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www.waxheads.com 6 2 09 DURANBAH BEACH, Australia (Friday, March 6, 2009) – The Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile recommenced this morning in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at nearby Duranbah Beach with athletes enduring three rounds of competition before deciding the Semifinalists by day’s end.
The opening event of the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast ran through Rounds 2 and 3 as well as the Quarterfinals today, with dramatic match-ups and barrier-breaking surfing entertaining the thousands on the beach and hundreds of thousands online.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, was in sensational form today, besting replacement surfer Megan Abubo (HAW), 31, in Round 3 before ousting compatriot Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, in the Quarterfinals.
“It was a great heat with Chelsea (Hedges),” Gilmore said. “There was a lot of energy before we went down to the water and it just felt great. I love surfing with her, but it’s always hard. As I’ve said before, she’s probably the only girl I’ve ever competed against who can throw a 7 or 8 right back in your face at the start of a heat and it really fires me up. Of course, to come out on top is always a bonus.”
Gilmore, who has failed to secure a strong opening result in her two years on the ASP Women’s World Tour, is now into the Semifinals and looks to be the event favorite, securing the day’s high heat total of a 16.83 out of a possible 20 in her Round 3 heat.
“My last big result at home was when I was a wildcard at 17,” Gilmore said. “It’s always a treat to surf at home in front of your friends and family. Now that I’m through to the Semifinals, I’m feeling really good and hopefully, we’ll get to finish at Snapper Rocks.”
Gilmore will face 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, in Semifinal 1 when Roxy Pro Gold Coast competition recommences.
Hareb remains the sole goofy-footer in Roxy Pro competition, having bested veteran Amee Donohoe (AUS), 28, and fellow rookie Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, in Round 3 and he Quarterfinals respectively.
“My goal before coming into this was to make the Quarterfinals and I’m through to the Semis now so anything from here is a bonus,” Hareb said. “I’ve got my parents over here which helps me relax. I haven’t even surfed that much, just been cruising, it’s been good.”
Coco Ho (HAW), 17, fellow 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie and the youngest competitor in the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, caused the upset of the day this morning, eliminating current ASP World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, in Round 3.
“It was really exciting,” Ho said. “I had fun. Silvana scores 10’s so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the waves went my way. We can both get good scores, so it was just up to who got the better rides and towards the end of the heat, it went a bit quiet so I was lucky I got some early scores.”
Ho would go on to take down veteran Australian Rebecca Woods, 24, in the Quarterfinals to secure a Semifinals berth in her first ever event as a full—time ASP Women’s World Tour campaigner.
“I was really shaky about my first year knowing I was the lowest seed and knowing that I could eventually draw Steph [Gilmore] or Silvana [Lima],” Ho said. “It happened today and I came out on top. I couldn’t be happier with how I’ve gone so far.”
Ho will face fellow islander Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, in Semifinal 2 when competition recommences.
The Semifinals at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be a truly international affair when competition resumes, with New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii all represented.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6am for a possible 7am start.
ROXY
PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 RESULTS:
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 RESULTS: Heat 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) 15.17 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 11.34 Heat 2: Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 13.50 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 13.43 Heat 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 14.00 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 11.90 Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.83 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 8.40 Heat 5: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.33 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.50 Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 13.50 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.50 Heat 7: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 15.40 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 12.86 Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.83 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 6.70
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINALS RESULTS: QF 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.17 def. Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 8.20 QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.83 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 14.83 QF 3: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.34 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 7.23 QF 4: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 11.57 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.50
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINALS MATCH-UPS: SF 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) SF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Gilmore
Wins Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Takes ASP Women’s World Tour Lead
Gilmore wasted no time in the Final, securing the day’s high single-wave score of a 9.57 out of a possible 10 on her opening wave for a fluid series of fin releases and power carves.
“It was a really little wave,” Gilmore said. “I had a few flashbacks from 2005 where I was trying to pick off the little ones that were going to grow down the line. Today it just so happened I picked a good one. It is important to get a good start and get a lead early in the heat.”
Gilmore’s victory today at Snapper Rocks marks her fourth consecutive win on the ASP Women’s World Tour, having claimed the last three events of the 2008 season, and puts her well on the path to a third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title.
“It’s a new start for me,” Gilmore said. “To win on your home turf, in front of all these people, it’s unbelievable.”
The phenomenal natural-footer has been a perennial event favorite at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast since claiming the title as a 17-year-old wildcard in 2005. Despite her extensive local knowledge, Gilmore had failed to secure a solid result at home since beginning her ASP Dream Tour campaign until today.
“This win is definitely more satisfying,” Gilmore said. “In 2005, I was blown away. I couldn’t believe I achieved it, but this time around it’s pleasing to know that I’ve come off a season as world champ, and I’ve done some training, so to come back out here today and win makes you feel really good.”
Bartels struggled to secure a scoring wave in the first half of the Final, only able to a post 7.50 out of a possible 10 with under five minutes to go.
Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 552 "I am ecstatic right now,” Bartels said. “Surfing against Steph (Gilmore) in a heat is always a challenge for me. I know how good she is. I knew I needed to put up big scores, but no waves came through. She surfed unreal and I am just glad that I got to surf Snapper with one other person out."
Despite the disappointing showing in Final, Bartels’ runner-up finish sees the Hawaiian rocket up the ratings from ASP World No. 7 to No. 2 heading into the rest of the season.
"To get a good result at the beginning of the year gives momentum to go into the next event and feel a little bit more confident and relaxed,” Bartels said. “I’ll just work on my surfing and see what mistakes I have done in this contest and just hope for the better in the next and try not to make the same mistakes."
Coco Ho (HAW), 17, 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie, put on an inspiring performance in the Semifinals, falling just short to eventual runner-up Bartels to finish equal 3rd.
"It feels good,” Ho said. “I’m really happy for Melanie as well. She was surfing so well out there and got the better of every exchange. With ten minutes remaining, I was just like, ’I am out at Snapper with just Mel (Bartels),’ and I am just going to focus on getting as many waves as I can and just push every turn."
Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, fellow 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, had an impressive run at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, before falling to eventual winner Gilmore in Semifinal 1.
“Steph (Gilmore) is the local favorite and world champ,” Hareb said. “She has everything going for her at the moment. It would have been good to meet her in the Final, but I’m still happy with making it to the Semifinals.”
Requiring only an average score to take the lead in her Semifinal heat, Hareb grabbed a roping righthander with the clock ticking and belted a first turn before getting caught up in her second maneuver.
“I’m a little bit disappointed about the last wave which I came off,” Hareb said. “I knew I could have won the heat with that wave."
Hareb finished equal 3rd at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast and now sits No. 3 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings.
Highlights from the Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile will be available via www.roxypro.com.au
ROXY PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS: 1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.07 2 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 12.50
ROXY
PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS: 1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 1200 2 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 972 3 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 756 3 – Coco Ho (HAW) 756 5 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 552 5 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 552 5 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 552 5 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 552 9 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 360 9 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 360 9 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 360 9 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 360 9 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 360 9 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 360 9 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 360 9 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 360 17 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 180 18
– Layne Beachley (AUS) 0 SPECIAL
THANKS ASPWORLDTOUR.COM
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