Stephanie Gilmore : photo ASP/Covered Images
Roxy Womens Surf Festival
ASP WQS 5 Star Womens Event
Phillip Island, Victoria Australia
22 - 28 January 2007
Results/Photos/Videos etc
Stephanie Gilmore Posts Back To Back Victories at Roxy Womens Surf Festival
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 January, 2007 : - - PHILLIP ISLAND, Victoria - Teenage sensation Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW, Aus), took her surfing to new levels to win back to back Roxy Pro WQS titles at Phillip Island today defeating fellow world ranked competitor Melanie Bartels (Oahu, Haw) in a one sided affair.
Summerlands Beach, home of the world-famous Penguin Parade, provided the perfect venue to finalise the six remaining divisions of the Roxy Womens Surf Festival. With winter-like conditions and gusty westerly winds, the protected point-break turned on perfect 1 to 1.5 metre waves Esome of the best surf of the entire week.
Eighteen year-old Gilmore timed her tournament run to perfection, peaking on the final day, to be simply unbeatable. The super-stylish natural footer had Bartels on the ropes just 10 minutes into the 30 minute decider, opening with an excellent 8.33 and then quickly backing it up with a near-perfect 9.17 in the right-handers.
Gilmore further extended her lead with another 9.0 point ride midway to leave Bartels with no come-back. "Im just so stoked," said a grinning Gilmore on returning to the beach. "Its is such a great start to my year, Ive managed to keep my Roxy QS title, get Mel back for her win over me at Sunset Beach last year and its my birthday tomorrow. I couldnt be happier."
Stephanie Gilmore : photo courtesy Roxy
"I guess I was a bit nervous earlier in the week but it all came together at the right time for me today." Bartels raw talent has never been doubt but until recently the competitive arena had proved her undoing. The Hawaiians turn of form includes wins in her home waters last December and now her excellent result at the Roxy Surf Festival. Gilmore was just simply too good today, however, leaving Bartels requiring an impossible 18.18 on the final siren.
"I got smashed," said Bartels. "The waves were good but I just couldnt get it together against Steph. She is such a great competitor and any heat you have against her you know you have to be totally on your game. She is the surfer to beat. But this is a good start for me and a definite confidence booster for the start of the year. I am believing in myself and my surfing right now."
Gilmore commenced her assault with the demolition of world no.2 Melanie Redman-Carr (Dunsborough, WA, AUS) in semi-final one. She also managed the days only barrel ride for an 8.57 to finish with a heat total of 16.84. Redman-Carr was left requiring two waves with a small heat total of 8.83 and was eliminated in equal third.
Former world no.2 Serena Brooke (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) fell victim to Bartels in semi-two finishing with a heat total of 8.57 to the Hawaiians 11.97. The equal 3rd result for Brooke is a great start to her come-back campaign where she will rejoin the tours elite ranks after falling off the at the end of last year.
Defending Roxy Womens Longboard division champion Chelsea Williams cross-stepped and glided her way to the victory podium for the second time in two years, the Gold Coast natural footer easily finding the longest scoring waves today ahead of fellow Gold Coaster Selby Riddle (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) and Sunshine Coast duo Rosie Locke (Noosa, Qld, AUS) and Sharon Jackson (Alexandria Headland, Qld, AUS).
The crowd : photo courtesy Roxy
Williams total score of 14.50 was more than double that of her nearest opponent in Riddle, but she hit the sand oblivious to her win, missing the commentators announcement due to the wind and rain. "Holy cow! Are you sure I won? I thought I was coming last?" she exclaimed. Williams win today was crucial; it guarantees her seeding direct into the main event of the Roxy ASP Womens World Longboard Championships scheduled for Biarittz, France mid year.
Riddle was second today on 6.40 points, Locke finished third on 5.77 points and Jackson fourth on 5.07 points, with all three minor place-getters also eligible for the Biarritz tournament. An interference penalty did little to dent Erica Hosseinis impressive run to glory in the all-international final of the Pro Junior division against French National Champion Alize Arnaud (Capbreton, FRA).
Thinking she held priority, Hosseini paddled hard for a wave, unaware Arnaud had stood to her feet on the inside position. With scores of 6.67 and 6.0 points secured, the mistake cost Hosseini half of her second highest scoring ride, but it was still enough to defeat Arnaud who held a two-wave combined final total of just 5.83pts.
Relieved, Hosseini returned to the beach only to discover the judges thought she had "flipped them off" with a raised middle finger, a gesture which if dealt the full extent of ASP law would have cost her a fine of AU$1,000. The incident was dismissed completely when it was discovered she had simply raised her hands to request the previous scores and ask how much time was remaining in the final.
"I am sooo happy, I cant believe I blatantly dropped in (on Alize) and I cant believe I still won! Im taking my prize money to the casino tonight and putting it all on red!" joked the Californian.
The former Quiksilver ISA World Junior finalist (2005) rates her win today as the most satisfying of her young career. En-route to todays final Hosseini accounted for the likes of Australasian Junior Champion Airini Mason (NZ), World ISA Junior runner-up and Australian National Champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW, AUS) and inspiring Hawaiian performer Bethany Hamilton (Kauai, HI).
The resounding efforts continued with 15 year-old Laura Enevers scoring an emphatic victory in the Under-18 girls. Enever entered this years event as the defending U/18 division champion and two days earlier claimed victory in the U/16 girls.
The natural footer admitted the top spot in todays U/18s couldve gone to any of the other three finalists, with her good mate and travelling companion Sally Fitzgibbons finishing second, New Zealands Page Hareb third and Airini Mason also of New Zealand, fourth. Its not the first time these surfers have stood on the podium together.
"We were all in the Gromfest final together at Lennox (Head, NSW) and we surf against each other all the time so it just depends on who gets the best waves as to who is going to win," said Enever. "It makes it fun to have your friends out there, but we dont give waves away. We still hassle each other, but not too much."
Enevers best wave included four top-to-bottom re-entries, and a fancy recovery when she slipped from her feet but still managed to hang on to her board and stand back up. Ultimately, her quick reaction proved to be the difference, holding out Fitzgibbons 10.83pts to 9.36pts. Hareb was third on 6.00 points, and Mason fourth on 5.67 points. Enevers outstanding form in the week-long event saw her awarded with a bonus prize, a Samsung K5-MP3 player.
Under 13 girls competitor Tyler Wright (Culburra, NSW, AUS) added yet another trophy to the bulging Wright-family mantle. Younger sister of 15 year-old Kirby and 17 year-old Quiksilver ISA World Junior Champion Owen, Tyler undeniably has the competitive surfing gene pumping through her veins.
Smart tactics saw Wright choose Summerlands outer-reef where she linked longer waves to the beach to claim victory ahead of fellow pint-sized standout Sarah Mason (NZ), local India Payne (Phillip Island, Vic) and Lauren McAleer (Curl Curl, NSW, AUS)
Tyler was a finalist at the Australian titles at Ballina last December and attributes her win today to practise sessions she had Phillip Island when she travelled south in the family van two years ago. The annual Roxy Womens Surfing Festival is Australias biggest celebration of womens surfing, bringing together a huge cross section of participants contesting seven divisions.
The Roxy Womens Surf Festival has been proudly supported by the Victorian State Government, ASP Australasia, Surfing Victoria, Bass Coast Shire Council, and Phillip Island Nature Park and incorporates the Chill Island Music Festival.
Official results - Roxy Womens Surf Festival, Phillip Island, Victoria, AUS:
Five-star Roxy World Qualifying Series
1st Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW, AUS) 18.17pts (US$4,000>2000 WQS ratings pts)
2nd Melanie Bartels (Oahu, HI) 8.76pts (US$2,000>1720 WQS ratings pts)
= 3rd Melanie Redman-Carr (Dunsborough, WA, AUS) & Serena Brooke (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) (US$1700>1460 WQS ratings pts)
1-star ASP WLT Roxy Womens Longboard
1st Chelsea Williams (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) 14.50 pts (AUD$2,000)
2nd Selby Riddle (Coolangatta, Qld, AUS) 6.40 pts ($1,000)
3rd Rosie Locke (Noosa, Qld, AUS) 5.77 pts ($450)
4th Sharon Jackson (Alexandria Headland, Qld, AUS) 5.07 pts ($250)
6-star Pro Junior Womens
1st Erica Hosseini (Newport Beach, CA, USA) 9.67pts (AUD$2,000)
2nd Alize Arnaud (Capbreton, FRA) 5.83pts (AUD$1,000)
U/18 Girls
1st Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW, AUS) 10.83pts
2nd Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW, AUS) 9.36pts
3rd Paige Hareb (NZ) 6.00pts
4th Airini Mason (NZ) 5.67pts
U/16 Girls
1st Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW, AUS) 11.83pts
2nd Tyler Wright (Culburra, NSW, AUS) 11.57pts
3rd Jess Laing (Phillip Island, Vic, AUS) 6.86pts
4th Kirby Wright (Culburra, NSW, AUS) 6.36pts
U/13 Girls
1st Tyler Wright (Culburra, NSW, AUS) 14.60 pts
2nd Sarah Mason (NZ) 8.90 pts
3rd India Payne (Phillip Island, Vic, AUS) 6.60 pts
4th Lauren McAleer (Curl Curl, NSW, AUS) 6.53 pts
O/35 Women
1st Danielle Baylis (Phillip Island, Vic, AUS) 12.67pts
2nd Heather Peck (Ocean Grove, Vic, AUS) 5.66pts
3rd Mel Mott (Lennox Head, NSW, AUS) 3.17pts
4th Pauline Pullman (NZ) 0.23pts
Previous reports:
# 1 : Hamilton inspires at Roxy Womens Surf Festival Day 1..
# 2 : Perfect two metre waves for Roxy Womens Surf Festival
# 3 : Top seeds hit water on day 3 of Roxy Womens Surf Fest
# 4 : Mulanovich in top form at Roxy Womens Surf Festival D4
# 5 : Testing conditions Friday for Roxy Womens Surf Festival
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