ADVERTISEMENT

Sally reigns supreme in Windy Wild West

The best of sth coast frenemies face off and Sally tames Tyler.

Sally Fitzgibbons has never been my favourite surfer, she’s always solid, the competition surfer through and through. Never before has she excited me. But Sally Fitzgibbons is the only surfer on tour I have surfed next to in the open ocean. Before Snapper kicked off I saw Sally at the East Coast’s favourite burger – Sandon Point. She was taking off on these weird little growers behind the boil and pumping through into a big old tube to turn combo, then smile on face she full pace paddled back around me to again take off on a wave that looked like nothing and turned it into something. I feel like that was the attitude she carried into the West. She was able to turn every obscure, adverse condition into something pretty bloody special.

Sally's surfing in this event was characterised by more committed, on-rail turns. Photo WSL

This competition Sally excited me. Sally gave us the most ferocious surfing the buxom Mainbreak wave played host to by the women during the comp. Taking out the big names the whole way through­ – Carissa, Steph and Tyler.

Tyler's precise power attack made her a favourite going into the final, but her form slumped at the wrong moment. Photo WSL

There has been a marked change in attitude and performance from Fitzgibbons in 2017. It could have been a year that saw the once title contender fade out and fall off tour, retiring to the halls of mediocrity. Instead, something has clicked; she’s pushing her turns with more power whilst ironing out the once shaky style. The nonchalant John John dropped arms have crept into her surfing and dayummmm Sal looks good. I wouldn’t have picked Sally to beat Tyler at one of the power waves on tour, but she did and did it convincingly. Reinvention is a powerful force and right now Sally Fitzgibbons has unlocked its secrets. For women’s surfing it’s a fine thing because the more colourful characters there are in the race for the coveted women’s crown, the more compelling the WSL is to watch. I’ll certainly be much more careful about playing favourites in the future.   

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SUBSCRIBE TO TRACKS
A bi-monthly eclectic tome of tangible surfing goodness that celebrates all things surfing, delivered to your door!
SUBSCRIBE NOW
HAPPENINGS
Your portal to cultural events happening in and around the surfing sphere.
Find Events
SUBSCRIBE TO TRACKS
A bi-monthly eclectic tome of tangible surfing goodness that celebrates all things surfing, delivered to your door!
SUBSCRIBE NOW
HAPPENINGS
Your portal to cultural events happening in and around the surfing sphere.
Find Events

LATEST

Ellie Harrison's dream CT debut just got a whole lot more dreamy.

Pairing Italy's famous delicacies with a healthy dose of barrels.

The formation of Goons of Doom, why you should get pissed at their gigs and what a band with Occy, Steph Gilmore, Yago Dora and Jacko Baker would sound like.

ADVERTISEMENT

PREMIUM FEATURES

Bestowing the highest praise upon a surfer.

An edited extract from ‘The Immortals of Australian Surfing’ by Phil Jarratt.

How a land-locked mainlander chased ocean dreams to the North Shore lineups and beyond.

TRACKS PREMIUM

Get full access to every feature from our print issues, read classic Tracks issues from the 70s, 80s and 90’s, watch all of our classic films & more …

TRACKS PREMIUM

Get full access to every feature from our print issues, read classic Tracks issues from the 70s, 80s and 90’s, watch all of our classic films & more …

CLASSIC ISSUES

A threat to Angourie, the death of vibes, and a tongue in cheek guide on how to become a surf star.

PREMIUM FILM

YEAR: 2008
STARRING: JOEL PARKINSON, MICK FANNING AND DEAN MORRISON

This is the last time the original cooly kids were captured together and features some of their best surfing.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

PRINT STORE

Unmistakable and iconic, the Tracks covers from the 70s & 80s are now ready for your walls.

Tracks
Kandui Resort Interstitial