Sábado 24 de Diciembre 2005

World Junior Championships
Narrabeen Beach-Sydney-Australia, 31 December 2005–8 January 2006

  The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) premier Junior event
   Juniors to rock down under in World Junior Championships
   While the big boy and girl pro surfing tourers have headed home for a well-deserved Christmas break after all tours (both at World Championship Tour level and World Qualifying Series level) concluded in Hawaii, the future stars of the sport are headed “Down Under” to compete in the coveted Billabong World Junior Championships.

Held at Narrabeen, a world class beach break in Sydney, Australia from 31 December 2005, the event will host the best junior (under 21 years of age) surfers both male and female from North America, South America, Hawaii, Europe, Asia, South Africa and Australasia.

On the men’s front, 48 surfers will do battle while on the women’s two from each region plus a wildcard (18 in total) will compete in a draw identical to that of the ASP Women’s World Tour.

The World Junior Championship is seen as the most prestigious junior event in the world and has given rise to some of the world’s biggest surfing super stars including three-time ASP Men’s World Tour winner Andy Irons (HAW) and former ratings number two, Joel Parkinson (AUS).

Brazilians have also been a dominant force at the World Juniors in recent years with Pablo Paulino (BRA) claiming victory this time last year while Adriana De Souza claimed a win in 2003. De Souza just recently qualified for the 2006 ASP Men’s World Tour. Another Brazilian in Pedro Henrique took the trophy back in 2000. He too has now qualified to surf against the ASP’s finest next year.

Professional surfing legend Luke Egan (AUS), who recently officially retired from competition after 21 years on tour, will assume the role of contest director.

Junior World Championships Honour Roll

1998: Andy Irons

1999: Joel Parkinson

2000: Pedro Henrique (Brazil)

2001: Joel Parkinson

2002: Non Event

2003: Adriano De Souza
2004: Pablo Paulino

   ASP

Domingo 18 de Diciembre 2005

Andy Irons wins Pipeline Masters
Pipeline, 8-20 December

   Andy Irons (HAW) had a day to remember today when he claimed victory in the Pipeline Masters and the coveted Triple Crown Of Surfing.

   For Irons it was a fantastic ending to an amazing year and a tremendous finishing reward after relinquishing his ASP Men’s World Tour crown to Kelly Slater (USA) back in Brazil.

   Finishing behind Irons was Mick Fanning (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW) and Kalani Chapman (HAW).

   Irons never looked like losing the final. Despite Fanning getting off to an early lead he looked solid and at home in the somewhat tricky conditions. Half way through the final he dropped into a freak set and scored a perfect 10 after he slipped inside two deep tube rides and finished with a massive but unsuccessful flying air.

   “The wave came off the reef and doubled up a bit,” said Irons. “I pulled in behind the section and came through it then managed to get back in another little barrel. I then tried a flying air and landed on the reef. It was one of the only waves in the final that came in clean.”

   Irons then held onto first place until the final hooter as his brother Bruce and Fanning desperately attempted to real him in. Chapman meanwhile struggled to find quality waves, but proved all event that he certainly has the skill to match it with the world’s best.

   Irons was extremely happy and looked almost relieved that the year was over. For him it has been a roller coaster ride as he did his utmost to stay in the title race right up to Brazil. To win today was obviously satisfying for him.

   “This definitely has made it a lot easier that’s for sure,” said Irons of not retaining his world crown. “I was one heat away from bringing it to Pipe in Brazil and now I’ve got in the back of my mind a lot of what ifs. But I really wanted to do well here in the Triple Crown and Pipe and I achieved my goal.

   “It’s such a great event. I was also stoked to get to surf with my brother out there in the final. This was like a world title in itself. Everyone knows about it through the news and magazines. There’s so much hype around the Hawaiian events. To do well here means a lot and it’s almost a world title so I’m over the moon.”

   Fanning and Bruce Irons were obviously hoping to claim a Pipe victory here today but like Andy they seemed relaxed and content after good seasons this year. Fanning will finish in third place on the ASP Men’s World Tour Ratings while Bruce Irons will finish in ninth.

   The Irons brother’s duels are always exciting and the crowd weren’t disappointed.

   “I’m stoked with the third, sure I would have liked to win but I’m happy to get this trophy and end the year on a high. I’m just looking forward to having a really good holiday,” said Bruce.

   Fanning meanwhile was just enjoying the moment and like the others was looking forward to the post event celebrations.

   “It was good to have three mates in the final,” said Fanning. “I was a bit pissed when Andy got that 10 but what can you do… Between Andy and Bruce they pretty much dominate Pipe. It was great to finish the year in a final. It’s just a little more cash to party with tonight!”

   For Kalani Chapman it was a dream come true. The Pipeline local made it all the way through from the Rip Curl Code STL Trials and certainly made an impact when mixing it with the best of the best. It was a great learning experience for him and no doubt he’ll be back bigger and better next year.

   “I’m just really stoked to surf with them and against them,” he said referring to the top 45. “It’s always been a dream to surf in this event and it’s been a gnarly contest right from the start, even from the trials. I’m tired but it’s mad to be here right now. I learned a lot from this – everything from positioning myself in the water to managing time in a heat. I’m a lot more confident for next time.”

   While the finalists will be celebrating till the early hours of tomorrow morning, none will be celebrating harder that Sunny Garcia (HAW) and Luke Egan (AUS) who both ended their sterling pro surfing careers after being eliminated in semi-final two.

   Both have been on the tour since 1986 and 21 years later they were bracketed to surf their last ever heat together in some tremendous waves at Pipe.

   “It was really cool to surf in the semis with Sunny in my last heat,” said Egan while on stage with good friend Garcia. “But not only that, to be mixing it with the young guys here, well I’m just really stoked with this old guy’s effort [pointing to Sunny] and my effort.”

   “For me it’s pretty much the same,” said Garcia “It’s insane! Luke and I started off on the tour together way back in 1986. I met him in 1984 in an event in Japan and we’ve been good friends ever since. What better way to end my career than to surf here today with my best friend… and losing to the future of Hawaiian surfing [laughs as he looked at Bruce and Andy] I just couldn’t picture going out any other way.”

   They join Shane Beschen (USA), Lee Winkler (AUS), Renan Rocha (BRA), Kalani Robb (HAW) and Tim Curren (USA) on the retiree list.

Winning the best tube prize in the Expression Session was Makua Rothman (HAW) with Miles Padaca (HAW) coming in in second.

   Final results:

1. Andy Irons (HAW) 17.33

2. Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.33

3. Bruce Irons (HAW) 11.33

4. Kalani Chapman 6.37

   The Triple Crown of Surfing ratings top five finished as follows:

1. Andy Irons (HAW)

2. Mick Fanning (AUS)

3. Pancho Sullivan (HAW)

4. Jake Paterson (AUS)

5. Sunny Garcia (HAW)

   With the Pipeline Masters now over, the ratings on the  ASP Men’s World Tour have been finalised.

   The top 10 finished as follows:

1. Kelly Slater (USA)                        7962

2. Andy Irons (HAW)               7860

3. Mick Fanning (AUS)                6650

4. Damien Hobgood (USA)                6148

5. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)        6060

6. Trent Munro (AUS)                5748

7. Taj Burrow (AUS)                        5512

8. Nathan Hedge (AUS)                5426

9. Bruce Irons (HAW)                       5294

10. CJ Hobgood (USA)                5248
   ASP

Sábado 17 de Diciembre 2005

Chelsea Geeorgeson is 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion

   Chelsea Georgeson achieved the ultimate trifecta today to become the only athlete in the history of women’s surfing to win the Billabong Pro Maui, the Triple Crown of Surfing and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) title in one fail swoop. Her earnings today alone eclipsed $US20,000.

   Defeating Jacqueline Silva (BRA) in solid eight foot (two and a half meter) waves in the final at Honolua Bay this afternoon, the 22-year-old from Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia cemented her status as female surfing’s new superstar.

   “I’m so happy. It’s been one of the best days of my life and to have all of my friends and family here is just amazing!” Georgeson said after winning the event and subsequently, the Triple Crown title – the honor bestowed upon the surfer who places highest overall in the three Triple Crown events held in Hawaii in November and December.

   Georgeson, who is also the defending Pro Maui champion, succeeded her best friend and the only competitior capable of challenging her for the world title, Sofia Mulanovich (PER), as the ASP Women’s World Champion today. The crown changed hands when reigning world champ Mulanovich fell to a last minute charge from Silva and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Catching a wave with 28 seconds left in the heat,  Silva garnered a score that put her three tenths of a point ahead of Mulanovich, earning her a semifinal showing and Georgeson a world title.

   “I couldn’t believe Jacqueline got that last wave. I wasn’t really expecting it!” said Georgeson in disbelief when the upset occurred and her title was secured. 

   “I knew Sof was surfing so good and I thought it was going to come down to the final for sure. I was just thinking, ‘Oh whatever, if she gets through that’s sick (great) and if not that’s good too,’ It’s been a really good year for both of us but it ended up a bit better for me!” Georgeson said.

   We kept saying to each other, ‘Keep going, keep going let’s take it all the way through to the end,’ because it would have been a really good end to the year if we both got through to the final. It would have been that much more exciting but it would’ve been really nerve racking too.”

   Mulanovich, who ended former world champion Layne Beachley’s six year stranglehold on the title last year, surfed a tough defending title campaign and led the ASP ratings until the second to last event of the year.  The Peruvian was gracious in defeat.

   “I’m stoked for Chels. I tried not to think about it, but I thought about it a lot after Haleiwa and I was kind of prepared for it. I’m just stoked for her that she made it because she’s the most amazing surfer ever and she deserves this a lot,” Mulanovich said.

   Several scenarios hinged on second-place Pro Maui finisher Jacqueline Silva’s surfing today.  In addition to defeating Mulanovich and cementing Georgeson’s world title win, her fate in the final meant that Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) retained the tenth and final WCT qualifying spot for the 2006 ASP Women’s World Tour. Had Silva won the final, she would have bumped Bevilacqua from the number 10 spot to qualify via the WCT instead of using her World Qualifying Series (WQS) result. Melanie Bartels (HAW) would have then been next in line to qualify from the WQS.

   Current WCT competitors who did not qualify for the 2006 ASP Women’s World Tour include Maria Tita Tavares (BRA), Melanie Bartels (HAW) and Laurina McGrath (AUS). Tavares has been a staple on the Women’s World Tour for the past seven years and usually enjoys great success on the WQS as well. Unfortunately, because the 30-year-old is now sponsorless, she could not afford to contest both tours this year and was unable to use the WQS as a safety net. Bartels and McGrath, who have competed on the WCT for the past two years, tried to cover their tracks on the ‘QS too, but occupying the two spots just below the cutoff on that tour, narrowly missed requalification. All three surfers will be eager to regain their spots in 2007 and will do their best to earn them via the WQS next year.

   Though Heather Clark (ZAF) did not requalify via her WCT or WQS results, she was awarded the 2006 ASP Wildcard and will be on tour again next year. Both Clark and McGrath had applied for the wildcard citing injuries, but strong cases from both parties heralded a decision from the ASP Board of Directors to give the wildcard to the highest placing surfer in this event. Joining the 2006 Women’s World Championship Tour roster from the qualifying series will be Silvana Lima (BRA), Jessica Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Julia Christian (USA).

FINAL: 1st = 1200 ratings points and US$10,000, 2nd = 972 ratings points and US$6,000

Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

SEMIFINALS: 1st advances to FINAL, 2nd finishes equal 3rd and receives US$4,250

H1: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 11.50 def. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 11.25

H2: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 14.75 def. Heather Clark (AUS) 14.25

QUARTERFINALS: 1st advances to SEMIFINALS, 2nd finishes equal 5th and receives US$3,500

H1: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 16.00 def. Maria Tita Tavares (BRA) 8.00

H2: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 14.90 def. Trudy Todd (AUS) 11.50

H3: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 12.80 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.50

H4: Heather Clark (AUS) 12.75 def. Laurina McGrath (AUS) 11.25

ROUND THREE: 1st advances to QUARTERFINALS, 2nd finishes equal 9th and receives US$2,750

Heat 1: Maria Tita Tavares (BRA) 11.75 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 7.10
Heat 2: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 12.75 def. Serena Brooke (AUS) 9.65

Heat 3: Trudy Todd (AUS) 10.10 def. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 7.75

Heat 4: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 11.50 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 6.90

Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.75 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 12.00

Heat 6: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 13.25 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.75

Heat 7: Laurina McGrath (AUS) 14.75 Keala Kennelly (HAW) 14.50

Heat 8: Heather Clark (AUS) 15.45 def. Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 12.75

   FINAL 2005 ASP WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR RATINGS

1. Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)        7080 points

2. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 6012 points

3. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)        4704 points

4. Megan Abubo (HAW)               4614points

5. Layne Beachley (AUS)        4308 points

6. Trudy Todd (AUS)                4128 points

7. Rochelle Ballard (HAW)        4104 points

8. Keala Kennelly (HAW)        3876 points

9. Samantha Cornish (AUS)        3786 points

10. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)        3720 points

11. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)         3708 points

12. Serena Brooke (AUS)        3324 points

13. Rebecca Woods (AUS)        3312 points

14. Laurina McGrath (AUS)        3100 points

15. Heather Clark (ZAF)         3108 points

16. Maria Tita Tavares (BRA)        2622 points

17. Melanie Bartels (HAW)        2340 points

   TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING RESULTS

1. Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)        2838 points and $US10,000

2. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)        2712 points

3. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)        1986 points

4. Jacqueline Silva                        1692 points
5. Megan Abubo (HAW)            1566 points

   ASP

Miércoles 9 de Noviembre 2005

SLATER wins an unprecedented seventh ASP Men’s World Tour Crown during WCT Festival, Brazil

   Spectators on the beach and those watching the live webcast from the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong witnessed one of the most phenomenal acts in surfing and sporting history today when Kelly Slater from Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA claimed an incredible seventh ASP Men’s World Tour crown.
   Despite being eliminated in round four of today’s event, by stable-mate Travis Logie (ZAF), all things fell into place for Slater when his only rival for the title, Andy Irons (HAW) was eliminated by Nathan Hedge (AUS) in the quarter finals. In order to keep the title race alive going into Hawaii – with Slater’s early elimination – Irons had to finish at least third in this event.
   After a shaky start to the Nova Schin Festival, Slater looked to be back to his best in round three where he defeated wildcard Guilherme Ferriera (BRA) but in the heat against Logie he stalled, falling on a few occasions and perhaps making some wrong decisions regarding wave choice.
   After the heat he admitted being an emotional ball of knots as he felt huge disappointment in himself plus an overwhelming anxiousness. He was about to jump into a car and leave the beach as he couldn’t bear to watch how the Irons/Hedge affair would unfold.
   Good friend CJ Hobgood (USA) then talked Slater into returning to watch and with all eyes upon the soon to be champion he joked and looked at ease for the masses of cameras focussed on him recording his reaction.
In the dying stages of the Irons/Hedge encounter he zipped his jacket over his head as the anticipation became unbearable. But as soon as it was confirmed that Irons was eliminated Slater threw his arms in the air and cheered long and hard in tune with the massive crowd who were present to support him.

   It was a fantastic year for the 33-year-old as after getting off to a slow start on the first two events on this year’s calendar, he came back with a victory in Tahiti scoring the first perfect 20 out of 20 total in the final.
   He claimed that it took him until that victory to revamp his title ambition after narrowly losing his crown in 2003 when Irons came from behind in the last event of the tour at Pipeline.
   In 2005 he has claimed four event victories in Tahiti, Fiji, California and South Africa. His battles with Irons in two finals – in Jeffreys Bay where Slater was victor and in Japan where Irons won the silverware – have been noted as being some of the best surfing finals of all time.
Slater was in the box seat in the last event in France and could have potentially wrapped up the title there. But Irons win in that event held off Slater’s celebrations until today here in Brazil.
   Slater’s Stats:
   In winning his seventh ASP Men’s World Tour crown Slater has broken his own record of six titles.
   He won his first title here in Brazil at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. He then lost the following year to Derek Ho (HAW) but reclaimed his crown in 1994 and held onto it with a firm grip until 1998 – seven years ago.
   Slater left the tour before the start of the 1999 season to go into semi-retirement until 2001. He is the only surfer in the history of the sport who did not have to return to the World Championship Tour through qualification on the second tier World Qualifying Series. Each tour event granted him a wildcard so he could return in 2001.
   Slater was the youngest to claim the title at 20 years of age and is now the oldest champion at 33 years of age. He takes the oldest record from Mark Occhilupo (AUS) who also claimed a title in 1999 when he was also 33. He beats Occhilupo because he was born in the month of February. Occhilupo was born in June.
   Kelly Slater is the highest prizemoney winner in the history of the sport now having amassed an amazing $US1,303,105.
The only record Slater is yet to smash is the most number of competition victories held by Tom Curren (USA). Curren has 33 event victories while Slater has 31.
   The following quotes were recorded directly after he claimed his crown.
His immediate reaction:
   “I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve just been through a complete emotional roller coaster from being really sad thinking of my dad [who passed away in 2002] to being really happy after talking to my family and just thinking about the whole big thing. I really need a little time alone just to sit and dwell on everything I think. I’m just super relieved it’s over. It was an amazing year. Andy didn’t really get in gear until the end of the year and I knew at some point he was going to make a rush and really didn’t expect him to go out early here. I thought he was going to win. I’m feeling for Andy at the moment.”
   On returning to compete on the ASP Men’s World Tour in 2006:

   “I probably won’t make that decision until Bells in April next year. I will definitely surf the first event of the year on the Gold Coast no matter what. As to whether I continue and surf all the events… If I surf Bells, if I go to Tahiti and Fiji it is very likely that I will continue as I love those events and won last year. I just don’t know at this point. I will see when I get there. I’m not too worried about that now.”
   On his feelings after his defeat to Travis Logie in the Nova Schin Festival Brazil:
   “I was going to leave the beach. We were packing the car and my friends were putting the boards on the roof. Then CJ Hobgood looked at me and said, ‘You know what? It is better that this is happening, this should go to Hawaii. It is better for surfing. It’s better for everyone to see it come down to the last event – it just makes sense.’ I instantly relaxed about it. I thought to myself that I should stick around to watch Nathan and Andy’s heat and if I win today I should be at the beach. It was the right thing. I had a really good feeling. Then Nathan Hedge looked at me and said, ‘I am going to win this heat, it’s going to end today.’ I thought to myself, there’s a man with confidence, and I was pumped up and totally relaxed at the same time. Then he went out and did his thing and beat Andy. Hedgey and I need to sit down and have a talk. [laughs] He thought I was hating him these past four months and he goes to me, ‘We’re friends again now aren’t we?’”
   On his head space:
   “I have to sit back and dwell on it all for a while. It’s all hit me right now. I need to assess how I feel as a person as opposed to just winning. Prior to today I wasn’t just thinking about the next contest, I was thinking about the rest of my life and where I can improve in other parts of it. It all has me pumped up and humbled all at the same time. In some ways I just want to build a house, surf a lot, play golf, travel, play music and have more time for my personal life. That may happen, that might be my next year.”
   On him smashing records:
   “I don’t know about the records just yet. Again I need time to sit back and think about things. I would love to win Pipe and finish off on a win after having such a great year. Potentially I can still catch Tom Curren’s record for event victories next year if that is the case. I didn’t win a whole event during last year and this year I came up and won four. I could easily go next year and not win one again or I could win a few so we will see how my mind is and how determined I am on tour next year.”
   On the anxiety he felt at the end of the Irons/Hedge heat that resulted in his zipping up his jacket and hiding:
   “I was pretending I was playing poker and I didn’t want anyone to see my poker face. I was hiding! Trying to contain the excitement, the nervousness… the anxiety!”
   On 2005 being the best year of his life:
   “In a lot of ways I feel like my life is getting better and this just really capped off the back half of my career in a great way.”

   ASP

Miércoles 9 de Noviembre 2005

Brazil WCT Festival
Event #10 on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Men's World Tour
Hobgood claims victory in the Brazil WCT Festival
Imbituba-Santa Catarina-Folorianapolis-Brazil, October 31-9 November

   It was a memorable day in surfing history today as Damien Hobgood (USA) defeated Victor Ribas (BRA) in front of an extremely vocal crowd at the Brazil WCT Festival.
   Surfing in one metre (three foot) waves at Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Hobgood stole a wave in the dying seconds of the final to claim the victory in the event, the 10th on the ASP Men’s World Tour career.
   Coming from behind and knowing he only needed a small score – a 3.3 out of 10 – Hobgood grabbed a smaller inside wave in the dying stages of the final and punched out two quick turns to score a 4.13 in what was a nail biting finish for both competitors and spectators alike.
   It was a slow start in the 35 minute encounter with neither surfer really able to catch any quality waves until Hobgood scored an 8.17 with seven minutes to go. He then had to wait patiently until those dying seconds for his last score as the ocean went flat.
   Ribas meanwhile had locked away some average scores of 5.17 and 5.33 and had the full backing of the incredibly passionate crowd. Each time Ribas stroked into waves they roared loudly, jumped up and down and hooted.
   It was Hobgood’s second final appearance in a row – he finished second behind Andy Irons (HAW) in France – and he knew he had an inside running here today due to what he claimed was divine intervention.
  "It was one of those contests where I wasn’t really surfing that well but the Lord was telling me that this was my contest,” said Hobgood. “I’d be in a heat and the waves would be bad and then a bomb would just come to me! I started off slow and gained momentum throughout the event. I’m super stoked with the win.”
    Hobgood acknowledged that it was a slow final and that he didn’t really dominate as he would have liked but in scratching into his final wave of the event he knew he had played the right hand, but given the vocal nature of the crowd he didn’t want to go overboard in showing his excitement as he didn’t want the crowd to get out of control.
   “I certainly didn’t command the heat,” said Hobgood. “I couldn’t hear clearly but I thought they said I needed a 3.0 or something [which was correct] and I paddled for that last wave. I thought it wasn’t that good but I went for it because I thought it would be my last hurrah. I took off late but managed to get in front of the section and I knew if I could do two good turns I’d get the score. As soon as I finished I knew I’d got the score and if I was anywhere else in the world I would have claimed it but I didn’t want get the crowd going too crazy so I just cut out.”
   Hobgood went on to site that he was trying emulate Joel Parkinson’s (AUS) new found drive. After taking time off since the event in Japan back in September, Parkinson was “frothing like a grommet” being incredibly excited every time he hit the water for a heat.
   “I was trying to draw energy from Joel Parkinson,” said Hobgood. “He was so amped to be back in the water after his injury I was trying to be like him and charge out there and just really enjoy competing.”
   Ribas, in having the backing of the locals was in excellent form in the lead up to the final. He was unfortunate in that the set waves were few and far between. His two average scoring rides were just below par of Hobgood’s excellent wave and a smaller one.
   “I couldn’t hear very well out there and I didn’t know he needed only a 3.3,” said Ribas. “I did my best and I tried to make all the manoeuvres on the waves but unfortunately he only needed that small score and he did make it. But I’m so proud that I have represented my country well. I always hope to do well for them.”
   Through this second place today and his third placing in France, Ribas is now in a solid position on the ratings after looking very shaky all year previously. Originally he hadn’t qualified for the 2005 ASP Men’s World Tour but due to the retirment of Pat O’Connell (USA) at the start of this year Ribas scored a start and is now cemented for a return in 2006.
   “I have to thank Pat O’Connell for retiring as that was how I made it into the top 45 this year,” said Ribas. “I was so stoked to be back this year and to have some big results. At Trestles this year Pat was driving the jetski in the surf and I thanked him for everything, for helping me get here on the WCT. I am very stoked to be here and have the crowd behind me. I didn’t win but for me it was like a win in front of this crowd.”
   Finishing in equal third place was Nathan Hedge (AUS) who had an interesting day in that he contributed to the world title race by defeating Andy Irons in the quarter-finals. Irons needed to finish at least third here to keep the title race alive going into the next event at Pipeline Hawaii and Hedge blasted to victory scoring the highest heat score of the event.
   His dream run came to an end in the semi-finals, however, as he went down fighting to Ribas. He was held back by some long lulls and couldn’t find the big scores.
   “I felt as though I hadn’t even really hit my straps yet in the event so I was a bit disappointed that the waves didn’t come in that heat, said Hedge. “But that’s surfing you know. You just have to take the good with the bad. Victor is really hard to beat in these conditions as he only needs half a wave and he’ll catch it. That was my second best result of the year and it came at a good time of the year. It’ll keep me in the top 10 so now just bring on Pipe!”
   Equalling Hedge was another Brazilian hot shot in Raoni Monteiro. Up until this event and the World Qualifying Series event held last week, he was looking like bowing out of the elite tour for lack of quality results.
   Monteiro is a promising youngster and will certainly be a serious challenger in future as in an earlier round he landed one of the biggest aerial reverse manoeuvres of the event. In his semifinal against Hobgood, Monteiro, like Hedge was hampered by the long breaks between set waves. He was however pleased with his performance.
   “It was hard out there. He got a good one to start and I think that was the best wave of the heat,” said Monteiro. “I had a small wave then I couldn’t really come back. This is the first podium I’ve made so far so I’m really happy to get this far. It was an important event for me because I needed a good result and I think now I’m in 30th on the WCT and now in 18th on the WQS. If I do well when I get to Hawaii then I’m back in.”
   Results:
   Round 3

Heat 11: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 14.67 def Pedro Henrique (BRA) 12.63

Heat 12: Jake Paterson (AUS) 11.50  def Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 7.03

Heat 13: Phil MacDonald (AUS) 11.50 def Flavio Costa (BRA) 8.93

Heat 14: Victor Ribas (BRA) 15.00 def Tim Reyes (USA) 9.00

Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50 def Yuri Sodre (BRA) 6.83

Heat 16: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 14.67 def Renan Rocha (BRA) 12.93
   Round 4

Heat 1: Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 17.55 def C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.77

Heat 2: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 16.33 def Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.70

Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.53 def Cory Lopez (USA) 12.07

Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.07 def Kelly Slater (USA) 13.66

Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.10 def Bede Durbridge (AUS) 11.67

Heat 6: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 15.27 def Jake Paterson (AUS) 13.43

Heat 7: Victor Ribas (BRA) 14.26 def Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.50

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.50 def Frederick Patacchia Jr (HAW) 11.64
   Quarter Finals

Heat 1: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.00 def Kirk Flintoff (AUS) 7.46

Heat 2: Damian Hobgood (USA) 13.27 def Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.83

Heat 3: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 17.70 def Andy Irons (USA) 16.80

Heat 4: Victor Ribas (BRA) 14.33 def Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.70
   Semi Finals

Heat 1: Damian Hobgood (USA) 14.23 def Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.70

Heat 2: Victor Ribas (BRA) 12.63 def Nathan Hedge (AUS) 10.67
   Final

Heat 1: Damian Hobgood (USA) 12.30 def Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.50
   Ratings post Brazil
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 7896

2. Andy Irons (HAW) 7260

3. Phil MacDonald (AUS) 6060

4. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6028

5. Damien Hobgood (USA) 5826

6. Trent Munro (AUS) 5618

7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 5512

8. CJ Hobgood (USA) 5248

9. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 5236

10. Cory Lopez (USA) 4960

   ASP

Domingo 9 de Octubre 2005

Women WCT Pro Malibu
Trudy Todd wins the Malibu Pro after top seeds bow out early
Surfrider Beach-Malibu-California, 1-9 October

   Australian Trudy Todd, a 13-year tour veteran who hasn’t relished an event victory for over five years, overcame Samantha Cornish (AUS) to win the Malibu Pro in epic four to six foot (one to two meter) surf today. Todd, who jumped from equal 13th to 7th on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world ratings with the win, announced earlier in the season that this will be her last year competing on the World Championship Tour (WCT).
   “I said to the girls, ‘you know, I really want to go out winning a contest and being on top instead of getting kicked off the tour and looking like a kook,’ so I guess I did that,” joked Todd.

   “My last win was in Maui in 1999 - back when I was in my prime,” she continued.  “I broke my back in 2000 and have had cancer twice in the last six years, so I’m retiring because my health is good and I really want to get married, have kids and have a life other than the tour.”
   Though many expected to see another showdown between close friends and ratings leaders Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), fans lining the shore of Surfrider Beach were treated to a slightly different best friend battle.
   “Sam and I are best friends and travel buddies. She’s a ripper and I’ve known her since she was a young girl so I was like, ‘Let’s just go out there and surf. We’ve got great waves, I’m retiring, and I’ve finally got a final with you,” explained Todd.
   The girls did just that, but it would ultimately be Todd who came out on top.
   “Obviously I’m disappointed I didn’t win, but second is a really good result,” conceded Cornish. “I had such an awesome day surfing perfect Malibu waves that I’m overwhelmed.  I’m just stoked that one of my good friends won. I haven’t seen Trudy win one since I started on the ‘CT and she’s going to retire at the end of the year so I’m stoked to see her win. I’m disappointed but I’m glad to see it was one of my good mates.”

   Cornish squashed defending Malibu Pro champion Megan Abubo’s chances of a repeat win in the semis, just one heat after flattening number one rated surfer Mulanovich’s hopes of furthering her ratings lead in the quarterfinals. Mulanovich’s loss to Cornish came as quite a surprise after the Peruvian’s survived her heat against wildcard Stephanie Gilmore (AUS). Many thought that if she were to be beaten early, Gilmore would have been the girl to do it.

   Also shockingly eliminated in the quarterfinals were Georgeson and six times world champion Layne Beachley (AUS). Both surfers were hoping to narrow world title rating points gaps here in Malibu.

   “It’s not the best way to finish the contest, but I guess if I want to win a world title, it is good that Layne and Sofia both bowed out at the same time,” said Georgeson.  “I’m just bummed that I blew it because I had a really good opportunity to get ahead of both of those girls, but there are two contests left and hopefully I can pull something together then and get a good result. I’m stoked though, we have to wait until Hawaii now.”
   Beachley expressed similar sentiments. Despite posting today’s best heat score of a 17.5 (out of a possible 20 points), she was unable to beat an in-form Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS).

   “It opened the door for me to catch them, and my frustration lies with the fact that I’ve been surfing the best, getting the best scores and I just didn’t get another wave,” said Beachley. “It was a really slow heat.  I’m bitterly disappointed because if I got through that heat and into the final, I would’ve been a serious contender for the world title.”
   Today’s somewhat surprising results leave the 2005 world title race up in the air, with Mulanovich, Georgeson, Abubo and Beachley still mathematically capable of ending the year as number one. For Beachley to capture a seventh world title and for Abubo to win her first, the girls would need to win the final two events of the year with Mulanovich and Georgeson eliminated before the quarterfinals in both events. Even if Mulanovich wins the next event held in Haleiwa Beach, Hawaii from November 12-24, as long as Georgeson makes the semifinal, the race will run through to the final event of the year at Honolua Bay, Maui, from December 8-19.
   In true Hollywood fashion, a Celebrity Surf Bout was also held today. Much to the delight of the beach full of fans, over a dozen television, film and music personalities took to Malibu Point to raise awareness for the Heal the Bay foundation, an environmental awareness organization. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, NYPD Blue’s Ricky Schroeder and Andrew Keegan of Ten Things I Hate About You were among those in attendance.
   ASP Ratings after Stop #7 on the Women’s World Championship Tour

1. Sofia Mulanovich 5820 point

2. Chelsea Georgeson 5592 points

3. Megan Abubo 4320 points

4. Layne Beachley 4308 points

5. Rochelle Ballard 3924 points

6. Melanie Redman-Carr 3912 points

7. Trudy Todd 3756 points

8. Samantha Cornish 3708 points

9. Keala Kennelly 3696 points

10. Rebecca Woods 3312 points

11. Jacqueline Silva 3096 points

12. Serena Brooke 2952 points

13. Claire Bevilacqua 2929 points