Rebecca Woods : photo Robertson/SurfingAustralia.com

    

Billabong Girls Easter Surfing Festival

1 Star WQS Womens event
Alexandra Headland, QLD,
26 – 29 March, 2005

Rebecca Woods Wins Billabong Easter Girls Fest 1 Star WQS
14-Year-Old Sally Fitzgibbons Etches Name in Australian Surf History

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 29 March 2005, (Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast): - - World Championship Tour (WCT) surfer Rebecca Woods (Copacabana) defeated dynamic 14-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa) to secure victory in the Billabong Girls Easter Surf Fest 1 Star rated World Qualifying Series (WQS) event.

Despite losing the WQS final to Woods, Fitzgibbons went onto become the youngest surfer to ever win an ASP Pro-junior final and then added to her already remarkable achievements by claiming victory in the Under 18 and Under 16 divisions.

Woods dominated the 30 minute WQS final from the outset, displaying the talent that has taken her from the junior arena to the world surfing elite, scoring two excellent rides of an 8.00 and 8.25 to post her first significant win for 2005. “I was a bit nervous at the start thinking, oh my god, I have got a 14-year-old,” said Woods. “Sally has been ripping out there and I knew I had to get a few waves and get some high scores.”

“I remember when I was young and all I wanted to do was beat everyone that was older than me,” said Woods. “Sally is just about in every final so I was hoping I could put that to an end, she really pushed me and she is a great surfer.” For Woods, the disappointment of two consecutive 17th finishes in both opening WCT events of the year was forgotten today.

“It’s a confidence booster definitely, going into my next event in Fiji,” said Woods. “Billabong have done a really good job of running this event for the young girls who are coming through and giving them something to aspire to, it’s a growing industry and a fun sport.”

Fitzgibbons failed to post the high scores she had done so easily throughout the event in the final, ultimately requiring a combination of rides to beat Woods. The reality that she had just accomplished the seemingly impossible, placing second in a world rated event at the age of 14, was out shadowed by her loss, but the underlying smile said it all.

I’m happy with it, but Bec flogged me,” said Fitzgibbons. “I didn’t have a very good heat because I couldn’t get the waves, but Bec was surfing really good and she combo’ed me.” “It’s all experience and I guess that next time I will be a bit more ready.”

Fitzgibbons etched her name in Australian surfing history today by becoming the youngest ever surfer, male or female to win an ASP rated Pro-Junior event, defeating the experienced Jaimee Wheatley (Geraldton, WA). Fitzgibbons surfed well beyond her years, using the man on man priority system to steal victory from Wheatley in the dying seconds of the 25 minute final.

With Wheatley holding the lead on two waves totaling 11.25, Fitzgibbons needed a strong ride with only seconds remaining. Holding priority, she out ranked Wheatley on a solid left hand ride, surfing on edge all the way to the shore to post a 7.00 ride and secure the win.

“I don’t know what to say, except I am stoked,” said Fitzgibbons who took home $2300 in winnings. “It was hard to play catch up but I though if I put everything on the line maybe I could come through, so it’s good.” “I’m pretty tired, but the surf is pretty fun, it has been a huge week.”

Equal third in the Pro Junior division today was Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff) and Rebecca Oakley (Sunshine Beach). After seven events on the 2005 ASP Australasian Junior Series ratings, Jesse Miley-Dyer (Coogee) still holds the lead over Lindsay Noyes (Cronulla) with Gilmore in third.

Fitzgibbons went on to surf her third final of the day and secure another strong win in the Under 16 division. An early 9.25 ride followed by a 7.25 put another trophy on the Fitzgibbon mantelpiece leaving Tyler Wright (Culburra), Brittani Nicholls (Koala Beach) and Kirby Wright (Culburra) to place second, third and fourth respectively.

Capping off one of the most memorable and remarkable surfing trifecta’s in recent years, Fitzgibbons also clinched the under 18 final, defeating Izzy Chilcott (Tugun), Kirby Wright (Culburra) and Caitlyn Hayles (Currumbin).

Oakley (Sunshine Beach), the lone remaining Sunshine Coaster in the top divisions, was bundled out of her Pro Junior semi final today by Fitzgibbons, leaving her with 1095 ratings points and $350.

In a tight heat, Oakley’s scores of a 6.50 and 5.50 were not enough to match Fitzgibbons higher scoring 7.00 and 6.00 rides. The 18-year-old, scheduled to compete in the ASP Billabong Pro-Teen next week at Newcastle has had a frustrating year of Pro-Junior competition, struggling to progress through the quarter and semi finals of each event.

“I got a couple of waves and hit them all the way to the beach, but luck didn’t go my way I guess,” said Oakley. “I think that is what is frustrating me the most about getting second, I was so close and I though I had it at the end but unfortunately I didn’t, hopefully I can make up for it down at Newcastle.”

The inaugural Easter Surf Fest was headlined by the only World Qualifying Series (WQS) to be held in Queensland this year, and also incorporated a unique market stall atmosphere, a Billabong Girls Get Out There Day, beach volley ball and an Easter Sunday chocolate egg hunt.

The Billabong Girls Easter Surf Fest is proudly presented by Vodafone and supported by Surfing Queensland and the Maroochydore Tourism Industry Advisory Board

Final Results

Open WQS
1st - Rebecca Woods (NSW) 250 Points $US 2000
2nd - Sally Fitzgibbons (NSW) 215 Points $US 900
= 3rd - Sheridan Shields (QLD) Airini Mason (QLD) 183 points $US 500

Pro Junior
1st - Sally Fitzgibbons (NSW) 1500 points $1000
2nd- Jaimee Wheatley (WA) 1290 points $600
= 3rd - Stephanie Gilmore (NSW) Rebecca Oakley (QLD) 1095 points $350

ALC Longboard
1st - Selby Riddle (QLD) 1250 points $450
2nd - Jenny McCarthy (QLD) 1075 points $300
3rd - Gretchen Jorgensen (NSW) 910 points $150
4th- - Noelle Rogers (QLD) 830 points $ 100

Under 18
1st Sally Fitzgibbons
2nd Izzy Chilcott
3rd Kirby Wright
4th Caitlyn Hayles

Under 16
1st Sally Fitzgibbons
2nd Tyler Wright
3rd Brittani Nicholl
4th Kirby Wright

Under 14
1st Tyler Wright
2nd Georgie Roach
3rd Kelly Kerr
4th Naomi Stevic

Open B
1st Lisa Matuzelis
2nd Candace Winder
3rd Bianca Daniels
4th Rebecca Schubert

QSS Seniors
1st Yvonne Byron
2nd Pauline Menczer
3rd Mandy Roberts
4th Sharon Jackson

QSS Masters
1st - Mandy Roberts
2nd - Sharon Jackson
3rd - Kara Webber

Previous reports:
# 1 : 14 year old defeats Gilmore and Byron at Billabong WQS
# 2 : Giant killing Sally Fitzgibbons continues charge to finals

More Australasian Surfing News available here
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For further information please contact:

Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au  

Mandy McKinnon
mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com  

Stephanie Hamilton
shmailton@billabong.com.au

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