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Australian surfers win Mexico double

Melissa WoodsAAP
Australians Stephanie Gilmore and Jack Robinson clinched the women's and men's WSL titles in Mexico.
Camera IconAustralians Stephanie Gilmore and Jack Robinson clinched the women's and men's WSL titles in Mexico. Credit: AAP

It was an Australia Day party in Mexico with Stephanie Gilmore and rookie Jack Robinson achieving a rare surfing double at the Corona Open at Barra de la Cruz.

Olympian Gilmore overcame Hawaii's Malia Manuel in her final, while the 23-year-old West Australian beat Brazilian Deivid Silva in his decider.

It was the first time since 2018 at Snapper Rocks that Australians have triumphed in both men's and women's events.

Robinson's breakthrough win was the first by an Australian man this season, while it was Gilmore's first of the year and sets her up for an eighth world title, which will be decided next month.

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The tour returned to the remote point break for the first time since the late Andy Irons won the famous Rip Curl Search in 2006, with Manuel wearing the initials of her countryman on her jersey in the inaugural women's final.

There was little to split the finalists with Gilmore's two-wave score of 15.83 edging Manuel's 15.27.

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Gilmore said she felt like Manuel, who needed the win to requalify for the tour, had the surfing gods on her side.

"That final was tough because every time she paddled past me she had the 'AI Forever' on her back and just felt like she had the mana," Gilmore said.

"Ever since seeing this event in 2006 for the men and losing Snapper off the Tour, this is the next best thing; it's just like home.

"It's unbelievable ... the best feeling ever."

The 33-year-old's win was cheered on by fellow Olympian Sally Fitzgibbons, who fell to Manuel in her semi-final earlier in the day.

Gilmore had to overcome tour leader Carissa Moore in her final-four showdown.

The title moves Gilmore to fourth in the rankings, one behind Fitzgibbons, with the top five competing in the WSL Finals at Lower Trestles in California next month.

Robinson knocked over another Brazilian in wildcard Mateus Herdy in his semi-final and then trailed giant-killer Silva in another tight final.

He posted the highest heat score of 8.33 with his fifth wave with Silva unable to counter, for the Australian to take the title by just 0.02.

Robinson let out a howl of delight in his post-final interview.

"I don't even know where to start ... it's like the feeling I got when I qualified for the first time," Robinson said.

"I was just trying to find all the right things to come together.

"I was in a zone this week and even with everyone else surfing good, being able to rise and go above it - I felt like I could do that."

With the Tahiti Pro cancelled due to the COVID situation in the Pacific Island nation, Gilmore and Fitzgibbons will be joined in the WSL Finals by Newcastle's Morgan Cibilic, who qualified in fifth spot in the men's ranks.

The unique one-day format will see surfers compete in a series of elimination heats to determine the 2021 world champion.

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