www.roxy.com/festival

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 January, 2006 : - - Three generations of past, present and future surfing champions have descended on Phillip Island for the Roxy Women’s Surf Festival with the young guns kick-starting competition in the highly contestable 1.5 metre waves at Flynn’s Reef. The six day tournament hosts the largest gathering of female surfers in the world with well over 200 competitors contesting the eight divisions that includes the blue ribbon 5 star Roxy Pro WQS event.   

Reigning world champion Chelsea Georgeson (Gold Coast, Aus), 1990 world champion Pam Burridge (Bendalong, NSW), world junior champion Jessi Miley-Dyer (Bronte, Aus), world amateur champion Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, Aus) and current world no.4 Megan Abubo (Haw) are among those lining-up with the sport’s future stars in what has become one of the most enjoyable and unique tournaments on the women’s circuit. 

Georgeson will compete in the US$30,000 WQS division and the 22 year-old is taking a relaxed approach to her first competitive outing of the year. “This is a really good event, a great warm up for the opening WCT on the Gold Coast. You always get good surf here and there not many people out,” said the current world no.1.

“You see all ages competing from the young girls who you are stoked to watch and then you have Pam Burridge and Jodie Cooper here as well. You don’t really get to see those two surf a lot and when you do you see how they still rip and think about their role in the history of surfing, it’s just amazing.”   

Rosy Hodge : photo courtesy Surfing Australia

Forty year-old mother of two, Burridge who is contesting the Masters division at Phillip Island said last year’s tournament made her redefine her surfing.  “After watching Chelsea (Georgeson), Steph (Gilmore) and Rebecca Woods surfing last year I went home and changed my style. I’ve had the best year of surfing ever because of that. I felt like I started again, it really inspired me. Instead of trying to surf like Kelly (Slater) which was kind of out of reach, I now want to surf like Chelsea, or try to anyway.”

“This event is my opportunity to see the girls in action from the up and comers to the current hot pros and compete against them. This event gives you a chance to have a go and also catch up with old mates.” 

A strong contingent of junior and world ranked internationals have also descended on Phillip Island in their bid to stop the current Australian supremacy of women’s world surfing. Round two of the 3A Pro Junior event was dominated by U/21 internationals with South Africa’s Terry Lee Smith, France’s Pauline Ado and American Erica Hosseini all winning through to round three with ease, with Smith advancing in front of current ASP Australasian junior ratings leader Arena Mason of the Gold Coast. 

South African Rosy Hodge was another overseas standout, locking in the highest individual wave score of the junior division, scoring an excellent 9.0 ride out of a possible perfect 10. Defending 2005 Roxy Pro Junior champion Stephanie Gilmore will enter along with other top seeded surfers in round three. Joining her will be Nicola Atherton (Bronte, NSW), Rebecca Oakley (Sunshine Coast, Qld) and Jaimee Wheatley (Geraldton, WA). 

With excellent surf forecast, organisers are confident of commencing the WQS on Wednesday morning. Evian will also be awarding $500 to the surfer who rides the longest tube during the six day festival. 

The Roxy Womens Surf Festival is proudly supported by the Victorian Government "Play it Safe by the Water", Bass Coast Shire and Phillip
Island Nature Park.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Roxy Women's Surfing Festival a giant women's event
# 2 : Georgeson heads field of Aussie champs at Roxy Pro
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.roxy.com/festival

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For further information please contact:

"JJ" Quiksilver
jj@qsilver.com.au

Mandy McKinnon
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Simone Haugh
simone.haugh@qsilver.com.au

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