17 May 2015

Christie finishes 5th in Rio

11:24 am on 17 May 2015

The Mahia surfer Ricardo Christie has finished 5th at the latest world surf league event in Brazil, his highest result so far on tour.

Ricardo Christie, Rio, 2015.

Ricardo Christie, Rio, 2015. Photo: WSL

Christie, who's in his first year in the elite competition, won through to Sunday's quarterfinals with giant killing effort, knocking out the world number one Adriano de Souza in the heats.

In the quarters, he faced Brazilian world number three Felipe Toledo, who prevailed in the light conditions at Rio's Barra da Tijuca.

Toledo had the highest two-wave score, eliminating the rookie 15 points to 11.5 in the beachbreak.

Toledo will face compatriot and qualifier Italo Ferreiro in the next round, while the Australians Matt Wilkinson and Bede Durbidge contest the other semi final

In the women's event on the fourth stop on tour, Australia's Keely Andrew powered into the quarter-finals as an injury replacement for world number three Stephanie Gilmour.

Andrew accounted for the in-form Tyler Wright in the opening round, stumbled in the third but then beat French surfer Johanne Defay in round four 14.33 to 13.

She is joined in the quarters by world number four Wright who gained direct entry from round three with the best heat score of the day, 17.57 points out of a possible 20.

The fifth-ranked Sally Fitzgibbons was pipped in round four by South African Bianca Buitendag 15.70 to 14.23.

Buitendag faces Lakey Peterson of the USA in the next round, who was first to secure her place in the quarterfinals when she stormed to victory in a round 3 win over defending event winner Fitzgibbons and wildcard Andrew with a near-perfect 9 point ride.

Lakey Peterson (USA) powers her way through to the Quarterfinals

Lakey Peterson (USA) powers her way through to the Quarterfinals Photo: WSL

The current standings leaders Hawaiian Carrisa Moore and Californian Courtney Conlogue also made the last eight.