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Corona Classic On Hold
Corona Classic On Hold
JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Friday, July 6, 2018) - The world's best female surfers returned to Jeffreys Bay for the first time since 2000 when Rounds 1 and 2 of the Women's Corona Open J-Bay, Stop No. 6 on World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) were contested in 1.3 - 2 metre waves at the world-famous Supertubes.
The goofyfooters stole the show with Round 1's biggest wins going to surfers who ride with their right foot in front like South African event wildcard Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), World No. 3 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), second year CT member Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and rookie Caroline Marks (AUS).
Buitendag, who spent four years on the CT, dropping off the elite tour at the end of 2016, showed the benefits of her local knowledge with a huge win over World No. 1 Lakey Peterson (USA) and Malia Manuel (HAW) in Round 1 Heat 3. The local hero clinched the massive upset with an impressive 8.87 points on her final ride in the 35 minute encounter. In her post-heat interview, Buitendag admitted her struggles with a recent back injury, but that did not stop her from taking a big win in front of her home crowd.
"I think for all the girls it is hard to believe we are actually here," said Buitendag. "It is actually four-to-six foot (1.3 - 2 metres) and running all the way down, so it is a bit surreal but we are settling into it. I'm very happy to be here. Maybe it doesn't seem so, but every time I try to bottom-turn or finish a turn, it kind of locks up in my lower back. I've been working twice a day to recover. I guess I'm ready, I'm here and making some heats."
The organisers of the Corona Open J-Bay called the competition off until July 10, due to small and inconsistent surf on offer at Supertubes. "We are going to do the next call on Wednesday," said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Deputy Commissioner.

