In a repeat of the the 2017 Margaret River Pro final, Hawaiian John John Florence defeated Kolohe Andino (USA) in the thrilling final of the 2019 event. With the women's semifinals placed on hold early on Tuesday due to a shark sighting, it was not long before the world's best were out once again, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) taking on Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons in the first heat of the quarterfinals. Fitzgibbons was leading Weston-Webb by 0.01 with just 90 seconds remaining. But Weston-Webb pulled off a seven-point wave with her final attempt to snatch victory, finishing with 13.33. The other semi-final was also a thrilling affair, with Peterson (15.97) coming up trumps against Moore (15.80) not long after the shark sighting. Peterson and Weston-Webb lined up in the final with both surfers posting low scores until mid-round, Peterson with a heat-best 6.93 and a combined score of 13.33 besting Weston-Webb's 10.40 to collect her first event win for 2019. Following the final, runner up Weston-Webb gave special mention to those watching over surfers during the event. "Just a shout out to the water patrol, they are always super super aware of everything that's happening and helping us compete – without them we wouldn't be safe, so thanks to those guys," she said. Peterson said she had overcome some hurdles to achieve her win. "It was cool, we had some waves today that were a little bit bigger than yesterday. It's such a beautiful place, thank you guys so much for having us, it's been an incredible week and I couldn't be more stoked." Two time world champion John John Florence said his latest win at Margaret River came after a long year of injury struggles. "It feels great to be in the spot I'm in now, especially after the whole last year, trying to get through the knee injury," Florence said. The Hawaiian surfer posted a near perfect 9.50 early in the final opposite Andino, followed by another impressive 9.00 wave to close out the victory with an 18.50 combined score to Andino's 15.10. "It was definitely icing on the cake, it was funny when I finished the wave I didn't even think about how I surfed it, I just thought 'yes, I kept Kolohe off that one'," he said. "For it to be a 9.50, I was super stoked. To be in the final here twice is really special and Kolohe really pushes my surfing." Florence joined in the praise for the Margaret River event, saying locals had made the visiting surfers feel welcome. "I just want to thank you all for letting us come down here and surf your waves. To water patrol, you guys have done so well with making us feel really good out there."
Margaret River Pro 2019: Champions crowned
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Best in the West: 2019 Margaret River Pro champions John John Florence and Lakey Peterson with their trophies. Photo: WSL/Dunbar
In a repeat of the the 2017 Margaret River Pro final, Hawaiian John John Florence defeated Kolohe Andino (USA) in the thrilling final of the 2019 event.
With the women's semifinals placed on hold early on Tuesday due to a shark sighting, it was not long before the world's best were out once again, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) taking on Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons in the first heat of the quarterfinals.
Fitzgibbons was leading Weston-Webb by 0.01 with just 90 seconds remaining. But Weston-Webb pulled off a seven-point wave with her final attempt to snatch victory, finishing with 13.33.
The other semi-final was also a thrilling affair, with Peterson (15.97) coming up trumps against Moore (15.80) not long after the shark sighting.
Peterson and Weston-Webb lined up in the final with both surfers posting low scores until mid-round, Peterson with a heat-best 6.93 and a combined score of 13.33 besting Weston-Webb's 10.40 to collect her first event win for 2019.
Following the final, runner up Weston-Webb gave special mention to those watching over surfers during the event.
"Just a shout out to the water patrol, they are always super super aware of everything that's happening and helping us compete – without them we wouldn&Read More – Source
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