On fire: Sally Fitzgibbons is into the semi-finals of the Margaret River Pro.
SURFING
A pre-dawn soul surfing session sparked Sally Fitzgibbons to a dominant performance in the quarter-finals of the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia.
After a less than convincing display in the previous day's fourth round, the Gerroa glamour girl was much more assertive yesterday, thrashing Hawaiian Alana Blanchard 15.40 to 4.77 in their quarter-final clash.
Fitzgibbons, 22, has set up a semi-final duel with fellow South Coast girl Tyler Wright, who pulled out a winning ride in the closing stages of her quarter-final against New Zealand's Paige Hareb.
Fitzgibbons will be keen for revenge today after losing to Wright in the final of the recent Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast.
"It was challenging out there, but it was really contestable," the World No 2 said of her victory over Blanchard.
"I had my eyes on the left, but the rights just kept coming my way.
"I got up at 5am this morning and got out there to get a feel for how the ocean was connecting, which I think really helped."
Wright is getting a reputation for producing in crunch time. Her clutch win over Hareb was not unlike her last-minute triumph over Fitzgibbons at Snapper Rocks.
"I'm super excited to make the finals here," the 18-year-old from Culburra said.
Reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore will meet 2011 champion Carissa Moore in today's other semi-final.
