Rip Curl Women’s Pro – Silvana Lima takes her first World Tour win

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The Rip Curl Women's Pro wrapped up on Easter Sunday in perfect chest to head high waves at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia.  Silvana Lima (BRA) took out two time and current World  Champ and two time event winner, Steph Gilmore (AUS), handily defeating the champ, leaving Steph needing a near perfect score of 9.51 to take the win. On her way to the winner's podium, Silvana took second to Chelsea Hedges (AUS), but topped Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), in their first round heat.  She then took out … [Read more...]

Rip Curl Women’s Pro at Bells Beach – Women’s World Champs rule the opening day

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The Women’s World Tour hit the water on Wednesday in Victoria, Australia at the 2009 Rip Curl Women’s Pro at Bells Beach. The ladies ran through all of Round 1 in their first day of competition, using a 6 heat, 3 contestant per heat format, where the top two in each heat advance, and the third place finisher has to duke it out in the Round 2 “losers’ round”. World Champs ruled the day, with seven-time World Champ, Layne Beachley and former World Champ, Chelsea Hedges posting the two … [Read more...]

Drug Aware Pro – Melanie Redman-Carr takes win number four

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Former women's World Tour surfer, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) took down a talented field of surfers to her fourth win at the 5 Star 2009 Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River, West Australia on Saturday. Melanie began her campaign in Round 2, where she topped World Tour surfer, Amee Donohoe (AUS) and ousted Angie Koops (AUS) and Suelen Naraisa (BRA). In Round 3, she handily defeated Laura Macauley (AUS) and showed the exit to Dara Penfold (AUS), and World Tour surfer, Alana Blanchard (HAW). Round … [Read more...]

Drug Aware Pro – The Ladies are Killing it

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The women’s WQS 5 Star Drug Aware Pro continued on Wednesday and Thursday, setting up the quarterfinalists for when the action resumes. Dropping out in Rounds 3 and 4 were World Tour surfers, Alana Blanchard (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), former World Tour surfer, Nicola Atherton (AUS), and talented campaigners, Sage Erickson (USA), Pauline Ado (FRA), Nikita Robb (ZAF), Laura Macauley (AUS), and others. Carissa Moore (HAW) has been the absolute standout of the women’s … [Read more...]

Maitland Toyota Open – Sunday finals recap

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The Maitland Toyota Open wrapped up at Merewether beach in Newcastle, NSW, Australia on Sunday, with local girl, Philippa Anderson taking the top honors in a hard fought final. The quarterfinals were a near all Australian victory, with Dimity Stoyle, Philippa Anderson and Ashley Smith taking wins over their fellow quarterfinalists. Joining them on the international front was former World Champ, Sofia Mulanovich of Peru. Dimity took down Sofia in an overall low scoring semifinal heat, while Philippa … [Read more...]

Maitland Toyota Open – Saturday recap

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Sharing the day with the men's Mark Richards Pro again on Saturday, the women completed all of their Round 3 heats, setting up the quarterfinalists for Sunday, the final day of competition. The international contingent put on a strong show on Saturday, with four of the six foreign surfers winning their Round 3 heats.  As a result, the quarterfinals will feature a 50-50 split between local Aussies and foreign surfers.  Advancing to the quarts on Saturday were Aussies, Dimity Stoyle, Philippa … [Read more...]

Maitland Toyota Open – Friday recap

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Friday saw the resumption of the Maitland Toyota Open, with the ladies again hitting the water after the men fought through a tough round of surfing. Top seeds hit the waves at Merewether in Round 2, where the ladies ran through all 16 heats of the round, before calling it a day. Making it through to Round 3 on the Australian front were Jessica Grimwood, Dimity Stoyle, Laura Enever, Kirstie Jones, Rebecca Woods, Dara Penfold, Philippa Anderson, Sarah Beardmore, Amee Donohoe and Ashley Smith. … [Read more...]

2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rankings – after event 1: Roxy Pro Gold Coast

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The Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast is over and the ladies first rankings of 2009 are all lined up. As with the guys, these are still early days, and much will change as the season unwinds. Leading the rankings is 2007 and 2008 World Champ and 2009 Roxy Pro winner, Stephanie Gilmore of Australia. Steph came out of the gates firing at the Roxy Pro and continued to dominate throughout the event, showing the world why she’s won the title two years running. Number 2 in the rankings goes to Hawaii’s … [Read more...]

Roxy Pro, Gold Coast – Friday recap

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The ladies lucked out on Friday, as they were given the go ahead to resume competition at the 2009 Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast, presented by LG Mobile. Event organizers decided to delay the continuation of the men’s Quiksilver Pro for the day, allowing the ladies to run through a few rounds of competition in increasingly favorable conditions. 2008 World Tour number 9, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and event wildcard, Ashleigh Smith (AUS) were the first eliminations of the 2009 Women’s World Tour, … [Read more...]

Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro, Gold Coast take a lay day…. again

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  The 2009 Quilsilver Pro and Roxy Pro, Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile have once again taken the day off on Thursday.  The waves that event organizers were hoping would start showing, failed to materialize, pinning hopes of getting heats in the water on Friday. Yeah, this is quickly becoming less and less fun.  Every day I tune in to the event websites online, and every day the events get postponed due to lack of swell.  I know the event window stretches until the 11th of March, but … [Read more...]