The Queen Vs. The Champ: Stephanie Gilmore Knocks Out Caity Simmers at the Gold Coast Pro

Performance-wise, it wasn’t an all-time heat, especially for their lofty standards. Both surfers had just over 12-point heat totals. But it represented the classic rivalry we love so much in competitive surfing: Youth versus experience. 

The setting, however, was picture perfect. Shoulder high rights peeling into the cove at Burleigh Heads. Bright blue water matched only by the vivid sky. It couldn’t have been drawn up better by the Gold Coast tourism department. Steph picked off the first wave, weaving a long way for a single snap and an inconsequential 2-pointer. Caity followed suit with a similar too-fast wave for a 2.73. 

After a long lull, a crystal clear set that caught the event buoy. Steph caught the first wave and did a reliable snap to carve combo. Good surfing, but not exactly dynamite. Caity, meanwhile, was on the wave right behind Steph. She got a couple of swoops in and before hacking the lip off the end section. Caity easily won the first exchange (8 to Steph’s 6.67). 

Their styles are different as they are special. Steph is the point goddess, a born smooth operator. Caity, by contrast, is true to her Oceanside skate-style. On their main exchange, it was Caity who showcased more variety and power on her first real ride of the morning. 

But then Steph, the eight-time world champion, rose to the occasion. With just under five minutes left, she trailed and needed a 4.07. She took a shoulder-high runner, under priority, and unleashed three solid maneuvers. One standard carve followed by another that reversed her fins, all punctuated with a critical floater over a section that had been eating people alive all morning. A 6.17 and a hearty applause from the crowd. A decent score, but nothing world-beating. Or was it? 

With Steph holding a 12.84 for pocket sixes, now it was Caity’s turn to trail. She already had the best wave of the heat, now it was time for a backup. But she used her priority on a mid-sized wave that lacked umph. It was a softer, slopey wall that didn’t really allow her to get out of first gear. She tapped around before falling down the line. A 4.5, a leash-string away from victory. Steph gets the narrow win, 12.84 - 12.50, and moves on to the quarters.

But the youth versus experience storyline isn't played out yet. Steph will have another test on her hands as he next matchup against Erin Brooks (Who's currently dropping 9-point rides). Bring it on.