.
"It's nerve-wracking surfing against people like that, but it really brings out the best in you because you have to find ways to win and dig deep and find new strategies and stuff, and I just enjoyed it a lot."
It was a day of upsets, with Australian Sally Fitzgibbons beating compatriot and world No.5 Tyler Wright.
Hawaiian world No.1 Gabriela Bryan was another big-name casualty, falling to Brazilian Luana Silva.
Men's world No.2 Ethan Ewing also fell in an all-Australian heat, taken out by wildcard Morgan Cibilic.
Gilmore will have another inter-generational heat in the quarters, taking on 17-year-old Canadian rookie Erin Brooks.
While some of the guns misfired, Australian world No.3 Molly Picklum put an upset Bells Beach loss behind her with the highest women's heat score of the day, a 16.27, to also reach the quarters.
Picklum will face Fitzgibbons in an all-Australian heat.
Compatriot Isabella Nichols, who won Bells for the first time, was another to progress as Brazilian two-time world champion Filipe Toledo shone.
Half of the men's round of 32 heats were run on Thursday and Toledo stood out, posting a 9.37 wave score and a total of 17.87.
Competition resumed on Thursday after a three-day break and will run deep into the weekend, with the finals potentially not decided until Monday.
Stephanie Gilmore still has it, beating Caity Simmers in surfing's hotly-anticipated duel of generations at the Gold Coast Pro.
Gilmore, 37, is through to the quarter-finals in her first World Surf League event for nearly two years after beating the 19-year-old American on Thursday in the round of 16 at Burleigh Heads.
The Australian eight-time world champion relished her tactical battle with the reigning world champion and current world No.2, edging her out 12.84 to 12.50 after Simmers fell at a crucial point in the heat.
"Caity's one of my favorite surfers - she's the current world champion, she's probably everyone's favorite surfer," wildcard entry Gilmore said.
"She's so unpredictable and just fluid and really great to watch.
"It's nerve-wracking surfing against people like that, but it really brings out the best in you because you have to find ways to win and dig deep and find new strategies and stuff, and I just enjoyed it a lot."
It was a day of upsets, with Australian Sally Fitzgibbons beating compatriot and world No.5 Tyler Wright.
Hawaiian world No.1 Gabriela Bryan was another big-name casualty, falling to Brazilian Luana Silva.
Men's world No.2 Ethan Ewing also fell in an all-Australian heat, taken out by wildcard Morgan Cibilic.
Gilmore will have another inter-generational heat in the quarters, taking on 17-year-old Canadian rookie Erin Brooks.
While some of the guns misfired, Australian world No.3 Molly Picklum put an upset Bells Beach loss behind her with the highest women's heat score of the day, a 16.27, to also reach the quarters.
Picklum will face Fitzgibbons in an all-Australian heat.
Compatriot Isabella Nichols, who won Bells for the first time, was another to progress as Brazilian two-time world champion Filipe Toledo shone.
Half of the men's round of 32 heats were run on Thursday and Toledo stood out, posting a 9.37 wave score and a total of 17.87.
Competition resumed on Thursday after a three-day break and will run deep into the weekend, with the finals potentially not decided until Monday.
Stephanie Gilmore still has it, beating Caity Simmers in surfing's hotly-anticipated duel of generations at the Gold Coast Pro.
Gilmore, 37, is through to the quarter-finals in her first World Surf League event for nearly two years after beating the 19-year-old American on Thursday in the round of 16 at Burleigh Heads.
The Australian eight-time world champion relished her tactical battle with the reigning world champion and current world No.2, edging her out 12.84 to 12.50 after Simmers fell at a crucial point in the heat.
"Caity's one of my favorite surfers - she's the current world champion, she's probably everyone's favorite surfer," wildcard entry Gilmore said.
"She's so unpredictable and just fluid and really great to watch.
"It's nerve-wracking surfing against people like that, but it really brings out the best in you because you have to find ways to win and dig deep and find new strategies and stuff, and I just enjoyed it a lot."
It was a day of upsets, with Australian Sally Fitzgibbons beating compatriot and world No.5 Tyler Wright.
Hawaiian world No.1 Gabriela Bryan was another big-name casualty, falling to Brazilian Luana Silva.
Men's world No.2 Ethan Ewing also fell in an all-Australian heat, taken out by wildcard Morgan Cibilic.
Gilmore will have another inter-generational heat in the quarters, taking on 17-year-old Canadian rookie Erin Brooks.
While some of the guns misfired, Australian world No.3 Molly Picklum put an upset Bells Beach loss behind her with the highest women's heat score of the day, a 16.27, to also reach the quarters.
Picklum will face Fitzgibbons in an all-Australian heat.
Compatriot Isabella Nichols, who won Bells for the first time, was another to progress as Brazilian two-time world champion Filipe Toledo shone.
Half of the men's round of 32 heats were run on Thursday and Toledo stood out, posting a 9.37 wave score and a total of 17.87.
Competition resumed on Thursday after a three-day break and will run deep into the weekend, with the finals potentially not decided until Monday.
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