Friday, March 29, 2024

Chelsea settles for third

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Peru’s Lucca Mesinas Novaro and Costa Rica’s Leilani McGonagle surfed away with the top male and female titles respectively during the World Surf League’s Barbados Surf Pro at Drill Hall Beach yesterday.

On a day where the conditions were quite overcast and rainy in periods, and the waves diminished as the day went by, they set the pace to gain US $12 000 each.

Novaro, who is currently ranked 41st in the world, had an excellent wave selection with his highest scoring waves 9.50 and 8.00 during the 30-minute final defeated Brazilian Alex Ribeiro, whose highest was 5.83.

And that performance was no surprise since he performed outstandingly throughout the competition which began on Tuesday.

“It was for sure super slow [today] but I knew I had to wait for the best waves and I did super good so it worked for me,” said Novaro.

“I love being in Barbados the waves were good throughout the competition and I was so happy to be here. I really liked this place it’s super nice and I like the people, food and everything.”

The Live Like Zander Junior Pro Champion, McGonagle caught the better waves with her highest a 5.17 go defeat Summer Macedo of Hawaii, who got some slow waves and displayed manoeuvres which weren’t as powerful.

The champion said she felt at home since she usually surfed on a similar break back home in Costa Rica.

“I feel like so happy right now. It’s such a big step for me and I honestly was just coming into this event trying to make some points and I ended up winning the event so I feel so happy and I have no words to explain,” said McGonagle.

“I live on a left point break which is pretty similar to Drill Hall so I felt very comfortable and confident out there. That heat was definitely the most nerve racking heat I ever had and in the last minute I got a wave. It was like a long stressful five minutes.”

Hometown girl Chelsea Roett placed third overall after she missed out on a place in the final when Hawaii’s Macedo proved better to the judges in the semi-final.

“The waves weren’t that great today and I just knew that I had to catch waves early and I did my first couple heats, but my last was taking kind of long so that’s why I got knocked out. The other girl caught two waves quick and I had to wait a little longer. But it was still nice and clean and those girls are having a good final now,” said Roett.

In the men’s competition Barbados’ Joshua Burke placed ninth overall. (RG)

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