Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
Presented by Snickers

ASP World Tour Mens Event #2
ASP World Tour Womens Event #2
Bells Beach Victoria, Australia
7 - 18 April 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Experience prevails at Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Day 1        > En Français ci dessous, Espanol abajo

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 April, 2009 : - - Bells Beach -- The opening day for the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta ran today in contestable two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf up at Rincon with the experienced competitors advancing out of Round 1.

Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro played witness to some stylish surfing and smart heat tactics, with five of the six Round 1 heats won by ASP World Champions. Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005), posted the day’s highest heat total of a 15.40 out of a possible 20, dissecting the running righthanders with speed and flow.

“Rincon is good fun and such a tricky wave and different to the Gold Coast,” Hedges said. “There is no real defined lip. You have to find the sections and really have to work to get through sections. When you get an open face, it is good and you have to try and get those ones that link right through.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, former seven-times ASP Women’s World Champion and semi-retired from full-time competition, has returned to Bells Beach and returned to form, defeating Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, and Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, in the opening round of competition.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy but it was a lot of fun,” Beachley said. “I feel like I am more observing and watching the youngsters and drawing inspiration from them. I’ve always still wanted to be a part of it so I guess I am slowly just weaning myself off competitive surfing."

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, former ASP World Junior Champion and last year’s winner of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), suffered an early elimination in the opening event of the season, but dominated today’s Round 1 heat over Amee Donohoe (AUS), 28, and Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24.

“The season so far has been really fun but there is definitely a big difference between being in the WQS and being on the ASP Women’s World Tour,” Fitzgibbons said. “It is great to be down here at Bells, it is one of my favorite spots to come so I am looking forward to find a rhythm and having fun.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and two-time defending Rip Curl Women’s Pro Champion, comfortably won her opening round heat today, defeating 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, and Trials Winner Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), 14.

“It feels good to get a good start,” Gilmore said. “You really had to work to get the points you needed to get out of each wave so it was a little tiring but it feels good.” Swellnet, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for a decrease in surf over the next couple of days before tracking a swell for the weekend.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7am for a possible 7:30am call.

Check the Live Coverage

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.67, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.77, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.30
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) 14.33, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 8.50, Paige Hareb (NZL) 6.33
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.60, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 11.50, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.50
Heat 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 15.40, Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.84, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.97
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.83, Coco Ho (HAW) 10.54, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.33
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.80, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.60, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.33

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. David Weare (ZAF)

Check the Results/Photos/Videos etc

www.live.ripcurl.com
www.aspworldtour.com

Français

L'EXPERIENCE A FAIT LA DIFFERENCE LORS DU 1er TOUR DU RIP CURL WOMEN's PRO BELLS

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 April, 2009 : - - Bells Beach, Victoria -- Ce matin, le premier tour du Rip Curl Women’s Pro a vu les meilleures surfeuses de la planète donner leur maximum sur la vague de Rincon. Les prétendantes au titre n’ont pas manqué leur entrée dans la compétition, à l’image de Stéphanie Gilmore (AUS), Layne Beachley (AUS) et Sofia Mulanovich qui toutes les 3 remporté leur série avec la manière.

Sally Fitzgibbons, Alana Blanchard et Brunna Schmitz qui font leurs débuts sur le circuit professionnel féminin se sont elles aussi qualifiées directement pour le troisième tour. "Finalement, les vagues étaient sympas" a déclaré Alana à sa sortie de l’eau. "C’était un peu mou mais on pouvait aussi trouver quelques bonnes sections de vague plus puissantes."

Avec la baisse de houle annoncée pour les prochains jours, le directeur de compétition Damien Hardman n’est pas certain de pouvoir lancer la compétition demain matin. Cependant, la décision officielle ne sera prise que demain matin aux alentour de 7h30, heure locale.

Check the Results/Photos/Videos etc

www.live.ripcurl.com
www.aspworldtour.com

Espanol

LA EXPERIENCIA HACE LA DIFERENCIA DURANTE LA PRIMERA RONDA DEL RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO BELLS

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 April, 2009 : - - Bells Beach, Victoria -- Durante la Primera Ronda de competencia se pudo ver a las mejores surfistas del Mundo comenzar su campaña por el codiciado trofeo de la Campana en la sección de Rincon en Bells Beach, Australia.

Como estaba previsto desde el principio, Steph Gilmore, Layne Beachley y Sophia Mulanovich presentaron grandes tácticas en su juego y lograron convincentes victorias frente a sus oponentes. Las novatas también brillaron en esta Primera Ronda. Sally Fitzgibbon y Alana Blanchard lograron obtener un puesto en la Segunda Ronda del campeonato.

"Estuvo muy entretenido allá afuera", dijo Alana después de haber conseguido la segunda posición detrás de Sophia Mulanovic. "La ola estaba un poco débil pero con algunas secciones redondas y entretenidas."

Se espera que el swell decaiga durante el resto de la semana, sin embargo Damien Hardmen, director del campeonato, está confiado en que la competencia se reanudará mañana; el próximo llamado será mañana 9 de Abril a las 7:30am.

Check the Results/Photos/Videos etc

www.live.ripcurl.com
www.aspworldtour.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rip Curl Pro brings ASP top 45 back to iconic Bells Beach
# 2 : World title contenders sight on Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
# 3 : Worlds best land at Rip Curl Pro/Possible start Tuesday
# 4 : Smith sizzles, Wright upsets at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach  

www.live.ripcurl.com
www.aspworldtour.com

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Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
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