Could today be the most exciting in women's surfing this year? After two lay days, the 7th day of the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii - including the Quarter Finals - is set to start today, the third contest of the Vans Triple Crown and could decide whether defending champion Sofia Mulanovich, and world title holder Stephanie Gilmore or Layne Beachley will win the ASP Women's World Tour.
From starting the week as too small, the surf was huge yesterday at 4 to 5 metres high, and so the men's ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) O'Neill World Cup took place instead under the stormy conditions. But if the Roxy Pro does get underway today, eyes will also be on female surfing's phenomenal new generation - as teen talents Coco Ho, Sally Fitzgibbons and Lee Ann Curren are all going into the Quarter Finals.
But what I'm wondering is: where's Carissa Moore?
Here's the official report from the ASP:
Melanie Bartels Goes Richter as Quarterfinalists Decided at Roxy Pro
SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Friday, November 28, 2008) – Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, current No. 10 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, went ballistic today during her Round 1 heat, combo-ing her opponents with an incredible 18.40 out of a possible 20 to advance through to the Quarterfinals of the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach.
Stop No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach also marks the second event of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (an ASP Specialty Series) and today’s solid eight-to-ten foot (3 metre) surf on offer at the infamous break saw the Hawaiians dominate today.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time out here at Sunset with Rochelle (Ballard) and she’s been giving me lots of little secrets so I feel really confident out here,” Bartels said. “I’m just stoked to be back in Hawaii and finally get to surf some real waves.”
Bartels, who is a past champion at the Roxy Pro Sunset, took down reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, in her opening round heat, proving that the powerful Hawaiian is one of the girls to watch here at Sunset.
“My competitive focus has definitely changed lately,” Bartels said. “I’m much more motivated than I’ve ever been and I’m really looking forward to finishing the season strong here in Hawaii.”
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, defending Roxy Pro Champion and current No. 2 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, put in a solid Round 1 effort today to advance directly into the Quarterfinals.
“I watched the heat before me and saw Steph (Gilmore) get eliminated, but I didn’t think to much about that in my heat,” Mulanovich said. “I’m confident that Steph will get through her next heat and we’ll be back to square one come the Quarterfinals.”
Gilmore rebounded in fine form in Round 2, securing two solid scores to net a 12.84 out of a possible 20 to advance through to the Quarterfinals.
“I was really frustrated with my performance in Round 1 so I went straight out there and tried to pick off a couple of scores as soon as I could in Round 2,” Gilmore said. “The waves are epic today. We surf fairly small stuff most of the season so it’s awesome to come here to Hawaii and get to compete in solid waves.”
With the advancement of Gilmore and Mulanovich into the Quarterfinals, the race for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title moves to the next day of competition.
“I’m not really thinking about the title right now,” Gilmore said. “Sofia (Mulanovich) and I are both through to the next round so I’m sure we’ll just keep battling it out until one of us prevails. Should make for an entertaining end of the year.”
Organizers called Roxy Pro competition off for the day following the completion of Round 2, allowing for the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime O’Neill World Cup of Surfing to get underway.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7am for a possible 8am start.
The Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach will be webcast LIVE via www.triplecrownofsurfing.com
ROXY PRO SUNSET ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Nicola Atherton (AUS) 13.00, Silvana Lima (BRA) 5.95, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 4.23, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 0.93
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.30, Serena Brooke (AUS) 6.47, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 5.83, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3.44
Heat 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 18.40, Coco Ho (HAW) 11.40, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5.83, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 8.33
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.33, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 10.44, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 3.33, Karina Petroni (USA) 0.00
Heat 5: Lee Ann Curren (HAW) 14.50, Layne Beachley (AUS) 6.64, Megan Abubo (HAW) 3.17, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 0.00
ROXY PRO SUNSET ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.84, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 9.47, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 6.23, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3.07, Karina Petroni (USA) 1.97
Heat 2: Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.37, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.10, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 5.10, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 0.00
ROXY PRO SUNSET QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Silvana Lima (BRA), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Megan Abubo (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW)
QF 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Nicola Atherton (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
QF 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Love this? Then read more surfing on Nollie:
new issue of Foam out now | Coco Ho gets counselling in Hawaii | Carissa Moore wins Reef Hawaii Pro 2008 | Roxy sponsor art and surf film Dear & Yonder | Carissa Moore signs with Red Bull & Nike for 3/4 million