BIARRITZ – France (Friday, July 15, 2011)
Stephanie Gilmore (Gold Coast, AUS), 23, won the Roxy Pro in Biarritz today, the charismatic champion clinching her first victory of the season ahead of freshly crowned 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion Carissa Moore (Oahu, HAW), 18, in good qualitythree-foot (one meter) waves and finding the only clean barrel of the event enroute to victory.
With no pressure and having enjoyed the weekof action where she posted three of the event’s top-five wave scores,Gilmore managed to take the final’s lead after a series of waves, thefour-time ASP champion adding a 19th event win to her brilliant career with asolid 17.27 point heat result, the event’s third highest one.
“Today was unbelievable because somuch has gone down, » Roxy Pro winner Gilmore said. « In my perfectworld somebody would be crowned world champ and I would take the win and that is what I dreamt about. It feels so good. I missed it so much this year. I am so happy right now.”
Gilmore, who was ousted from the ASP Women’s Worldtitle race after event No. 5 in Brazil, came to Biarritz relaxed, bringing her stylish forehand attack,on-the-rail cutback and vertical top-turn lethal weapons to make her waythrough to the final and win the event, a win with a special taste ahead ofwunderkid and favorite Moore.
“Her turns out there were really strong and I thought she was surfing better than me but I got a little head dipand it was the excitement of everything, » Gilmore added. « It feels good to beat her and she has definitely raised the bar for all the girls this year.
She is definitely the strongest of everyone this whole year and she has been in every single final and that is a new record. To beat the freshlycrowned world champ is pretty cool.”
Following her ASP Women’s worldchampion crowning, Carissa Moore (Oahu, HAW), 18, led the battle for fifteen minutes netting an 8.00 point score on her third wave thanks to her custom-madeupside-down turns and 360° reverses. Showing great consistency and mentalstrenght during the nerve-racking world title showdown all week, Moore came short of only 1.77 points finishing her Biarritz run as runner-up.
« It’s been a great event and I was just smiling during the wholefinal, » an ecstatic Moore said. « It’s probably the heat I’ve spoken in most in my career and we were just enjoying our time out there with Stephanie. The waves were fun and I am just super stoked to be here in Biarritz. »
Surfing a sixth final in six events, apremiere in the ASP history, youngest ever ASP Women’s World champion Moore adds another record to her already outstanding young career and will be celebrating the first world title for a Hawaiian in 30 years, since Margo Oberg’s crowning in 1981.
« It feels amazing to make all thes efinals and win the title, » Moore said. « I have been thinking about this for a long time since I was a little girl. Just to be here right now and being world champ is pretty crazy, and Roxy put-up a great event. I dreamed of surfing at this level my whole life since Iwas a little kid and I don’t think you can ever expect or anticipate the feeling. »
Placing equal 3rd in the event and consequently letting go her chances to counter Moore’s world title assault, Sally Fitzgibbons (New South Wales, AUS) still added another solid result and continues the 2011 season as ASP World No. 2 and heading to the final event hungry for a win.
« It’s been a fantastic year,I’ve enjoyed the highs and lows but it’s a bit devastating to lose theworld title, » Fitzgibbons said. « I am stoked to see my good friend Carissa (Moore)win the title and it was a great finish to see Stephanie take down the eventwin. There is still another event and I’ll try and finish there witha strong result.
Fitzgibbons, who was the last world title contender, remains one of women’s surfing favorites towards the supremeASP crown in a near future, and contributed to making this year’s ASPWomen’s World title race on eof the most exciting ever.
« It’s surfing and sometimesit’s difficult to won when world titles are on the line, »Fitzgibbons said. « I am stoked with my performance this year andcan’t wait for next year. »
Securing her best result in her ASPWomen’s World title rookie season, Pauline Ado (Hendaye, FRA) pleased herhome crowds by reaching the Semifinals of the event, the 20-year-old mutli ASP European women’s champion continuing her 2011 run efficiently and nowserioulsy in reach of requalifying for next year’s elite ASP Women’s tour.
« I would have loved to make the final but I am super happy with my result and it feels even better to secure it here at home, » Adosaid. « I was really relaxed going into that heat and I knew I had nothing to lose against Carissa (Moore).The waves were good, I did my thing and I am happy with this run in Biarritz. Looking forwardto the final event in California. »
By placing 3rd in Biarritz,Ado’s chances to requalify now depend on fellow rookie Laura Enever (USA) and Paige Hareb’s (NZL) results at thefinal event next month in California, both girls needing to make the final to keep Ado back from requalifying.
The Roxy Pro will continue tomorrow with the ASP Women’s World Longboard Tour division set to wrap-up, event officials meeting at 8 AM Saturday.
The Roxy Pro is webcast LIVE at http://www.roxylive.com/
ROXY PRO FINAL
1st, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.27
2nd, Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.50
ROXY PRO SEMIFINALS
Heat 1 : Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.27 def.Pauline Ado (FRA) 9.67
Heat 2 : Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.30 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
ROXY PRO QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1 : Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.50 def.Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.23
Heat 2 : Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.34 def.Courtney Conlogue (USA)12.50
Heat 3 : Sally Fitzgibons (AUS) 14.37def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.67
Heat 4 : Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.30def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.87
ROXY PRO ROUND 4
Heat 1 : Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.16 def. Lee-Ann Curren (FRA) 12.34
Heat 2 : Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.94 def.Tyler Wright (AUS) 7.97
Heat 3 : Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.00def. Laura Enever (AUS) 4.60
Heat 4 : CocoHo (HAW) 12.40 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.30
Media contacts :
Roxy Pro Press Office
Cathy Lallement& Anaise Vion / Agence Olivia Payerne
Mob. Cathy :+33 6 14 04 17 16 / Anaise : +33 6 78 39 99 78
contact@agence-op.fr
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