Category: ASP (WSL) Surfing News 2005-2015

Billabong Pro Maui pres. By Hawaiian Airlines Stop No. 8 of 8 on the ASP Women’s World Tour Honolua Bay, Maui Dec. 8-20, 2007

Gilmore Makes History as First-Ever Rookie to Win ASP World Title

HONOLUA BAY, Maui (Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007) – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has just made ASP history as the first-ever surfer, male or female, to claim the ASP World Title as a rookie having bested fellow contenders Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Silvana Lima (BRA) in Round 3 competition today at the Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay.

The 19-year old from Coolangatta, Australia, blitzed past opponent Rochelle Ballard (HAW) with a stunning performance to advance through to the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro Maui after rival Mulanovich wentdown to wildcard Keala Kennelly (HAW) in a surprise Round 3 elimination.“Surprisingly, I did quite well to not watch Sofia’s heat at all, and I didn’t even know that Keala (Kennelly) had won until right before my heat was about to start,” Gilmore said.… Read the rest

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships North Narrabeen, Sydney, Australia January 2-10, 2008

SYDNEY, Australia (Monday, Jan. 7, 2008) – ASP Australasian Champion Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) may have been one of the smallest competitors in the Billabong World Junior Championships but her performances were by far the biggest; the diminutive was surfer crowned the 2007 ASP World Junior Champion, at Sydney’s North Narrabeen Beach today.Netting the four highest scoring waves and two highest scoring heat totals of the event; Fitzgibbons sunk her teeth into the Final, defeating New Zealand’s Page Hareb with a 16.77 (out of a possible 20.00) total heat score to Hareb’s 7.84.

“I just can’t believe it,” Fitzgibbons said sporting an enormous grin and holding a cheque for US$6500. “Everything worked out for me today, I guess it was supposed to happen but it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Surfing through four rounds of competition, Fitzgibbons posted over a nine-point ride in every heat, including a ‘perfect ten’ against Laura Enever (AUS) in the Semifinals; making her the most deserved winner of the event.… Read the rest

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships North Narrabeen, Sydney, Australia January 2-10, 2008

SYDNEY, Australia (Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008) – It’s been three years since Pablo Paulino (BRA) has called himself World Junior Champion but at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach today, the 20-year-old surfer made sure he could again shoulder the honour, winning the 2007 edition of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.Earning his spot into the main event as an ASP International wildcard, the 2004 ASP World Junior Champion blasted through the last of four rounds of competition, to defeat fellow ASP International Wildcard Hawaii’s Tonino Benson; with a 15.00 total heat score (out of a possible 20.00) to Benson’s 9.93.

“It’s a dream come true to win at Narrabeen again,” Paulino said equalling World No. 4 Joel Parkinson’s two ASP World Junior Title record. “It was my dream to win it twice and this year was my last shot.… Read the rest

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR
Coolangatta, Australia
2008

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Wednesday, January 30, 2008) – The lineup for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour has been finalized following the completion of the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour and ASP WQS seasons, the ASP wildcard being decided as well as the appropriate substitution being made for pregnancy.

The ASP Women’s World Tour is made up of the top 10 finishers from the previous season, the top 6 finishers on the ASP WQS as well as the ASP Wildcard, making for a total of 17 elite competitors. In the event of double qualification, a competitor qualifying through both the ASP Women’s World Tour and ASP WQS, the next surfer on the ASP WQS ratings is given the nod.The ASP Wildcard is decided by a tech committee comprised of physicians, surfers and tour managers who review applications for a seed on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour.… Read the rest

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG
Stop No. 1 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour
Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Australia
February 23 – March 5, 2008

Luke Munro Leads Local Charge at Duranbah on Day 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

Luke Munro (AUS) posted the highest heat scores of the day to take down ASP World Tour rookie Dane Reynolds in Rd 1.

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008) – Luke Munro (AUS) may not be the most prominent of the local surfers competing in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG, but he did take center stage on the opening day of 2008 ASP World Tour competition at Duranbah Beach today.Munro scored the highest wave (9.50 out of 10.00) and heat total (17.50 out of 20.00) of the round to take out ASP World Tour rookie Dane Reynolds (USA) and Damien Hobgood (USA) in three foot (one metre) waves at the Snapper Rocks back-up venue.… Read the rest