Bethany Hamilton

Waxheads news update 26 11 07

EARLY ROUNDS OF ROXY PRO HAWAII TO RUN AT SUNSET BEACH THIS MORNING

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007) - Rounds 1 and 2 of the Roxy Pro Hawaii, the second to last event on the 2007 ASP Women's World Tour, will run in four to six foot (one to two metre) waves at Sunset Beach this morning.

The Roxy Pro Trials will run prior to the main event at 8am, with the winner facing ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) in Heat 3 of Round 1. Round 1 will commence around 9:15am.

The Roxy Pro trialists are Carissa Moore (HAW), Alisha Gonsalves (HAW), Bethany Hamilton (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Francisca Pereira dos Santos (PRT), Lee Ann Curren (FRA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS).

Two surfers will be eliminated in Round 2 of the Roxy Pro Hawaii today but it will not be possible for World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) to clinch the 2007 Women's ASP World Title.

The ASP Women's World Title clinching scenario for the Roxy Pro Hawaii is as follows:

Mathematically, World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), former ASP Women's World Champions Layne Beachley (AUS), Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and Sofia Mulanovich (PER), as well as current world No. 6 Samantha Cornish (AUS) are capable of overtaking ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) with two wins if Gilmore doesn't post better than a combination of 9th or 17th place results in the last two events of the season.

Should Gilmore earn a 5th at Sunset Beach, Hedges, Beachley and Cornish will be out of contention leaving only Lima and Mulanovich in the race.

If Mulanovich bows out early with a 17th at Sunset Beach, Gilmore needs a 9th to knock her out of contention. If Mulanovich earns a 9th at Sunset Beach, Gilmore needs a 5th. If Gilmore finishes 4th or better, Mulanovich can't win.

Gilmore can clinch the title at the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach if she posts a 3rd place result and Lima finishes 17th or 9th. If Lima finishes 5th or 4th Gilmore must finish 2nd to win the title there. If Lima posts a 3rd place result, Gilmore must win the event or the race will continue to Maui.

Round 1 Roxy Pro Hawaii Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Roseanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Caroline Sarran (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Wildcard (TBD)
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Leilani Gryde (HAW)
Heat 5: Layne Beachley (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW), Rochelle Ballard (HAW)
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)

Essentially, if Gilmore wins the event and Lima finishes 3rd or lower, the 2007 ASP Women's World Title belongs to Gilmore.
Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Nov. 27th. FUEL TV will produce and air coverage of the Roxy Pro Hawaii