World’s Best Female Surfers Prepare for Rip Curl Women’s Pro at Bells Beach
BELLS BEACH, Australia (Monday, Mar. 17, 2008) – The world’s best female surfers have converged upon the hallowed sands of Bells Beach, Australia for Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Rip Curl Women’s Pro Champion, is keen to make up for her slow start to the season on the Gold Coast, where the highly-touted natural-footer went down to wildcard Carissa Moore (HAW), finishing an equal 9th.
“Obviously I didn’t get the best start to the season, but I’ve put that behind me and am focusing on the job at hand,” Gilmore said. “I love the wave at Bells and the whole vibe here is really special. I’m still taking this year heat by heat, and there have been a lot of life-changing aspects that have come along with being world champion, but I’m happy to be back in Bells and look forward to getting back to business.”
Gilmore will battle ASP Top 17 veteran Jacqueline Silva (BRA) and Trials Winner Alana Blanchard (HAW) in Heat 3 of Round 1.
“At this point in the season, everyone should be considered a threat,” Gilmore said. “Everyone is training really hard, and the wildcards can be a real challenge as they’re really hungry and have nothing to lose.”
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), former ASP Women’s World Champion and winner of the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Bells Beach in 2005, is the current ratings leader on the 2008 ASP Dream Tour after a sensational victory at the season-opener on the Gold Coast, and will look to strengthen her lead while in Victoria.
“The event here at Bells is always such a good contest as the atmosphere is really electric and the people here really care about surfing,” Mulanovich said. “The wave at Bells is similar to the ones I have at home, so I feel really comfortable out here. I’ve had some good results in the past and I hope to have another good year at Bells.”
Mulanovich will square off against a recently recovered-from-injury Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie Karina Petroni (USA) in Heat 4 of Round 1. Last season, Mulanovich finished runner-up to Gilmore at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro at Bells Beach, and hopes for another solid performance this season.
“To make the final here again would be great,” Mulanovich said. “It’s obviously a bit early to speculate, but Steph and I will try our best to repeat.”
Layne Beachley (AUS), former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and three-time winner of the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Bells Beach (’94, ’98, ’99), finished equal 4th at the season opener on the Gold Coast, but hopes that her experience and preparation will reap dividends at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro.
“I have been working with my shaper, Stuart Darcy, and trying new things with my equipment,” Beachley said. “I have 3 new boards to try in 3 days to work out which will be best for Bells. Not an easy task, but Bells is one of my favorite waves and definitely one of the most prestigious trophies to have in a trophy cabinet. It’s a challenging wave to ride as it confronts you with so many variables from barrels to fat sections and prevailing onshore winds so you have to be able to adapt to the continuous changing conditions and be really familiar with your equipment.”
Beachley will square face Julia De La Rosa (PER) and ’08 Dream Tour rookie Nicola Atherton (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 1 when competition commences.
The Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta begins its waiting period on Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2008.
The Rip Curl Women’s Pro will be webcast LIVE via www.ripcurl.com
Slater Ready to Ring the Bell at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
BELLS BEACH, Australia (Monday, March 17, 2008) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers, the second of 11 stops on the 2008 ASP World Tour, will commence tomorrow, March 18, 2008. Kelly Slater (USA), the most decorated surfer in history, will be there.
Despite winning the first event of the year, Slater was uncertain as to whether or not he would attend the Rip Curl Pro. After 14 years on tour, the 8X ASP World Champion has been adamant that he will compete selectively in 2008 in order to pursue other interests.
Slater officially withdrew from the event late last week but had a change of heart after seeing the swell forecast for the March 14-29 waiting period. He arrived in Australia today.
“A combination of things influenced my decision to come to Bells,” Slater said. “I had called ASP Tour Manager Renato Hickel to ask to be officially taken out of the event and that is when he asked me if I had seen the swell forecast.”
Current forecasts indicate that a new swell could see the event start early in the waiting period and that Easter Friday is poised to produce six to eight foot (two metre plus) waves akin to the classic Bells Beach conditions Slater won the 2006 Rip Curl Pro in.
“I was also checking out some media online and I came across some video interviews that the Geelong Advertiser had done with the locals about whether or not I would come,” Slater said. “There were some pretty strong responses about wanting to see me there. So that, the swell and some changes in my personal life and suddenly it was perfect timing for me to get away. All the signs pointed this direction so it seemed like the thing to do.”
It seemed like the thing to do in 2006 too. Slater was in an identical predicament in the 2006 lead up to the event as he was prior to this one – a win in the season-opener, a world No. 1 rating to start the year and serious indecision about whether to attend the event or not. Slater won the Rip Curl Pro and his eighth ASP title that year.
“The decision to come was a little more clear this year,” Slater said. “In 2006 I decided to come at the last minute to get my mind off some personal things and to get a little more focused. This year, the similarities to 2006 are the excitement of a looming swell and a great week of surfing I want to be a part of.”
Slater will face Brazil’s Adriano de Souza and wildcard and former ASP World Tour surfer Troy Brooks in Heat 10.
