Fitzgibbons back for Surfest defence

On Monday the world No.2 was unveiled as the first star entrant for the six-star women’s pro.

The Gerroa natural-footer won her maiden Surfest crown last year when she beat Hawaiian Malia Manuel. 

Surfest has been brought forward on the Association of Surfing Professionals calendar this year by a month, with the women’s pro to run from February 18 to 24.

This means Surfest will serve as  a major warm-up for the World Championship Tour’s opening leg at Snapper Rocks from March 2.

‘‘It’s been a while since anyone has had a heat, so all the preparation will be really valuable and important in sorting out things like equipment and little things you’re lacking in that competition environment,’’ Fitzgibbons told the Newcastle Herald on Monday.

‘‘You’ll also see what happens to those pressure situations because it’s been a long off-season.

‘‘It will be great to see where everyone is at leading into Snapper.’’

However, Surfest is no mere warm-up event for Fitzgibbons.

Two weeks ago the 22-year-old surfed at Merewether’s break while in town watching friends compete at the Australian Ironman Series.

‘‘I used it as a chance to surf at Merewether and see what the banks are doing and what it’ll look like in a month’s time,’’ she said.

‘‘Even though the banks will change, and you’re not sure what swell you’ll get during the event, it was definitely very valuable.’’

Fitzgibbons  wants to be No.1. For the past three years she has finished behind either Stephanie Gilmore (2010, 2012) or Hawaiian Carissa Moore (2011).

During the summer lay-off  she has worked  on improving her fitness, including training with St George Illawarra’s NRL squad and tackling a multi-disciplined adventure race in Tasmania. 

The focus on different training kept her from obsessing about becoming world No.1. 

‘‘I think it’s all about controlling the hunger to want to win and just channelling that into every heat that I have,’’ she said.

‘‘It was good to use my energy in that time off, otherwise you go a little crazy not having those events every couple of weeks.

‘‘I’ve worked on that routine and tightened a few things up which I think will take me to that next level.’’