Mulanovich Makes Her Move with a Win at the Roxy Pro Hawaii
SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007) – Former ASP World Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) tamed 8 to 10 foot (three metre) surf at Sunset Beach to win the Roxy Pro Hawaii today. Her victory has put her just 101 points behind ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and put her well and truly in the race to win her second World Title heading into the final event on the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour in Maui next week.
“It’s pretty amazing, I really never thought of a World Title coming here,” Mulanovich said. “I just wanted to have fun, surf wave by wave, and just have a good contest. But now it’s on, it’s so on!”
The victory is her second on the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour and the 8th of her World Tour career. It is also Mulanovich’s first ASP World Tour rated win in Hawaii.
“I’m just stoked,” Mulanovich said. “Sunset can be such a perfect wave. I really want to thank Rochelle Ballard for helping me out with my board choice, she pushed me to use that board and it really paid off. Thanks to everyone who helped me out, my boyfriend who was my caddie and my longtime sponsor Roxy for another great event.”
Mulanovich finished the four-woman final with 13.73 points to Amee Donohoe’s (AUS) 10.83, Samantha Cornish’s (AUS) 7.64 and Jessi Miley-Dyer’s (AUS) 6.40 points. Donohoe, who only needed a mid-range score to take the lead, was understandably disappointed to miss out on her first World Tour win but has jumped to 5th on the ratings with the result.
“I’ll be honest – it’s a good result but to sum it in two words, second sucks,” Donohoe said. “There was a turning point when I took off on a wave with like three minutes to go because I didn’t realize that there was a bigger set coming through behind that one. I just took off on a shoulder and when I turned around there were three waves with the scoring potential to easily get a 6.0. That was the point where I just got really frustrated. I knew I had made a mistake. Everyone is a good competitor and you can’t give anyone an inch.”
Cornish, who along with reigning and 7X World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS) and 2005 World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), was factored out of the 2007 title race when she didn’t win the Roxy Pro Hawaii, was smiling despite finishing 3rd in the Final. The current World No. 4 earned a wildcard back on to the World Tour in 2007 after just missing out on requalification last year.
“I’m pretty happy to make the final, it’s really tough out there, but it was an excellent day,” Cornish said. “I’m super stoked, it was great result. Like I said earlier, I just want to surf well and see what I can do.”
Miley-Dyer was the lone goofy-footed (right-foot forward) surfer in the Final and was pleased just to have advanced to the Roxy Pro Final today.
“I’m really happy with how it all went,” Miley Dyer said. “Sunset is a really hard wave on your backhand. Not a lot of goofy-footers have really done well here so I put a lot of time in this week. I’ve been riding my 7’0” board at Velzyland (a right-breaking wave like Sunset Beach) and here and looking like an idiot, but I’m really glad I did it.”
Miley Dyer, like the rest of the field, have reveled in the big rights over the course of the contest and was very vocal about being up for the challenge.
“I think Sunset is a good wave, it’s a real challenge,” Miley-Dyer. “I think that for any kind of athlete to take themselves out of their comfort zone and push themselves will only make them better. Sunset does that for us. I’m just really happy to get 4th.”
Four of the six women who were still in contention for the World Title at the beginning of day, were eliminated in the Quarterfinals. Gilmore, who was mathematically capable of clinching the World Title today had she fared differently, was among them.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing but I just had a bad heat, I got caught on the inside a few times,” Gilmore said. “At one point I paddled pretty deep and then a big set came and I just looked at Jessie thinking I was going to die. It just broke on my head, I tried to duck under but it just smoked me. Then I got about six more on the head and by that time I only had half a board, it was pretty strenuous. I wasn’t really in the right position by the end and then time just ran out.”
Gilmore maintains her ratings lead despite her 9th place finish today, but Mulanovich and World No. 2 Silvana Lima have gained considerable ground.
“It will keep it interesting,” Gilmore said. “It’s definitely going to be a hard task to win the World Title, both Sofia and Silvana are closing in on the gap extremely fast.
Lima was rated 2nd before her 9th place result at Sunset. She has dropped to 3rd behind Mulanovich now. Still, after coming back from a knee injury and in only her second year on tour, Lima is happy to still be within reach of the title.
“It’s disappointing, but with me and Steph out now, we’ll just have to take it to Maui,” Lima said. “Maui is great, perfect waves and it’s so beautiful. Good things have happened to me there.”
Beachley, who won her seventh title in Maui last year is no longer an outside chance for an eighth after losing in the Quarters.
“The World Title has been out of my reach since the start of the year,” Beachley said. “I haven’t surfed consistently enough and I haven’t really allowed myself to win. More importantly today, it’s just disappointing to lose at perfect Sunset. It’s my favorite wave in the world and I just can’t do it any justice, it’s frustrating as hell.”
Sixteen-year-old wildcard Coco Ho (HAW) was named the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Rookie for her success at Sunset Beach this week, while the Schick Quattro Style Award went to Gilmore.
Current Triple Crown Ratings Leader Megan Abubo (HAW) has kept her lead despite suffering a potential rib injury in the Semifinals and exiting the water midway through her heat. She left the beach by ambulance and her injuries are still unconfirmed at this point.
Caroline Sarran (FRA) was also absent from her Quarterfinal heat due to injury. She suffered a neck injury free surfing yesterday.
Mulanovich has moved to 2nd behind Abubo on the Triple Crown ratings, followed by Donohoe in 3rd, Beachley in 4th and Melanie Bartels (AUS) in 5th.
Complete coverage of the Roxy Pro Hawaii will be produced and broadcast by FUEL TV. Visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com for more information.
Roxy Pro Hawaii Final Results: Final: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.73, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.83, Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.64, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 6.40
Honolulu - (November 27, 2007) - Current ASP ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) needed a second chance to show the world why shes No. 1 on Day 1 of the Roxy Pro Hawaii, but she did so in her Round 2 heat at Sunset Beach today.
Gilmore, who could potentially win her maiden world title when the Roxy Pro runs next, will be the only athlete in the history of professional surfing to win an ASP World Title as a rookie. The mounting pressure of such a huge achievement got to 19-year-old in her Round 1 heat when she finished 3rd to Wildcard Coco Ho (HAW) and Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) respectively. She was forced to surf Round 2, the first elimination round, for only the second time this year.
“Its all just a whirlwind in my head,” Gilmore said. “There are so many things Im thinking about and so many things that I shouldn’t be thinking about. I think I was just a little bit rattled in my first heat, I couldnt find any waves.
“My Round 2 heat was good, I felt like it was just another chance to get some more practice with my boards, Sunset can be pretty challenging.”
Gilmore posted the highest heat total of the day, 18.10 (out of 20.00) and the highest single wave score when she earned a 9.60 in her Round 2 heat against Rochelle Ballard (HAW) and Jacqueline Silva (BRA).
“The second wave of the set had a little bit of froth on the take off,” Gilmore said of her highest scoring wave. “I didnt really think I was going to make it, I felt like I was going to eat it pretty hard. Luckily I managed to make it down the face, pull myself together and get a few really good turns in. I didn’t really think I’d score that high, but I’m stoked.”
World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), Gilmores closest competition for the World Title, won her Round 1 heat today. Lima needs to finish within one place ahead of Gilmore in the Roxy Pro to keep her title dreams alive heading into final event of the year in Maui.
“I feel great, no pressure, nothing different,” Lima said. “I need to do really well and there are a lot of different ways the World Title race will be determined. Im trying not to think about it much and just stay calm and concentrate on my surfing.”
Hawaiians Coco Ho, Melanie Bartels and Megan Abubo reveled in Round 1 today. Ho, who had to first win the Roxy Pro Trials to earn a place in the main event, was elated when she finished 1st in her heat against Gilmore and Bevilacqua.
“Stephanie Gilmore is my ultimate hero,” Ho said. “It was the best experience to be able to surf with her, but I was so bummed that she wasn’t able to get a few good ones and put on a show for us and get me kicking. I wished her the best in Round 2 and I’m rooting for her for the World Title Race for sure all the way.”
Current Vans Triple Crown of Surfing forerunner Abubo beat co-Sunset specialists Layne Beachley (AUS) and Rochelle Ballard (HAW) in the six foot (two metre)surf on offer to keep her Hawaiian winning streak alive. Abubo won the first event of the Triple Crown in Haleiwa, a 6-Star ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) event, last week.
“To win the Triple Crown is a dream for anyone, but for a Hawaiian it just means that much more,” Abubo said. “We’ve just been blessed this year with such good waves here at Sunset and at Haleiwa. I surf here all the time and its just to great to paddle out and have two of my great friends out there with me in the lineup. I’m hoping the rest of the event will go this well too.”
Reigning Roxy Pro champion Bartels beat Australians Samantha Cornish and Amee Donohoe to advance straight to Round 3 in front of her hometown crowd at Sunset Beach today.
“I’m Hawaiian so I feel great about surfing here at Sunset with my family and friends around,” Bartels said. “It’s great to be surfing in big waves, it’s more challenging. The girls who usually do well in small waves just aren’t making their heats so it’s just good, it shows that you have to be versatile. I’m stoked the heat was good, I love these conditions and getting barreled.”
Only seven heats of surfing remain for the Roxy Pro Hawaii, and the World Title could quite likely be decided the next time competition resumes, which may be tomorrow.
The ASP Womens World Title clinching scenario for the Roxy Pro Hawaii is as follows:
Mathematically, World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), former ASP Womens World Champions Layne Beachley (AUS), Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and Sofia Mulanovich (PER), as well as current world No. 6 Samantha Cornish (AUS) are capable of overtaking ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) with two wins if Gilmore doesnt post better than a combination of 9th or 17th place results in the last two events of the season.
Should Gilmore earn a 5th at Sunset Beach, Hedges, Beachley and Cornish will be out of contention leaving only Lima and Mulanovich in the race.
If Mulanovich bows out early with a 17th at Sunset Beach, Gilmore needs a 9th to knock her out of contention. If Mulanovich earns a 9th at Sunset Beach, Gilmore needs a 5th. If Gilmore finishes 4th or better, Mulanovich cant win.
Gilmore can clinch the title at the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach if she posts a 3rd place result and Lima finishes 17th or 9th. If Lima finishes 5th or 4th Gilmore must finish 2nd to win the title there. If Lima posts a 3rd place result, Gilmore must win the event or the race will continue to Maui.
Essentially, if Gilmore wins the event and Lima finishes 3rd or lower, the 2007 ASP Womens World Title belongs to Gilmore.
Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning, Wednesday, Nov. 28th. FUEL TV will produce and air coverage of the Roxy Pro Hawaii.
All of the action of this year’s Vans Triple Crown of Surfing can be experienced live via the internet at triplecrownofsurfing.com powered by surfspot.com.Additionally, surfline.com will be offering original daily content, and Surfing Magazine will provide a daily blog.
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Since it's humble beginnings in Victoria in 1998, Roxy's innovative Surf Jam program has flourished! This year marks the 10th anniversary and we'd love you to participate. Thousands of girls of all ages have benefited from the Surf Jam days. From novice to expert, from Byron Bay to WA, it's all about progression, education, and having fun!
Roxy's professional surfers and coaches will be there to guide you, regardless of your skill level, and teach you the important aspects of surfing, the ocean, general water safety and even about health and nutrition.
Kicking off on September 8th on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the 10th annual Roxy Surf Jam will weave its way through six Australian states and New Zealand.
Members of Roxy's professional surf team from among ASP Women's World Surfing Champion, Chelsea Hedges, World Qualifying Series surfer Carly Smith and longboarding champion Selby Riddle and many others will be joined by other qualified surf coaches at all 30 of our Surf Jam events that will be spread over 22 coastal destinations.
It's just $20 (or $25 in New Zealand) to participate in this exciting day, and every participant receives a Roxy show bag that includes an official Surf Jam Tour T-shirt and other Roxy giveaways!
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