ESTORIL, Bafuriera Beach, Portugal (Sunday, May 3, 2009) – The day belonged to Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, and the new generation of women’s professional surfing. Fitzgibbons, current ASP Women’s World Tour member, surfed every heat of her final assault flawless, methodical and mechanical as she swept the field to win the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Estoril Billabong Girls Pro taking the valuable 3000 ratings’ points up for grabs.

Fitzgibbons defeated fellow finalist and other rising wunderkid and ASP Top 17 surfer Coco Ho (Oahu, HAW), 17, with both surfers scoring near perfect rides as Bufuriera’s beachbreak was delivering clean three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves. Fitzgibbons came out blazing in the final locking-in four excellent scores before Ho managed to answer back with a near perfect 9.80 point wave. Meanwhile, Fitzgibbons was quick to respond and net a 9.85 pointer and take the win.

“It’s great to be back on the podium and definitely it has been some time between drinks,” Fitzgibbons said. “I surfed a lot of heats before the final and paddled out quite relaxed and sat wide. I saw the tide starting to drain out and thought there were two peaks. I was lucky when the first one came wide and I got it.”

Fitzgibbons, who is a rookie on this year’s ASP Women’s World Tour, leaves Portugal with a solid back-up result in case she ends up needing to requalify through the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) at the end of this year. So far, Fitzgibbons remains well in position to fullfil expectations from the international surfing scene which considers the young woman a future ASP World title contender.

Coco Ho, who secured another great result by finishing runner-up in the ASP WQS 6-Star event, had defeated fellow Hawaiian and friend Carissa Moore (Oahu, HAW) in the Semifinals whilst Fitzgibbons was taking the most out of her encounter with experienced and former ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year Jessi Miley-Dyer (New South Wales, AUS).

“It was great to surf with my friend Sally (Fitzgibbons) in the final,” Ho said. “We had really fun waves, we were talking and having a good time. Sally started with three great waves and it took me a while to get a good one. Then I got my 9.80 pointer but Sally came straight back and bettered it with a 9.85 wave.”

The Estoril Billabong Girls Pro was not only the stage of an international gahering but alos crowned this year’s ASP Women’s European Champion, the best European performer taking the prestigious crown for 2009. It was Lee-Ann Curren (Anglet, FRA) who ended with the highest result in the ASP WQS 6-Star event, taking her second regional crown after a year break to succeed to Justine Dupont (Lacanau, FRA).

Curren, 19, who has targeted a qualification for next year’s ASP Women’s World Tour for her main goal this season, placed equal 13th at Estoril and was not able to go any further than Round 3, still enough to grab the European title.

“It feels great to be the ASP Women’s European Champion again after a year hiatus,” Curren said. “I had the crown two years ago and lost it last year to Justine Dupont so it is a good confidence boost as I am starting to focus on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and trying to qualify for the ASP Women’s World Tour”.

Final
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.60 pts Def. Coco Ho (HAW) 16.90 pts

Semifinals
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 18.0 pts Def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.00 pts
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons 16.50 pts (AUS) Def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.20 pts

Quarterfinals
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.75 def Nikita Robb (ZAF) 5.25
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.70 def Jaqueline Silva (BRA) 10.65
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 10.75 def Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.75
Heat 4: Jessi Miley-Dyer 12.90 (AUS) def Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.30

ESTORIL, Bafuriera Beach, Portugal (Saturday, May 2, 2009) – The ASP top ranked surfers showed their talent in an incredible opening day of the Estoril Billabong Girls Pro. The ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star event commenced in three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) surf at Guincho beach for Round 1 and finished in firing four foot plus surf at Bafuriera beach.

“With the Event being mobile we were able to move to get the best waves and we finished at this great right hand point break,” ASP Women’s World Tour rookie Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) said. “Everyone loves coming to Portugal and with most of the ASP Top 17 surfers here, it makes it really exciting.”

Event organizers were monitoring conditions closely across the peninsula and when the wind turned onshore at Guincho they were quick to move and take advantage of the better conditions in Bafuriera. The swell built from three foot to a near perfect four to five foot offshore conditions, aided by the incoming tide push.
Joint organiser and competitor Jaona Rocha (PRT) commentated that “Estoril has many great waves, it all depends on the swell direction and wind then you pick your location.”

Round 1 and part of Round 2 was fought in tough conditions with a strong sweep and varying peaks making it difficult for competitors to find rhythm. With the move to the point break, surfers found better scoring waves for showing off their talent to the Portuguese fans.

Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, had the highest heat score forcing her fellow competitors to need a combination of scores all whilst surfing on a borrowed board. “I got here early in the week to surf the different breaks and try out some equipment and my boards didn’t arrive. I am still waiting for them,” Miley-Dyer said.

Other contest standout surfers for the day were rising and talented Coco Ho (HAW), 17, Carissa Moore (HAW), 17, with Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Paige Hareb (NZL) completing the young-gun leading pack.

“It is my dream to make the ASP Women’s World Tour,” Moore said. “I am going to see how the year goes for me and just take it heat by heat” finished Moore when asked about her ambition to joining the elite tour.

“I got a good last wave but there was still some time to go. I was hoping that Nikita (Robb) and Lee Ann (Curren) didn’t get one as they were both trading second place and looking to over take me,” Coco Ho said.

Claire Bevilacqua still in form after her Pipeline win is just happy to be here. “I have been really happy and appreciating the fun side of what competitive surfing can offer me. I am really enjoying myself and the WQS this year which is keeping me happy and fresh.” Claire Bevilacqua.

Upcoming Round 4 Match-ups
Heat 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW), Carissa Moore (HAW)
Heat 2: Jaqueline Silva (BRA), Nikita Robb (ZAF), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 4: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Bruna Shmitz (BRA), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Round 3 Results
Heat 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 12.85, Jaqueline Silva (BRA) 8.0, Omella Pellizzari (ARG) 7.20, Francisca Santos (PRT) 4.85
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.55, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 14.25, Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 12.25, Jessica Grimwood (AUS) 9.40
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 16.60, Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.0, Arini Mason (NZL) 12.75, Amandine Sanchez (FRA) 9.40
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.60, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 14.65, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 13.90, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.70
Heat 5: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 17.0, Bruna Shmitz (BRA) 11.15, Sage Erickson (USA) 10.60, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 9.10
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.10, Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.50, Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.0, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 8.15

Round 2 Results
Heat 1: Omella Pellizzari (ARG) 11.75, Coco Ho (HAW) 11.25, Marina Vrneck (BRA) 10.50, Suelen Naraisa (BRA) 3.45
Heat 2: Jaqueline Silva (BRA) 10.25, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 10.0, Lexi von der Leith (USA) 1.60, Karina Petroni (USA) 0.40
Heat 3: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 14.50, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 9.0, Dara Penford (AUS) 6.35, Ana Sarmento (PRT) 0.50
Heat 4: Jessica Grimwood (AUS) 13.0, Francisca Santos (PRT) 12.0, Silvana Lima (BRA) 10.75, Wini Paul (NZL) 9.0
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 18.10, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.50, Sara Beardmore (AUS) 6.15, Jessica Hickson (AUS) 5.60
Heat 6: Arini Mason (NZL) 11.65. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.35, Demi Boelsterli (USA) 9.95, Anastasia Ashley (USA) 4.25
Heat 7: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.25, Amandine Sanchez (FRA) 7.10, Jess Dobson (AUS) 5.35. Erica Hosseini (USA) 3.40
Heat 8: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.50, Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.85, Crystal Vail (AUS) 9.50, Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) 9.0
Heat 9: Sage Erickson (USA) 15.0, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.50, Mizuki Hagiwara (JPN) 8.0, Caroline Sarran (FRA) 4.85
Heat 10: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 12.0, Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.65, Rachel Haris (USA) 4.75, Claudia Goncalves (BRA) 4.55
Heat 11: Megan Abubo (HAW) 13.25, Bruna Shmitz (BRA) 12.55, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 11.0, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 8.50
Heat 12: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 13.30, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 12.90, Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.45, Joana Rocha (PRT) 5.65

Round 1 Results
Heat 1: Omella Pellizzari (ARG) 13.50, Lexi von der Leith (USA) 4.20, Nathalie Canat (FRA) 4.15, Ashley Smith (AUS) 4.0,
Heat 2: Dara Penfold (AUS) 10.35, Wini Paul (NZL) 6.50, Marie de Jean (FRA) 4.50, Estitxu Estremo (ESP) 1.80
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 6.50, Demi Boelsterli (USA) 4.05, Anne – Cecile La Tallec (FRA) 2.50, Maria Gonzalez (PRI) 1.50
Heat 4: Jess Dobson (AUS) 12.75, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.0, Angela Keighran (AUS) 3.0, Caroline Perret (FRA) 0.0
Heat 5: Sage Erickson (USA) 11.0, Rachel Haris (USA) 6.15, Michelle Brouillons (BRA) 4.25, Nicole Morgan (IRE) 2.40
Heat 6: Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 4.75, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 4.0, Pico Alegria Eider (EUK) 3.75, Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 1.40

ESTORIL, Carcavelos, Portugal (Friday, May 1, 2009) – A lay day was called at the ASP WQS 6-Star Women’s Estoril Billabong Girls Pro for the kick-off of the waiting period as the much-anticipated pulse in swell did not eventuate. Event organisers gave the high tide as much time as possible but were eventually forced to postpone the start of competition.

With only two ASP WQS 6-Star Women’s events on this year’s ASP schedule, the line-up of professional surfers present in Portugal almost mirrors an ASP Women’s World Tour event and eleven of the world’s elite Top 17 female surfers have ventured to the famous surf coast of Estoril all chasing vital WQS ratings’ points.

“With such a high number of quality surfers here and the event being so important for the 2010 ASP World Tour qualification, we want to give the girls the best waves possible,” event organiser Rita Rocha said.

“We are confident on the conditions for tomorrow and will start Round 1,” Rita Rocha said.

The event running-period has another two days before the champion is crowned and is expected to get underway tomorrow at Guincho, back-up location of the ASP WQS Women’s 6-Star competition.

“The forecast shows good off-shore winds in the morning and a building swell coming-in,” ASP Europe Head Judge Iain Buchanan said. “With conditions looking favorable for Guincho in the morning we will make the call there. The wind may change for the afternoon and if it does we will look to relocate back to Carcavelos.”

Estoril Billabong Girls Pro Round 1 Match-ups
Heat 1: Ornella Pellizzari (ARG), Ashley Smith (AUS), Lexi von der Leith (USA), Nathalie Canat (FRA)
Heat 2: Wini Paul (NZL), Dara Penfold (AUS), Marie de Jean (FRA), Estitxu Estremo (ESP)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Demi Boelsterli (USA), Maria Gonzalez (PRI), Anne-Cecile Le Tallec (FRA)
Heat 4: Angela Keighran (AUS), Jess Dobson (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Caroline Perret (FRA)
Heat 5: Sage Erickson (USA), Michelle Brouillons (BRA), Rachel Haris (USA), Nicole Morgan (IRE)
Heat 6: Bethany Hamilton (HAW), Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN), Alizee Arnaud (FRA), Pico Alegria Eider (EUK)