FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) INTERNATIONAL
Billabong Pro Maui pres. By Hawaiian Airlines
Stop No. 8 of 8 on the ASP Women’s World Tour
Honolua Bay, Maui
Dec. 8-20, 2007
STEPHANIE GILMORE CROWNED 2007 ASP WORLD CHAMP; SURFS INTO RECORD BOOKS
HONOLUA BAY, Maui (Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007) – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has just made ASP History as the first-ever surfer to claim the ASP World Title in their rookie season, having bested fellow contenders Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Silvana Lima (BRA) in Round 3 competition today at the Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay.
The 19-year old from Coolangatta, Australia, blitzed past opponent Rochelle Ballard (HAW) with a stunning performance to advance through to the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro Maui after rival Mulanovich went down to wildcard Keala Kennelly (HAW) in a surprise Round 3 elimination.
“Surprisingly, I did quite well to not watch Sofia’s heat at all, and I didn’t even know that Keala (Kennelly) had won until right before my heat was about to start,� Gilmore said. “That was interesting. I guess it was awesome for me. I was stoked. It pretty much just fired me up when I heard that, and then the next wave I got barreled.�
With Mulanovich eliminated, and following her phenomenal win over the veteran Ballard, Gilmore needed fellow rookie Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) to defeat remaining contender Silvana Lima (BRA) in the final heat of the day to seal the ASP Women’s World Title. With less than five minutes remaining, Hodge turned the tide with an incredible forehand assault on a roping righthander which would put her into the lead. The countdown to the heat ended with the raucous applause from the army of media and hundreds of spectators assembled on the beach.
Gilmore first moved to World No. 1 on the ASP ratings when she took out the Rip Curl Bells Beach in Australia in April – though she shared the top spot with 2005 ASP World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS) at the time.
She claimed the sole ratings lead after a semifinal finish in Brazil, but then dropped to 4th in the world with a 9th in Spain. Back-to-back wins in Sydney, Australia and Peru put Gilmore in contention to seal the deal with one event to go in Sunset Beach, Hawaii, but the Australian fell short, netting only an equal 9th place finish.
Requiring a result in Maui, Gilmore stepped up her performance at Honolua Bay, consistently displaying her world class form before sealing the title this afternoon.
Despite the numerous accolades collected by predecessors such Layne Beachley (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA), Gilmore is the first surfer ever to claim the ASP World Title in their rookie season.
“That’s amazing, I never even thought of that until now,� Gilmore said. “It’s truly an honor to make my way into the history books. To do it here in Maui, in waves that are barreling, and with all the family and friends here to share it with is truly amazing. I’m absolutely over the moon, and I’m just at a loss for words.�
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