Resurfaced Clip Reveals 7-Time Surfing World Champion’s Stunning South African Wave Maneuvers

Stephanie Gilmore secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Corona Open earlier this week. The Australian surfer had previously showcased her exceptional skills in 2018. A resurfaced clip reminded her fans of that historic moment. In the clip, Gilmore can be seen effortlessly surfing massive waves in South Africa, executing flawless maneuvers with precision and grace.

Now five years later, the eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is still dominating the surfing scene with her unparalleled talent. Let us revisit her incredible performance in 2018 and witness a legacy in the making.

A timeless legacy of a surfing icon

Stephanie Gilmore was enjoying one win after the other in 2018. This winning streak continued in the Corona Open held in South Africa’s Jeffreys Bay. In the finals of the Corona Open J-Bay Women’s 2018 event, Stephanie Gilmore claimed her third victory of the season. Gilmore was competing against the U.S. surfer Lakey Peterson for the top spot on the leaderboard. Peterson was in her usual peak form up until the Finals. Stephanie Gilmore, on the other hand, maintained her momentum and delivered a solid performance, securing the top spot on the leaderboard. She earned 7.60 and 6.57 points in the Finals.

In the resurfaced clip posted on the World Surf League’s YouTube channel, we can see Gilmore’s performance that solidified her win. The video was titled, “throwback to 2018 when @stephaniegilmore took out the #CoronaOpenJBay”. She made a clean start and maintained a smooth ride throughout the entire heat. Gilmore maneuvered from the open face to the power source with precision and grace, executing powerful turns and stylish cutbacks.

Finally, in classic Stephanie Gilmore fashion, she made a full wrap into the pocket. All the while, the Australian surfer stayed on her feet and showcased exceptional control over her board. Gilmore made a strong finish with a top turn at the break. This victory greatly mattered to her as it put her at the top.

A game-changing victory

When Gilmore entered the Finals against Peterson, both athletes had similar standings. Both surfers had two wins for their stake in the 2018 World Championships. The Corona Open J-Bay win was crucial as it would decide the frontrunner in the World Title race and who would don the coveted Jeep Leader Jersey for the remainder of the season. Peterson was in top form throughout the tournament, even ousting fan favorite Bianca Buitendag in the Semi-finals round. But in the Finals, she fell short of Gilmore’s stunning performance.

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With the win, Gilmore managed to pull ahead of Peterson by a 2.74-point margin. The scores on the Jeep Leaderboard also changed, with Gilmore moving to the top rank. She credited Lakey Peterson for always motivating her to push her boundaries. Now that she is participating in the 2023 Corona Open, we will get to see the maestro back in action.

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