Ornella Pellizari: First Argentinean ever to win a WQS  

Ornella Pellizari made history for her country, becoming the first Argentinean in history to win a WQS event. It was the fifth stop of the Women’s World Qualifying Series, the Vans Pier Classic Presented by Jack´s Surfboards. Ornella won the first WQS event she competed, beating some of North America’s finest surfers.

The following is an article published in www.surfline.com , written by Surf Journalist Darlene Conolly.
LOOKS LIKE CAKE
Finalists at the Vans Pier Classic Women's 1-star WQS know competition is harder than you'd think

It sounds easy enough. You've got 30 minutes to paddle out at South Side, Huntington Pier and catch at least two scoring rides to the beach. Well, it's not. And today's finalists in the Vans Pier Classic would vouch for that.

Yet, being an ASP sanctioned 1-star WQS, Courtney Conlogue, Christa Alves, Ornella Pellizzari and Sage Erickson were prepared to subject themselves to this afternoon's gruelingly choppy, weak and inconsistent windslop in order to gather some valuable rating points, not to mention a share of the $5,000 prize purse.

So with their colored jerseys and game faces on, each of the four finalists paddled out for what might appear like an easy task: Simply out-surf the other three girls.

But with the deteriorated surf conditions, the heat turned out to be a display of true determination, skill and a touch of luck. Argentina's Ornella Pellizzari was the one surfer who managed to align all three attributes.

While Sage, Courtney and Christa were under pressure just to locate the bigger sets that didn't close out or pitter off into a hole, Ornella sat securely with a 7.25 and 6.50. Going unnoticed in the south end of the contest area, the 19-year-old did her own thing, picking off two or three shoulder-high sets waves and drawing all the right lines. Unfortunately for Courtney, Christa and Sage who all looked like winner material throughout pervious heats, Ornella didn't leave much to work with. "I'm so stoked, I can't even talk," said Ornella. "The waves are not like this morning. It's kind of windy and the girls were ripping but I think I caught the good ones."

Even though Courtney wasn't able to demonstrate what she's capable of during the final, her competitors and the judges already knew the damage she can do in a heat. "It was just difficult to find waves out there this afternoon," said the event favorite. "Everything felt pretty good - my boards and everything - but I just couldn't find the waves. Ornella surfed really well. I'm still happy with my performance, but would have liked a win."

Earlier in the day, Courtney showed to everyone just how bright her future as a pro surfer is when she lit up her semi, finishing with a near-perfect 19.40 heat total. The 14-year-old even had throw-away scores of 8.25 and 8.50, which also would have won her the heat!

Courtney may not have reproduced those types of scores in the final but this contest was one for the Conlogue family to remember as Courtney earned her first perfect 10-point ride in a WQS event during that semi. Meanwhile, this was the first time Sage, Christa and Ornella had made it to a WQS final. I'm pretty stoked to make some money and put it in the bank," admitted Sage. "I just got my permit so I'm saving for a car and that will definitely help out."

Without any doubt, all four teens will be collecting checks in the competition scene for some time to come.

RESULTS:

Final:
1. Ornella Pellizzari (Mar de Plata, ARG) 13.75
2. Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA) 9.90
3. Sage Erickson (Oxnard, CA) 8.35
4. Christa Alves (Cocoa Beach, FL) 6.85

Semifinal 1:
1. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 19.40
2. Ornella Pellizzari (ARG) 13.00
3. Marii Bakker (JPN) 9.25
4. Jamie Hannula (USA) 6.10

Semifinal 2:
1. Sage Erickson (USA) 18.50
2. Christa Alves (USA) 11.50
3. Lexi Vonderleith (USA) 8.90
4. Maria Gonzales (USA) 7.75
 

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