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Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore fought her way into the finals of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach contest, but finished second to Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons, who won her first Association of Surfing Professionals title.
The finals Saturday featured Moore, 18, the top woman surfer in the world, against Fitzgibbons, now number 2 in the world with the win, in glassy three- to four-foot surf at Bells Beach, Australia, according to the contest website.
"It’s extra special to win it this year for the 50 years event," Fitzgibbons said. "Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always watched my heroes surf and win here and I’ve always dreamed of ringing the Bell and now that it’s happened, I don’t know what to say. The other night at the 50-year ball, I saw all my icons on stage and I was so inspired. So to win right now is a dream come true."
"I’m stoked to have made the Final with Sally (Fitzgibbons)," Moore said. "For her to come out on top was awesome. We’ve have a lot of good clashes last year and this year, and her win’s been a long time coming so congrats to her. Of course I would have liked to have rung the Bell, but that may have to happen next year."
Moore beat Silvana Lima, 26, of Brazil, in the semi-finals.
"Very happy with my performance at Bells and that we had good waves for the girls," Lima said. "I’m sad that I couldn’t make the Final, but Carissa (Moore) was surfing really well and she deserves it. I’m looking forward to New Zealand."
On the men’s side, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, Kelly Slater (USA), 39, Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, and Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinals.
