Rebecca Woods wins the WQS title on Billabong Girls Pro Rio

Brazilian Tita Tavares finishes in fourth and is the guest surfer for WCT

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The final happened with 4 world champions on WQS Billabong Girls Pro Rio, on the raining Tuesday in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. Tita Tavares , number 1 on WQS 2000, represented Brazil at the final and got the fourth place, but is the guest surfer to compete WCT, which will start next Wednesday on the same place at Barra da Tijuca.

Rebecca Woods wins the WQS title on Billabong Girls Pro Rio

Rebecca Woods with 8,83 score, got the title and she is the second one on the WQS ranking, Sally Fitzgibbons is still the leader. The current WCT world champion, Stephanie Gilmore, claimed second place and the Australian Jessi Miley-Dyer ended on third, loosing her place on the rating for the champion of the first Billabong Girls Pro Rio title. WCT has until 18th of September to happen.

“ I got heaps of waves on my head when I was paddling out, and I was thinking “Please God send me a good one”, and it came. I am stocked because the heat was really hard , it was my first time facing only world champions on the same heat and definitely it gives me a lot of confidence and a good value for my victory”, said Rebecca Woods, who won 3.500 dollars prize and Billabong Girls Pro Rio title.

“ This result gave me a lot of confidence for WCT which will happen on the next few days here in Rio de Janeiro. I am enjoying Rio de Janeiro, it’s my first time here. The city is beautiful, good waves. I just hope the sun will come up tomorrow and the conditions get better on the next days”.

In 2005 Rebecca Woods was the champion on the ranking, Jessi Miler- Dyer got the same title on the next year and Stephanie Gilmore is the currently WCT world champion. Tita Tavares was better than the Australians at the beginning on the final heat, but the Australians exceeded her and she ended on fourth place. But she was stocked to be the guest for WQS.

‘” I am stocked, I didn’t know about this guest place on WCT, but Rebecca got the best wave and won. Its my first time in Rio, and I liked the waves here, I would like to surf in Prainha, where I know the waves are stronger and I hope to have time to visit the tourists place in Rio”, said Stephanie.

Billabong Girls Pro is sanctioned by ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals), CBS (Brazilian Surf Confederation) and FESERJ (State of Rio de Janeiro Surf Federation), sponsoring by Gol airline, co sponsor by Nova Schin, Nixon, Von Zipper and Kustom, and the support from Star Point, Hot Water, Toca do Lobo, Kyw Boardstore, Litoral 655, Overboard, Pacific Beach, Ombak, Promenade Casa Del Mar and Mais Link and the collaboration from Rio de Janeiro Council and the Government of Rio de Janeiro State. This is the 11th stop of the WQS Tour and live at www.billabongpro.com and www.aspsouthamerica.com.br

BILLABONG GIRLS PRO RIO WQS –FINAL:

Rebecca Woods (AUS) champion with 13,53 points – US$ 3.500 and 1.500 points on WQS

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) runner-up with 11,33 – US$ 1.900 and 1.290 points

Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) on 3th place with 9,13 – US$ 1.600 and 1.095 points

Tita Tavares (BRA) on 4^th place with 8,34 – US$ 1.500 and 1.005 points

SEMIFINALS – 3.a=5.o place (US$ 850 e 915 pts) / 4.a=7.o ($ 800 e 833 pts):

1.a: 1-Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 2-Tita Tavares (BRA), 3-Silvana Lima (BRA), 4-Tais de Almeida (BRA)

2.a: 1-Rebecca Woods (AUS), 2-Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 3-Nicola Atherton (AUS), 4-Monik Santos (BRA)

QUARTER FINAL – 3.a=9.o place (US$ 750 e 750 pts) / 4.a=13.o ($ 650 e 675 pts):

1.a: 1-Taís de Almeida (BRA), 2-Silvana Lima (BRA), 3-Krisna de Souza (BRA), 4-Valeria Sole (PERU)

2.a: 1-Tita Tavares (BRA), 2-Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 3-Melanie Redman (AUS), 4-Juliana Quint (BRA)

3.a: 1-Rebecca Woods, 2-Jessi Miley-Dyer, 3-Samantha Cornish, 4-Layne Beachley (AUS)