Stephanie Gilmore Wins the Billabong Pro Maui, Claims Vans Triple Crown

HO’OKIPA BEACH PARK, Hawaii (Thursday, December 18, 2008) - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, newly-crowned two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, defeated Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, to claim the her second consecutive Billabong Pro Maui in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves on offer at Ho’okipa Beach Park, earning the young Australian her first Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (an ASP Specialty Series) Title.

The final event of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui opted for the relocation this morning from Honolua Bay to Ho’okipa Beach Park (the first relocation in the event’s 10-year history) in order take advantage of the swell on offer, and the action didn’t disappoint.

Gilmore opened the Final strong, posting a solid 7.33 out of a possible 10, but Bartels put her in the corner with two solid scores of her own. In an exciting exchange that saw the Hawaiian pull ahead on the first wave, Gilmore answered back with the highest score of the day, a 9.57 out of a possible 10 to retake the lead, immediately following it up with an 8.03 for a massive forehand turn combination. Bartels was unable to answer back.

“The tide dropped and the conditions got really fun,” Gilmore said. “Mel (Bartels) is one of my favorite surfers and I just go as hard as I can when I draw her in a heat. You can’t put in a performance at half-speed and I saw her get a solid wave so I just went for broke on the next one and it paid off.”

The win marks the first Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title for the prodigious natural-footer, an accolade considered second only to the ASP Women’s World Title.

“It feels incredible to win the Vans Triple Crown Title,” Gilmore said. “We had really fun waves at Haleiwa and then solid surf at Sunset Beach and we had a beautiful opening day of competition at Honolua Bay before finishing today at Ho’okipa. It’s a real honor to be considered a good surfer in Hawaii and in such a variety of conditions.”

Gilmore will now head home to Australia to rest and recharge for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, and with two ASP Women’s World Titles, a Vans triple Crown Title and 11 elite tour victories under her belt (five in 2008 alone), the makings of an icon are well within place.

“To win so much in my short career is incredible and it feels great, but I know there is so much more to accomplish,” Gilmore said. “I had that head with Layne (Beachley) today, and to see what she’s accomplished in her career makes me that much hungrier to continue to perform at my best. Next year is going to be incredible. We have so much talent on the tour and so many young girls who are really pushing the boundaries of surfing. I can’t wait to get home and prepare for next season.”

Bartels, whose runner-up finish sees the explosive Hawaiian rocket to No. 7 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, put in a solid effort in the Final (at one point holding lead), but her 14.80 out of a possible 20 wasn’t enough to overcome Gilmore.

“I have one of the most amazing shapers in the world who lives right up the beach and my boards today were going unbelievable,” Bartels said. “I felt like I was surfing well all day, but just got out of rhythm in the Final. Congratulations to Steph (Gilmore) though. She was surfing amazing and deserved the win.”

With a bevy of young guns joining the ASP Women’s World Tour in 2009, Bartels will look to continue her momentum in the off-season in preparation for an ASP Women’s World Title campaign next season.

“I’m going to train my butt off in the off-season,” Bartels said. “The girls coming on tour surf amazing and I know that I need to be at my best if I want to make a dent. I beat Steph earlier this season in really good waves in Brazil and then finished second to her today so that’s given me the confidence to believe in my ability. The next step is to ensure that I am putting 100% into the entire year.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, has announced that 2008 will be her final season as a full-time ASP Dream Tour competitor. Despite a solid Quarterfinal win over Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, Beachley was unable to overcome eventual winner Gilmore in their hard-fought Semifinal bout, going down 15.07 to Gilmore’s 16.80.

“I think it was a great way to go out,” Beachley said. “We all have to lose sometime and to go down to Steph (Gilmore), who I consider my protg and the one I am passing the torch to, is probably the most fitting way.”

Beachley’s illustrious career has spanned 19 years and the renowned natural-footer has collected an unprecedented seven ASP Women’s World Titles. While the Billabong Pro Maui marks Beachley’s final event as a full-time ASP Women’s World Tour competitor, the legendary Australian is confident in the new crop of surfers and may be back in 2009 surfing in select events.

“It’s difficult reflecting on something like this (retirement),” Beachley said. “Of course I would have liked to go out with a win and on-top, but I also feel like this past season and these past events haven’t defined my career. I’ve won seven ASP Women’s World Titles and have had an incredible journey of a career so I suppose the most rewarding part of this is that I’m leaving professional women’s surfing in the hands of such capable and exciting young surfers. While it’s my last year as a full time competitor, I’m planning on competing in a couple of events next season.”

Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, went down in the Semifinals to Bartels, but her solid equal 3^rd place finish at the Billabong Pro Maui saw the young Brazilian finish a career-best No. 2 on the ASP Women’s World Tour.

“I’m happy because I had a good year,” Lima said. “I started slow but had lots of good results at the end. Lots of 2nds, but to finish No. 2 in the world, I am very happy. I am going to go home and relax with my family and friends over the holidays and then start training in the gym before we start in Australia next year.”

While the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour has come to a close, the best surfers in the world will be back next year for the 2009 installment of the ASP Dream Tour.

Returning surfers to the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will be reigning and two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, Amee Donohoe (AUS), 28, Samantha Cornish (AUS), 28, Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 29, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21 (via the ASP World Qualifying Series).

New faces to next year’s ASP Women’s World Tour will be Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, Alana Blanchard (HAW), 18, and Coco Ho (HAW), 17.

BILLABONG PRO MAUI FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.60

2 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 14.80

BILLABONG PRO MAUI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.80 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) 15.07

SF 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 13.07 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.07

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 11.07 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.67

QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.33 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.87

QF 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 14.66 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.33

QF 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.13 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 10.23

2008 ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR FINAL RATINGS:

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 7188 points

2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 5534 points

3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5323 points

4 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 5210 points

5 - Amee Donohoe (AUS) 4051 points

6 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3972 points

7 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 3876 points

8 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 3602 points

9 – Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS) 3564 points

10 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 3398 points

11 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 2988 points

12 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2784 points

13 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 2670 points

14 – Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER) 2654 points

15 – Karina Petroni (USA) 2604 points

16 – Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 2232 points

17 - Serena Brooke (AUS) 2094 points

2008 VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING FINAL RATINGS:

1 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) $10,000

2 – Layne Beachley (AUS)

3 – Melanie Bartels (HAW)

Final Day of Billabong Pro Maui ON at Ho’okipa Beach Park

HO’OKIPA BEACH PARK, Hawaii (Thursday, December 18, 2008) - The Billabong Pro Maui picked up stakes this morning, moving from Honolua Bay to Ho’okipa Beach Park where the final day of competition will kick off in contestable two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at 9am.

The final event of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui will prove paramount to girls looking to requalify for next season’s ASP Dream Tour as well those campaigning for the Vans Triple Crown (an ASP Specialty Series) Title.

“We’ve relocated to the other side of the island this morning where we have contestable two-foot conditions at Ho’okipa,’ Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “It’s not ideal, but this looks like the best conditions we’re going to have for the event and we’ll be starting at 9am.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current frontrunner on the Vans Triple Crown ratings, has announced that 2008 will be her last season as a full-time ASP Women’s World Tour campaigner and the iconic natural-footer will face Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, in the opening Quarterfinal of the morning.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, newly-crowned two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Billabong Pro Maui winner, is only 50 points behind Beachley in the hunt for the Vans Triple Crown title. Gilmore will battle Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24, in Quarterfinal 2.

Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, current ASP Women’s World No. 2 and Billabong Pro Maui Day 1 standout, is currently in third position on the Vans Triple Crown ratings and the young Brazilian will wrap up the Quarterfinals with a bout against veteran campaigner Megan Abubo (HAW), 30.

Rounding out the Quarterfinals will be Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, another contender in the hunt for the Vans Triple Crown, up against lethal wildcard Carissa Moore (HAW), 16.

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

No Surf at Honolua Bay, Billabong Pro Maui to Run at Ho’okipa Tomorrow

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Wednesday, December 17, 2008) - With no surf available at Honolua Bay, event organizers for the Billabong Pro Maui have called competition off for the day and have announced the relocation to Ho’okipa Beach Park on the northern side of Maui for tomorrow’s competition.

The final event of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui enjoyed excellent waves for the opening day of competition last Wednesday, but have since been in a holding pattern with no surf to speak of at Honolua Bay.

“Today marks the seventh day in a row that the Bay hasn’t had any waves,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “We’re running out of time, and looking at the forecast, it doesn’t look like the swell is going to be big enough or the right direction until after the waiting period is finished. With that in mind, we’ll be relocating the venue to Ho’okipa Beach Park on the other side of the island where we’ll be looking to get the final day of Billabong Pro Maui competition underway at roughly 8am.”

In addition to being the final event of the 2008 ASP Dream Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui also marks the final stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (an ASP Specialty Series).

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, newly-crowned two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 2 on the Vans Triple Crown ratings, is disappointed that the Billabong Pro Maui won’t finish at Honolua Bay, but is still enthusiastic to get back in the water and claim another title before 2008 is finished.

“It’s a shame that we won’t be able to finish at the Bay but that’s how it is with surf contests,” Gilmore said. “We’re subject to swell patterns and Mother Nature and sometimes we need to make changes. It looks like tomorrow is going to be the biggest day at Ho’okipa which I’ve heard is a fun little wave so I’m stoked to get back in the water.”

Gilmore trails former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, by a scant 50 points in the race for the Vans Triple Crown Title, also leads Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, by just 125 points.

“It’s really close at the top there and I think whoever finishes highest here in Maui is going to take the Vans Triple Crown Title,” Gilmore said. “It’s pretty exciting and I’m definitely gunning for one more win before the season finishes.”

Gilmore will face Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24, in Quarterfinal 2 when Billabong Pro Maui competition recommences.

“The Billabong Pro Maui has been lucky to have had great waves at Honolua for the past nine years,” Woods said. “There is a back-up plan and it’s a good one. A decent swell is predicted for tomorrow at Ho’okipa on the other side of the island and being a beachbreak, it will open up the field result-wise. There will be more tactics and wave selection will be crucial. It all adds to the flavor and it will be good to compete at another break on Maui. It’s not the Bay, but it’s still a great wave.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Billabong Pro Maui Off for Today, Event Organizers Explore Options

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Tuesday, December 16, 2008) - With no surf to speak of yet again at Honolua Bay, event organizers have called the Billabong Pro Maui off for the day and will begin exploring contingency options.

The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui has completed the opening three rounds of competition and will resume with the Quarterfinals when the event recommences.

“No surf on offer today and it’s not looking very promising through the remainder of the window,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “The event staff and administrators are exploring every possible option to ensure that the Billabong Pro Maui finishes in the best possible conditions.”

Another Lay Day for Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Monday, December 15, 2008) - Still no surf on offer at Honolua Bay today, prompting Billabong Pro Maui event organizers to call the fifth straight lay day.

Event No. 8 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui enjoyed a beautiful day of competition last Wednesday, but has been unable to run the final day of competition

“The Bay is flat once again today so no Billabong Pro Maui competition,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “We have five more days left in the waiting period so we’ll see what’s coming on the swell forecasts but we’ll also be laying the groundwork for contingency plans should we need them.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Still No Surf for Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Sunday, December 14, 2008) - Heavy rains and no surf forced yet another lay day for the Billabong Pro Maui.

The final event of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui enjoyed fantastic surf last Wednesday for the opening day of competition, but has since been plagued by little-to-no surf. With the Quarterfinalists decided, only one day of competition is required to complete the Billabong Pro Maui.

“Still no swell here to finish the final day of the Billabong Pro Maui,” Andino said. “We’ll be back tomorrow at 7am to see if there are any improvements.”
BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Saturday, December 13, 2008) - The Billabong Pro Maui has been called off once again, with only small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5) metre) range on offer at Honolua Bay.

The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui completed the first day of competition last Wednesday in beautiful conditions, but has since been on hold with no waves to speak of.

“Another day with no waves here so we won’t be running the Billabong Pro Maui,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “We’re tacking a possible bump in swell a couple days out, but we’ll be back each morning to assess conditions for a possible start.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Another Lay Day for Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Friday, December 12, 2008) - Small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) range on offer at Honolua Bay today prevented the Billabong Pro Maui from running once again, with event organizers looking to tomorrow for a possible start of the final day of competition.

The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui enjoyed great waves for the opening day of competition, with qualifiers for the 2008 ASP Dream Tour as well as the campaigners for the Vans Triple Crown (an ASP Specialty Series) title to be decided when competition resumes.

“No surf on offer today has prompted us to call the Billabong Pro Maui off,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “Tomorrow is another story though. Don’t turn your back on it.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Billabong Pro Maui Quarterfinalists Decided at Honolua Bay

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Wednesday, December 10, 2008) - The Billabong Pro Maui commenced this morning in picturesque four-to-five foot (2 metre) surf at Honolua Bay, allowing the ladies of the ASP Top 17 to revel through three rounds of competition, deciding the Quarterfinalists for when competition resumes.

The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui also serves as the deciding event in the Vans Triple Crown (an ASP Specialty Series), with today’s frontrunners putting on a show.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, newly-crowned two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Billabong Pro Maui winner, put in an incendiary performance in Round 3, scoring a near-perfect 9.75 out of a possible 10 to eliminate Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, from the event.

“Paige (Hareb) got off to an aggressive start in that heat by getting the first solid scorer and that fired me up to unleash on my first wave,” Gilmore said. “It was a good set wave and I was able to really push my board out there. It was a lot of fun.”

Despite having already securing her historic second ASP Women’s World Title, the competitive fire still burns for Gilmore, who is looking to defend last year’s Billabong Pro Maui win as well as claim her first Vans Triple Crown title.

“I’m currently second on the Vans Triple Crown ratings behind Layne (Beachley),” Gilmore said. “It’s pretty close and I think whoever performs better here will claim it. I’ve been pretty relaxed since the ASP Women’s World Title race finished, but I still want to win every heat I’m in. I love surfing well and performing for people and when that happens you win heats. I’d love to leave Hawaii with the Triple Crown in my pocket.”

Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, currently sitting in third in the hunt for the Vans Triple Crown, caught a fire in the final heat of the day, posting the day’s highest heat total of an 18.00 out of a possible 20 to eliminate Karina Petroni (USA), 20, from the Billabong Pro Maui.

“The ASP Women’s World Title has been decided and I’m relaxed here in Maui,” Lima said. “I really want to win the Vans Triple Crown and to do that, I need a big result here.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current frontrunner on the Vans Triple Crown ratings, has announced that 2008 will be her last season as a full-time competitor on the ASP Women’s World Tour and the iconic natural-footer would love nothing more than to cap off her esteemed career with a big result in Hawaii.

“Of course I would love to finish up with a win here in Maui or by winning the Vans Triple Crown,” Beachley said. “Anybody would, but for me, I’m just very relaxed and wanting to surf well. I love Hawaii and the waves here and I’m just really focusing on my surfing.”

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, current No. 10 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, put on a big performance in Round 3 today, dominating the bowling righthanders to post a 16.80 out of a possible 20, and eliminate former event champion and last year’s runner-up Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, from the Billabong Pro Maui.

“I had a great time out there,” Bartels said. “The waves are really fun and I’m just happy to be home in Hawaii. I have the Hawaiian “mana” and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the event.”

Carissa Moore (HAW), 16, winner of this morning’s trials, caused the upset of the event today, eliminating former ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 2 Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, from the Billabong Pro Maui.

“It’s an honor to be surfing with all my heroes,” Moore said. “It’s just a real treat to be able to surf Honolua Bay with just another girl out. I was just having fun and I’m happy to have the opportunity to surf again.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.50, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 12.15, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.25

Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) 16.50, Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 9.75, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 8.25

Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.15, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 8.55, Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.95

Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.25, Megan Abubo (HAW) 10.90, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 7.65

Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.50, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 11.75, Serena Brooke (AUS) 9.65

Heat 6: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 16.10, Karina Petroni (USA) 14.00, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 8.75

BILLABONG PRO MAUI ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.25, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.00, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 11.60

Heat 2: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 12.85, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.75, Serena Brooke (AUS) 10.15

BILLABONG PRO MAUI ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 15.00 def. Nicola Atherton (AUS) 11.65

Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (AUS) 13.70 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 13.35

Heat 3: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.00 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 7.75

Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.50 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.85

Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.50 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5.75

Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 16.80 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 15.50

Heat 7: Megan Abubo (HAW) 12.25 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 7.00

Heat 8: Silvana Lima (BRA) 18.00 def. Karina Petroni (USA) 11.75

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Lay Day for Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Thursday, December 11, 2008) - Following yesterday’s full serving of action, Honolua Bay has gone quiet today, prompting event organizers to call a lay day for the Billabong Pro Maui.The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui saw the Quarterfinalists decided yesterday in pristine conditions, but today’s one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) waves were not up to the task of crowning a 2008 event champion.”We were hoping yesterday’s swell would hang around long enough this morning to finish the event, but that hasn’t happened,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “There are little pulses coming over the next few days so we’ll keep a close eye on swell direction and winds. Hopefully we can finish up in conditions similar to yesterday.”

BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)

QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)