Aussie surfer Gilmore prepares for J Bay

Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore has touched down in South Africa for her Jeffreys Bay debut, after women were invited to compete again.

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore.

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore will compete in South Africa for her Corona Open J Bay debut. (AAP)

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore will finally get to compete at Jeffreys Bay after women were invited to take part for the first time in nearly two decades.

The women's Corona Open J Bay event was last held in 2000, when Hawaiian Megan Abubo took the title.

It will be the J Bay debut for all 18 female surfers when the waiting period for the event begins on Friday.

Gilmore will compete alongside fellow Australians Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright, Bronte Macaulay, Keely Andrew, Nikki Van Dijk and Macy Callaghan.

World No.3 Tatian Weston-Webb has made it to the semi-finals in the last four events and says she "almost can't believe" the surf at Jeffreys Bay.

Gilmore, the world No.2, will have her sights set on American Lakey Peterson, who is at the top of the women's championship tour.

Gilmore says the wave at Jeffreys Bay is "everything", and that it's been love at first sight on her first trip to the South African spot.

"It's one of the most spectacular places I've ever been," she said.

"I've always heard that this wave is easy to surf but it's hard to surf well, so I'm going to go out there and try to put something beautiful together."


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Source: AAP



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