TARANAKI, New Plymouth/New Zealand (Wednesday, April 27, 2011)
Organisers of the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival have been forced to call the event OFF for the day, due to gale force winds that have rendered the surf uncontestable at both the event’s locations of Fitzroy Beach and Back Beach in Taranaki, New Zealand.
The event was placed on hold until 12.30pm while officials assessed conditions at both beaches before deciding to call the event off due to dangerous conditions.
“We should be seeing waste to shoulder high surf but unfortunately we had quite a bit of wind overnight which has played a big part in keeping that size right down,” Jason Matthews, Contest Director said. “If the wind wasn’t there we would probably be all action today but unfortunately we’ve had to call the event off. We want the girls to have best possible waves and with the wind expected to abate throughout the week, we’ve decided it would be best to make another call tomorrow."
Surfers will reconvene at 06.30am tomorrow morning for a possible Round 1 start.
The TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival will be webcast LIVE via http://www.nzsurffestival.co.nz/
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TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival Round 1 Match Ups:
Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS); Chelsea Hedges (AUS); Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (PER); Courtney Conlogue (USA); Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW); Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS); ?
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS); Pauline Ado (FRA); Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS); Laura Enever (AUS); Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW); Sofia Mulanovich (PER); Melanie Bartels (HAW)