Delayed Fiji Pro final could favour outsider Weston-Webb

DISAPPOINTING conditions have seen the Outerknown Fiji Pro women’s final delayed until Sunday.

The title fight between Courtney Conlogue and Tatiana Weston-Webb was set for Friday, but calm waters at Cloudbreak have forced World Surf League officials to reschedule for the weekend.

“Final day of the window and we don’t have any surf on offer,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, deputy commissioner of the WSL.

“The concept behind the OK Fiji Pro is to have both the men and women challenge themselves in solid, critical conditions.

“We can’t always promise that and while we’ve had some impressive surfing already this week, conditions deteriorated too rapidly to complete the event.

“Coordinating with Commissioner Kieren Perrow and our events team across logistics, we’re very excited to announce that the women’s final of the OK Fiji Pro will be held Sunday morning in projected solid surf at Cloudbreak.”

Things were not much better during the semifinals, with minimal swell on offer for the top four.

“I’m just happy I got through that heat,” said Conlogue, who downed reigning world champion Tyler Wright to reach the decider.

“We were fighting for 3’s out there, which very rarely happens at Cloudbreak.

“I’m really happy to be in the Final and I’m looking forward to having some fun exchanges.”

Less impressed with the conditions in Fiji was Sage Erickson.

The standout performer in the early heats was left fuming after she managed only a 2.14 in her quarterfinal defeat to Wright.

“I haven’t been this pissed in a really long time,” said Erickson.

“It sucks that I didn’t have the opportunity.

“I feel like my surfing is there, and it was really irritating to come up in a heat when there weren’t many waves.

“She [Wright] got 6’s, it wasn’t a knockout, so I do take some confidence from that.

“I’ll take a lot from this event, but I’m not happy.”

Conlogue heads into Sunday’s final as the -138.89 favourite at online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au.

The outsider is Weston-Webb, who edged out Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons by a mere 0.14 in the semis.

However, that situation could change if the surf forecast holds true.

Conditions at Cloudbreak are expected to pick up considerably, with swells of up to 12 feet predicted for the delayed decider.

Such a situation would play right into the hands of Weston-Webb – a noted performer on big waves.

Should those pipes arrives as promised, the Brazil-born starlet could attract plenty of interest from punters at +110 odds.