Roxy Pro Hawaii 2005 finals: 1st Chelsea Gerogeson, 2nd Claire Bevilaqua,
3rd Melanie Redman-Carr and 4th Megan Abubo : photo ASP/Karen

2005 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing 

Mens events:    
Op Pro Hawaii* ASP 6 star WQS
O'Neill World Cup of Surfing
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters

Womens events:
Roxy Pro* ASP WCT #8/2005
O’Neill World Cup of Surfing Sunset Challenge
Billabong Pro

Venues:
North Shore, Oahu, & Maui, Hawaii
12 November - 20 December 2005

Live webcast - Op Pro Hawaii:- Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc
Live webcast:- Roxy Pro Hawaii:- Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc

AUSTRALIAN GEORGESON WINS ROXY PRO HAWAII TO TAKE WORLD RATINGS LEAD

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Haleiwa, HAWAII - (Friday, November 18, 2005) - Australian Chelsea Georgeson, 22, surfed undefeated through four rounds of competition and posted a perfect 10 wave score in the final to win the $65,000 Roxy Pro Hawaii and climb to number one in the world today. The dramatic loss of reigning world champion Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) in the quarter finals opened the door to her good pal Georgeson, who worked the opportunity for all it was worth. Chelsea is now exactly where she wanted to be on her approach to the final stop at Honolua Bay, Maui, next month, where she is defending event champion. Chelsea's win earned her $10,000 and has given her a jump on the bonus $10,000 winner-takes-all Vans Triple Crown of Surfing ratings.

Excellent waves in the four- to eight-foot range set a perfect stage for today's competition, with pristine, off-shore conditions putting the icing on the cake for the four-woman final. Georgeson was joined by a pair of West Australian chargers, Claire Bevilacqua and Melanie Redman-Carr, and lone Hawaii surfer Megan Abubo in the final. Chelsea commanded the 25-minute, best of two waves final and shut the door with a perfect 10-point ride around the midpoint of the heat. It was a solid five-footer with  50 yards of peeling, open face that saw Chelsea crank out a bottom turn into snapping re-entry, back to bottom turn, then a vertical re-entry that dropped her out of the lip, through the air, and back down for a closing maneuver. Her top two scores were the 10 and a 7.83 for a 17.83 total.

"I took the opportunity this time and really used it," said Georgeson. "It's the best feeling to be able to really give everything when you really need to and to come out on top. It's the best thing ever. I'm sick of being in second, so it feels good to be first for once. I'm just going to go into Maui like I came into this event - just try to be really focused and have fun out there.

"For sure I feel pressure. There's still one more contest left and it's not over, so anything can happen. There's probably less pressure now because I'm ahead of Sofia a little bit and I feel really comfortable in Maui. But at the same time, now she's going to be chasing me, so it's going to be really exciting either way."

 
Chelsea Georgeson, event champion & now Tour # 1 : photo ASP/Kareni 

In contrast to this time last year when Mulanovich claimed her maiden world crown at Haleiwa, her emotions visited the opposite end of the spectrum today. Torn between wanting to be happy for her friend and feeling the crown slipping from her grasp, Mulanovich was not on hand to witness her friends win. Having sat in second place in for almost her entire quarter final clash, it was a last ditch effort from Australian Laurina McGrath, earning 8.23 points, that saw the rug ripped from under Sofia on the closing horn. She struggled to put words to her feelings.

"I don't know, I guess I didn't get the waves, I guess I didn't surf good enough," said a bewildered Mulanovich. "The one who surfs best is the one who's going to win.

"There's more pressure on a world champion, for sure and I think I respect Chelsea too much. I think she's just too good. We always knew that we were going to be up there together, but things happened quick. I will just have to think out everything. I'm really depressed right now. I pretty much think I'm losing the world title right now, but maybe tomorrow will be better."

Just 612 ratings points now separate Georgeson and Mulanovich. To have any chance at all of retaining the world title, Sofia must place first or second in Maui. Anything less and the title is Georgeson's. But there are many different scenarios. Even with a first for Sofia, a second for Chelsea would be enough to take the crown. If Sofia finishes second in Maui, even a third place for Georgeson would give the Australian enough ratings points for the crown. If Sofia gets second in Maui, and Chelsea places fifth, it would result in a count-back on 2005 event results for the world title and Chelsea would win. However, if Sofia gets second in Maui and Chelsea places ninth, it would result in a count-back that would swin in the Peruvian's favor. Both surfers have now posted three victories this year. Georgeson has also had a second, a third, two fifths, and a ninth. Other than wins, Sofia has had a third, two fifths and two ninths.

 
Chelsea Georgeson : photo ASPWorldtour/Karen

Second place in the final today went to an in-form Bevilacqua, 22, who earlier in the day accounted for Mulanovich by winning their quarter final. In her maiden year on the World Championship Tour, and in her first WCT final appearance, Bevilacqua posted a total of 11.23 and won $6,000. Third place and $4,400 went to Redman-Carr (9.9 points), and fourth place was Abubo, who earned $4,100 (8.44 points). It was a disappointing day for Abubo, who needed to win here to stay in the running for the world title.

"I didn't have that much pressure coming into this event," said Abubo, 27. "I mean, come on, I was 1200 points behind them. A lot really had to happen. But I'm disappointed because I just wanted to win out at Haleiwa more than anything and it didn't happen. I was glad to be out there and I got to surf four times on my most favorite wave in the world, so it's good to be home."

For the world title it is down to Chelsea Georgeson and Sofia Mulanovich.

The scenarios are:
Sofia must get 1st or 2nd to win.
If Sofia gets a 1st then Chelsea can win with a 2nd
If Sofia gets  2nd then Chelsea can win with a 5th

Basically Sofia needs a 1st to win as long as Chelsea gets a 5th or less.
If Sofia gets a 2nd and Chelsea gets a 9th or less then its a tie and Sofia wins on a countback.

The women's Vans Triple Crown of Surfing will next move to Sunset Beach, November 26 to December 6, followed by Maui, December 8-20.

The men's Op Pro Hawaii will resume at Haleiwa on the next day of good waves. Heats nine to 12 of round two were held this-morning and saw the advancement of Australia's Phillip MacDonald, Leigh Sedley, Dean Morrison and Jarrad Howse; Hawaii's Ian Walsh and Pancho Sullivan, New Zealander Maz Quinn, and Mainland American Brett Simpson.

Organizers anticipate a break in competition this weekend, prior to the arrival of another large swell early next week.

Todays photos available hereROXY PRO HAWAII RESULTS: 

 
Sofia Mulanovich will now battle it out in maui with Chelsea Georgeson
for theworld title : photo ASPWorldtour/Karen

FINAL
1st=$10,000 and 1200 ratings points; 2nd=$6,000 and 972 ratings points; 3rd=$4,400 and 756 ratings points; 4th=$4,100 and 654 ratings points; Listed in order 1st to 4th Chelsea Georgeson (AUS); Claire Bevilacqua (AUS); Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS); Megan Abubo (HAW)

SEMIFINALS
1st and 2nd place advance to FINAL
3rd:5th place, 552Pts, U$3,600
4th:7th place, 438Pts, U$3,400
Listed in order 1st to 4th
SF1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS); Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS); Laurina McGrath (AUS); Maria Tita Tavares (BRA)
SF2: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS); Megan Abubo (HAW); Serena Brooke (AUS); Samantha Cornish (AUS)

QUARTERFINALS
1st and 2nd place advance to SEMIFINAL
3rd:9th place, 360Pts, U$2,800
4th:13rd place, 360Pts, U$2,700
Listed in order 1st to 4th
Q1: Maria Tita Tavares (BRA); Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS); Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Q2: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS); Laurina McGrath (AUS); Sofia Mulanovich (PER); Carissa Moore (HAW)
Q3: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS); Serena Brooke (AUS); Jacqueline Silva (BRA); Prue Jefferies (AUS)
Q4: Megan Abubo (HAW); Samantha Cornish (AUS); Heather Clark (ZAF); Pauline Menczer (AUS)
 
RATINGS AFTER ROXY PRO HAWAII
1. Chelsea Georgeson
2. Sofia Mulanovich
3. Megan Abubo
4. Layne Beachley
5. Melanie Redman-Carr
6. Rochelle Ballard
7. Keala Kennelly
8. Samantha Cornish
9. Trudy Todd
10. Claire Bevilacqua

Roxy Pro Hawaii contest site : photo ASPWorldtour/Karen

For complete ratings and results go to www.aspworldtour.com 
Logon to www.roxy.com/roxypro to for more information on the Roxy Pro Hawaii.

Surfing events will be covered live on:
www.op.com
www.triplecrownofsurfing.com
www.aspworldtour.com
www.roxy.com/roxypro

Photos  www.cunninghamphotos.com 

Previous reports: - Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
# 1 : Vans Triple Crown of Surfing to top off an exciting year
# 2 : Vans Triple Crown of Surfing set to start this Saturday
# 3 : Op Pro Hawaii & Roxy Pro on hold - opening ceremomy
# 4 : Coming soon  

Previous reports: - Op Pro Hawaii, Haleiwa.
# 1 : Op Pro Hawaii 1st event at Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
# 2 : Op Pro Hawaii & Roxy Pro on hold - opening ceremomy
# 3 : Teenage rookie debuts in huge waves at Op Pro Hawaii
# 4 : Sunny Garcia off to a perfect start at the Op Pro Hawaii     

Previous reports: - Roxy Pro, Haleiwa.
# 1 : Roxy Pro Hawaii celebrates 50 yrs of womens contests
# 2 : Mulanovich/Georgeson battle for world title this w/end
# 3 : Roxy Pro Hawaii will begin minus Beachley and Woods  
# 4 : Lay Day for Roxy Pro Hawaii Day One, swell on horizon  
# 5 : Roxy Pro Hawaii expecting a sizeable swell Wednesday
# 6 : Chelsea Georgeson wins Roxy Pro Hawaii & leads tour 

Previous reports: - O’Neill World Cup of Surfing Sunset Challenge
# 1 : O'Neill announces Sunset Beach Challenge for Women
# 2 : O'Neill puts Triple back in Womens Crown at Sunset...
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon

            
                      Op Pro Hawaii                       Vans Triple Crown of Surfing                   Roxy Pro Hawaii                       

The men's Op Pro Hawaii and women's Roxy Pro Hawaii are the first of three events in the 2005 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series. The complete holding dates for this for stop extend to November 24. Following that, the Series moves north to Sunset Beach for the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing men's and women's - Nove,ber 26 - December 6, followed by the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters and women's Billabong Pro Maui, December 8-20.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is made possible through the support of Op, Roxy, O’Neill, Rip Curl, Billabong, Surfing, Oahu’s Turtle Bay Beach Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, G-Shock, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Fox Sports Net and Road Runner High Speed Online. 

About Vans
Vans, Inc., a subsidiary of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), is a leading lifestyle brand for the youth market. Vans® collections, which include active and performance footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and bindings and the Pro-tec® line of protective gear, are sold in the United States through 150 company owned stores and factory outlets as well as independent retailers. Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 50 countries through a network of distributors, sales agents and foreign offices. Vans supports and promotes the action sports lifestyle through such events as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing™, the Vans Warped Tour™, and the Vans Cup at Tahoe™.

For more information on Vans, please visit www.vans.com.

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Jodi Young

Triple Crown Series - Surfersvillage