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Hawaii’s Moore upset by Australian rookie at U.S. Open of Surfing

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COURTESY WSL

Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb finds the left she needed for a 7.83 to take a round four heat win at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing today in Huntington Beach, Calif.

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COURTESY WSL

Hawaii’s Carissa Moore was eliminated from the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing today in Huntington Beach, Calif.

A rookie from Australia ousted Hawaii’s Carissa Moore from the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing today, but two other Hawaii surfers advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s competition in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Australia’s Keely Andrew upset the three-time World Surf League champion in the fourth round of heat 3. Moore started off with a solid 6.00 wave, but Andrew came back with a strong 6.50 wave, according to a World Surf League news release.

Moore will leave the contest in ninth place, her worst result of the season.

“Just having the opportunity to surf against Carissa [Moore] is insane because she has always been one of my influences growing up,” Andrew said in the news release.

Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb advanced to the quarterfinals after knocking out Australia’s Laura Enever in the second round of heat 2.

Weston-Webb earned the highest score of the fourth round, a 14.16. She also earned the highest single-wave score of the day, a 7.83, and will face Southern California’s own Courtney Conlogue in the quarterfinals.

“I took a more positive approach into the lineup with the wave size today and really wanted to surf with confidence and flow,” Weston-Webb said. “I am definitely feeling more comfortable with my surfing in these smaller conditions now with that win. Hopefully we get more waves for the quarters, but if not I’ll surf the way I know how to.”

Two Hawaii surfers battled in the final heat of the fourth round. Malia Manuel and Coco Ho also faced off last weekend in the Supergirl Pro QS event finals.

Manuel unleashed two-turn combination maneuvers to advance to the quarterfinals where she will face six-time WSL champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia.

“I was just trying to get in the zone and stay focused,” Manuel said. “I wanted to simplify things and focus on mother nature.”

After the women surfed for four rounds, the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing Men’s QS10,000 began with three rounds.

Hawaii’s Torrey Meister eliminated Matt Banting of Australia and Florida’s Evan Geiselman.

“I never feel like I have it on lock out there with those guys in my heat being some of the best surfers around,” Meister said.”They really didn’t need a big score so I was just hanging on.”

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