Exciting Day at Women’s Round 3 Surf Competition in Tahiti

The women’s round 3 surf competition kicked off early on Thursday, August 1, at the stunning location of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Sixteen talented surfers took to the waves, facing unpredictable surf conditions with waves ranging from four to six feet. While some surfers snagged tube rides, most of the action was dominated by sharp turns and carves on the bumpy yet clean wave faces, a far cry from the smooth heat held just a few days earlier.

As the competition unfolded over eight heats, the roster of participants was trimmed down to just eight, who advanced to the quarter-finals. The heats featured surfers from various countries, each battling for their shot at victory.

Notably, the competition brought disappointment for fans on the beach as the world’s number one surfer from Team USA, Marks, and local fan-favorite Fierro from France, were both eliminated. Their exit left many wondering what could have been.

In heat one, Team USA’s Marks featured prominently, scoring 6.93 points in her heat to advance over the 15-year-old surfer from the People’s Republic of China, who scored just 1.63 points, marking a notable end to her impressive run in the competition.

Heat two saw Australia’s Tyler Wright shine with a leading score of 11.10 points, earning the first tube rides of the day. She surpassed Israel’s competitor who finished with 7.74 points after putting together strong frontside carves.

Heat three was a tough one for the local crowd as France’s Defay advanced with a score of 9.00, knocking out her compatriot Fierro, who could only manage 7.54 points despite some stunning tube rides. After her defeat, an emotional Fierro expressed her gratitude for the support she received in Tahiti and remained focused on her future goals.

In heat four, defending Olympic champ and Team USA’s Moore showcased her skills with a solid performance, scoring 8.16 points to leave South Africa’s contender trailing at 3.87 points.

Spain’s Erostarbe took the lead in heat five, scoring 8.34 points, while Japan’s Matsudo couldn’t catch up, finishing with 5.84 points.

Heat six was one of the day’s big highlights as Brazil’s Weston-Webb delivered an impressive performance, racking up 12.34 points, including a fantastic tube ride and a strong carve. Unfortunately for Team USA’s Simmers, she finished with a disappointing score of 1.93 points, marking the end of her journey in this Olympic contest.

In heat seven, it was a close battle between two Brazilian surfers, with Silva edging out her compatriot with a score of 6.77 against 5.93.

Finally, heat eight saw Costa Rica’s Hennessy coming in strong, matching the highest score of the day at 12.34 points and pushing her way past her opponent who scored 9.90 points. Hennessy has proven herself to be a fierce competitor, showcasing impressive performances throughout the competition.