Star Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons has tuned up for the Olympics with a semi-final showing at the man-made Kelly Slater wave in California.
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Fitzgibbons produced a series of strong displays to reach the final four of the three-day WSL event at The Ranch.
But needing an 8.27 on her final wave to have a chance to progress to Monday's final, Fitzgibbons crashed out when she lost her balance after going up too high on the lip.
Frenchwoman Johanne Defay went on to win the event, edging out four-time world champion Carissa Moore 16.63 to 16.23 in a thrilling final.
The result saw Defay move to second in the world rankings, while Moore remains the runaway leader.
"My legs, I don't think I could have ridden another wave," Defay said.
"Everyone wants to be in the top five and get a chance for the title. It is definitely putting a lot of excitement into surfing and in crowning a world champion."
Despite Fitzgibbons dropping from second to third in the rankings, her result in California has improved her chances of reaching the WSL finals, where the top five surfers will battle it out for the world title.
Just two events remain before the finals, meaning Fitzgibbons is well placed to secure a spot.
Seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, who finished seventh at The Ranch, is currently fifth in the standings.
Fellow Australian Tyler Wright, who pulled out of the California event, has slipped to seventh.
Fitzgibbons, who won last month's WSL event at Rottnest and also the recent World Surfing Games in El Salvador, will represent Australia alongside Gilmore when surfing makes its Olympics debut in Tokyo.
The Ranch wasn't kind to the Australian men.
Ethan Ewing (sixth), Owen Wright (10th), and rookie Morgan Cibilic (16th) were the best showings.
Filipe Toledo thrashed world No.1 Gabriel Medina (17.94 to 10.60) in an all-Brazilian final, with Japan's Kanoa Igarashi finishing third.
"It feels amazing, especially being in a final against Gabriel," Toledo said after securing his second win of 2021.
Despite Cibilic's poor showing at the Ranch, he is fourth in the world rankings and right in the mix to make the WSL finals.
Wright (world No.20) and Julian Wilson (world No.17) are all but out of calculations for the WSL finals, but they will be aiming for glory when they represent Australia at the upcoming Olympics.
Australian Associated Press
