Stephanie Gilmore made a shock early exit in Newcaslte today. Picture: Australia Surfing Source: Supplied
FIVE-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore was a shock early casualty at the Hunter Ports Classic in Newcastle, NSW, with the champion surfer finishing last in only her second competition surf of the year this morning.
Starved of waves in the final stage of the four-woman heat, Gilmore was unable to find a wave capable of delivering her the low score of 5.1 she needed to advance at the early season tournament.
Gilmore's heat was dominated by French surfer Alize Arnaud, who scored 15.17 in the four-woman heat.
Yesterday Gilmore had managed to fight her way into the second round of the event at Merewether by catching a wave just three minutes from the end of her heat which saw her leap from last to first in her first competition outing of the year.
Gilmore said later she was using the event at Newcastle to ``iron out'' things after more than six months away from competition following her world title victory in France mid last year.
``Better here than at the Roxy Pro,'' Gilmore said, referring to the opening round of the ASP World Tour at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast early next month.
Tonight Gilmore will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Surfing Australia awards.
She and fellow world champion Joel Parkinson are also tipped to win the Surfer of the Year awards.
Parkinson will make his first appearace in the Newcastle tournament later today.
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