INTERNATIONAL NEWS - The World Surf League (WSL) Women's Qualifying Series (QS) Copa El Salvador Impresionante QS6000 presented by Body Glove crowned Keely Andrew (AUS) as the 2016 champion after a spectacular event came to an end.
Andrew had to overcome an in-form Alessa Quizon (HAW) in the Final but managed to find her two gems amidst tough conditions. The morning began in clean, three-to-five foot waves before the prevailing onshore wind took hold and surfers had to be patient to find the gems that still remained.
Earning runner-up here last year, Andrew came back with a score to settle at Punta Roca and looked determined to win.
Posting one of the event's highest heat totals of an 18.16 in Round 5, the Australian had this wave dialed in as she continued that momentum into the final day of action. Her road to the Final was no easy task facing Coco Ho (HAW) in the Quarterfinals before taking down event standout Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in the Semifinals.
"Last year kind of stung a bit so I came back here really wanting to get the win and I'm so stoked to pull that off," Andrew said. "This is massive for me. I need to get points for re-qualifying since I'm sitting 15th on the CT and have to get good QS results. Alessa is an incredible surfer and an amazing person, I watched her drop those huge scores in the Semifinal so that onshore win played to my advantage a bit. I was able to read the wave with the bumps coming in it and fortunately got two scores."
The 20-year-old stayed busy throughout this event and kept finding the waves that allowed her maxium scoring potential. Moving into the No. 4 spot on the rankings with the win, Andrew can rest easy going into the mid-season break before returning to a jersey at the Supergirl Pro next month.
The 20-year-old stayed busy throughout this event and kept finding the waves that allowed her maxium scoring potential. Moving into the No. 4 spot on the rankings with the win, Andrew can rest easy going into the mid-season break before returning to a jersey at the Supergirl Pro next month.
