Fitzgibbons downs Moore for Rio surf win

Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons came back to defeat Hawaii’s Carissa Moore in the final of the Rio Women’s Pro presented by Billabong on Monday.

Moore, a two-time women’s world champion, posted an 8.50 on her first ride in 2- to 4-foot surf at Barra da Tijuca, Brazil, but Fitzgibbons countered with scores of 9.27 and 7.00 and outpointed the top-ranked Moore 16.27 to 14.27 to claim her first ASP Women’s World Tour title of the year.

Earlier, Fitzgibbons downed Hawaii’s Coco Ho, and Moore beat fellow local girl Alessa Quizon en route to their finals showdown.

On the men’s side, Tahiti’s Michel Bourez outpointed California’s Kolohe Andino 13.84 to 6.43 to capture the Billabong Rio Pro, claiming his second WCT crown of the season.

Hawaii’s Sebastian Zietz defeated Australia’s Josh Kerr before falling to Aussie Taj Burrow in the quarterfinals.