Australian Stephanie Gilmore Wins Roxy Pro to Clinch 2008 ASP World Title
Sunset Beach, Oahu, HI - (Monday, December 1, 2008) -- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, claimed her second consecutive ASP Women's World Title today with an emphatic win at the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, ripping through the three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at Sunset Point to defeat fellow finalists Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, and Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22. The Roxy Pro is the second stop of the women's Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series in Hawaii.
Above: Australian Stephanie Gilmore, 20, claims her second consecutive ASP World Title at the Roxy Pro - stop #2 of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Credit: Covered Images/Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women's World Tour, the Roxy Pro proved the most decisive event of year, seeing shock eliminations on the final day before Gilmore soared to victory to claim the 2008 ASP Women's World Title.
"I had no idea this was going to happen today when I woke up this morning," Gilmore said. "Sofia (Mulanovich) went down and then Layne (Beachley) went down and I found myself in the Final with a chance to clinch it. It feels unbelievable."
Lima, one of the form surfers on the final day, led from the outset in the 35-minute Final, posting two solid scores early on to net a 14.16 out of a possible 20. While waves were scarce during the Final, Gilmore found a walling right-hander in the dying moments and tore it to pieces to attain an 8.50 out of a possible 10 and walk away with the victory and the 2008 ASP Women's World Title.
"I knew I had to win the Final to claim the title here at Sunset and when Silvana (Lima) got off to such a solid start, I thought I would have to get a result in Maui," Gilmore said. "I had a pretty solid score, but still needed a 6-something and there weren't many waves at all. Then I saw this little lump out the back and I knew it would be good when I was stroking into it. Turned out to be the best wave of the heat and put me over the top."
Gilmore's clinching of her second consecutive ASP Women's World Title makes it two-for-two for the young Australian, who has claimed the prestigious accolade in both years as a member of the ASP Women's World Tour.
"The second one definitely feels better than the first one," Gilmore said. "I'm going to savor this one for a while and then readjust my goals for next year. There should be big celebrations on for tonight."
Today's runner-up finish marks the third in a row for Lima, and the frustration of the elusive maiden Dream Tour victory was palpable as the Brazilian exited the water.
"This is my third second-place finish in a row and I don't know why I cannot win," Lima said. "I don't know what else I have to do. I feel like I am surfing well, but I just cannot win. Still, a second place is a good result for me and I am happy with my surfing. I am looking forward to Maui."
Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22, 4th place finisher at the Roxy Pro, caused the biggest upsets of the day, eliminating defending Roxy Pro champion and current No. 2 on the ASP Women's World Tour Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, in the Quarterfinals before ousting seven-time ASP Women's World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, in the semifinals, setting Gilmore up to claim the 2008 ASP Women's World Title.
Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, scored her season best finish with a 3rd place today, pushing the goofy-footer into 7th on the 2008 ASP Women's World Tour ratings heading into the season-ender in Maui where she finished runner-up last year.
Australian Laura Enever, 17, from Sydney's Northern Beaches, was presented the Noseguard Vans Triple Crown Rookie of the Year award today.
"This was a bit of a surprise," said Enever. "I was just so stoked to get in the contest. I was the lowest seed, and to get third at Haleiwa, surf in the trials at Sunset, it was just a dream for me.
"It's the most prestigious bunch of surfing events. I'm stoked to be able to come over here, win this award and be apart of it. It's my dream to one day win the Triple Crown. Hopefully, I'll be doing it for a lot more years."
The next and final stop on the 2008 ASP Women's World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay from December 8 - 20, 2008.
Maui will not only prove paramount to the requalification race for the 2009 ASP Women's World Tour, but will also culminate the Vans Triple Crown (an ASP Specialty Series), crowning a champion at the famous pointbreak.
Beachley, by virtue of a 5th place here and a second place last week at the Reef Hawaiian Pro, is leading the Vans Triple Crown ratings heading to Maui. She is just 50 points ahead of Gilmore and 275 points ahead of Lima.
Men's competition may resume tomorrow morning after the forecast rapid onset of waves of up to 18 feet by morning.
The $815,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing consists of the Reef Hawaiian Pro, Haleiwa, Nov. 12-23 (6* WQS, men and women), the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, Sunset Beach, Nov.24-Dec.6 (6*WQS men), The Roxy Pro, Sunset Beach, Nov.24-Dec.6 (WCT women), the Billabong Pipeline Masters (men), Pipeline, Dec. 8-20 (WCT); and the Billabong Pro Maui (women), Honolua Bay, Maui, Dec. 8-20 (WCT).
