Aussie Gilmore claims 3rd World Surf Title

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, claimed her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title last week at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink in Hawaii.

Gilmore makes history as the only surfer – man or woman – ever to win the prestigious crown each year they competed at the elite ASP World Tour level. In addition to winning her third world crown, Gilmore reached the final of the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, the second leg of the Vans Triple Crown, and placed third overall in the event. Waves were in the 12 – to 20-foot wave face height range making for an exciting contest.

Hawaii’s Carissa Moore,  17, claimed the Gidget Pro event title with a dynamic and powerful surfing display that was beyond her years and Sunset Beach surfing experience.  Second place went to Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia), and Kauai’s Alana Blanchard placed fourth. Blanchard now leads the Vans Triple Crown Series ratings ahead of Gilmore. The Vans Triple Crown champion will receive a $25,000 bonus purse.

When the final day of surfing at the Gidget Pro began, six surfers remained in contention for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Title. Gilmore never faulted and had out-pointed all her challengers by the time she qualified for the final.

Gilmore, who was focused on preparing for the Final at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, had remained intentionally aloof to the ASP Women’s World Title possibilities on the final day of competition, and was surprised when informed she had clinched the historic crown.

“I didn’t even know it was happening,” Gilmore said. “I was preparing for the Final and gearing up and then to know I had won, my head was a bit light. To go to Honolua and not have to worry about the title going into the event is just so relaxing.

“I’m starting to feel more comfortable on the Women’s World Tour and go into events differently,” Gilmore said. “You get to know the breaks and it’s still my third year and I love traveling and competing and it’s such a special thing to get paid to do. I’m looking forward to next year and seeing different conditions and different waves on tour, I think there might be a couple of new stops, so yeah, I’m looking forward to having good heats and good waves.”

Gilmore’s 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour Results:

· Win at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast
· Runner-Up at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach
· Runner-Up at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic
· Equal 5th Place Finish at the Rip Curl Pro Search
· Runner-Up at the Movistar Peru Classic
· 3rd at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach
· TBD at the upcoming Billabong Pro Maui

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for more info.

Viva Peru: Sofia Mulanovich wins Movistar Peru Classic

Congratulations Sofia !

Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich has won the Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl over reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and two-time defending event winner, Stephanie Gilmore from Australia.

Event No. 5 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Movistar Peru Classic culminated in offshore three-to-four foot  waves at Lobitos today, and delivered all the drama and action fans had been waiting for.

Mulanovich, who suffered a horrific wipeout yesterday, was a standout in the hard-fought Final, muscling through one section after another on her backhand, to post an impressive 15.00 out of a possible 20. While the lead would seesaw back and forth between the Peruvian and the Aussie  it was ultimately Mulanovich who would come away with the win in front of a raucous crowd on the sand.

“It doesn’t even feel real that this is happening right now,” Mulanovich said. “I have wanted to win this event for so long, and have always been disappointed. To do it here, in front of my friends and family and in good waves at Lobitos is a dream come true. Viva Peru!”

The win boosts the former ASP Women’s World Champion (2004) from fourth to third on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings and puts her within striking distance of the crown heading into the business end of the season.

“I haven’t had the best season and I was really waiting for a breakout result,” Mulanovich said. “To finally get it at home is really special. I am just so stoked.”

Gilmore’s Runner-Up finish today marks her third of the season, and while missing out on making it three-in-a-row in Peru, the Australian is still pleased with her performance.

“Definitely been pretty consistent with making Finals,” Gilmore said. “Obviously I was looking for another win. But in a way, it is pretty special to see Sofia (Mulanovich) win, like, it is crazy. There are thousands of people on the beach here in the middle of nowhere, it is just phenomenal. To make another Final felt good. I had a lot of fun. It was good to see Sofia up there and not Silvana (Lima) or Coco (Ho), it is going to make the ratings really interesting and it’s keeping things really tight and close between everyone. It is going to be an exciting finish in Hawaii.”

Gilmore retains a slender lead over challengers as she contests for a third, consecutive ASP Women’s World Title, but retains collected frame of mind heading into Hawaii.

“The world title is in your head sometimes,” Gilmore said. “It is just event by event. This event was a good one as everyone was surfing so good and so after a fifth in Portugal, I wanted to come here and perform really well and I put my mind to it and I did it, the title race is hot.”

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, matched her best result of the year with an equal 3rd at the Movistar Peru Classic. Arguably one of the most in-tune performers at Lobitos, Fitzgibbons lost a nail-biter Semifinal to eventual winner Mulanovich.

“I’m definitely happy with my performance,” Fitzgibbons said. “I have felt good this whole event and it came down really close there at the end. I knew that set was on the horizon and I couldn’t hold on in the end. It would be amazing to make it through to a Final. I will take the third place but it is always nice to be there on the podium and in the Final. I will just keep trying and doing what I am doing and hopefully crack it pretty soon.”

Coco Ho (HAW), 18, 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie and winner of the previous event in Portugal, was a major standout at the Movistar Peru Classic. Ho took down fellow Hawaiian rookie Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19, and stylish natural-footer Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, before falling agonizingly close to Gilmore in the Semifinals.

“It’s always hard having a 9 and waiting for your second score but that’s what surfing with the Champ is all about,” Ho said. “It was frustrating seeing the waves I needed coming in after the heat, but that’s okay. Competing against Steph definitely pushes my surfing and I’m happy with an Equal 3rd.”

Despite missing out on a Final’s berth in Peru, Ho is looking forward to finishing the year at home in Hawaii and the finale of the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year race.

“I’m definitely looking forward to heading home and finishing the season in Hawaii,” Ho said. “Rookie of the Year and a Top 5 finish has always been my goal, but Sally (Fitzgibbons) is right there and it will come down to the wire.”The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour is the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii from November 24 through December 6, 2009.

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.00
2 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.74

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.60 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.17
SF 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.27 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.20

MOVISTAR PERU CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.74 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.16
QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.27 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 6.60
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.16 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 6.83
QF 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.67 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 10.17

Check the Full Results

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After Movistar Peru Classic):
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 4765 pts
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 4188 pts
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 3891 pts
4 – Coco Ho (HAW) 3679 pts
5 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3043 pts

Check the Full Ratings

Silvana Lima defeats Steph Gilmore to win Beachley Classic

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Sunday, October 4, 2009) – Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, won the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic  over reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, in stormy three-to-five foot conditions at Dee Why in an action packed Final, marking back-to-back wins for the hungry Brazilian after claiming the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Gilmore jumped out to an early lead in the sea-saw battle for the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic title, but Lima fought back throughout the heat, collecting a 7.77 and eventually securing the win with an 8.83 for a lengthy forehand barrel to post the highest heat total of the event, an impressive 16.60 out of 20, en route to her first victory at the event after three consecutive Final appearances.

“I can’t believe it,” Lima said. “I’ve been in the Final in this event three times and I finally won. I was feeling really confident. The waves here today were like the waves in Brazil and I’m always surfing in these conditions. The final was really good. Steph (Gilmore) got some good waves too and I was able to get two good ones.”

The back-to-back ASP Women’s World Tour wins secured by the hungry Brazilian have significantly tightened the ratings for this year’s ASP Women’s World Title and although Gilmore still holds on to the ratings lead, Lima is following closely in the No. 2 position.

“I’m definitely looking at the title, but it’s too early,” Lima said “There are still four contests left this year, so there is more work for everyone, but I feel so much more confident after my first win at Bells.”

Gilmore was in devastating form throughout the entire Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, blasting some of the event’s top scores with a committed forehand attack on the steep Dee Why right-handers, but was unable to top Lima in the Final.

“To come back after such a long break and still make the Final, I’m pretty happy with that,” Gilmore said. “Silvana (Lima) beat me at Bells and her confidence is through the roof at the moment, so my challenge is to step it up another level. I did it in the Semifinals, but maybe I peaked too early.”

Gilmore, who fell to Lima in the Final at the last stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour, knows claiming this year’s ASP Women’s World Title will be no easy task and is preparing for the next four stops scheduled on the 2009 calendar.

“It’s definitely game on,” Gilmore said. “There are four events left and everyone is really fired up and off to Portugal, Peru and Hawaii, so I can’t think of a better way to finish off the tour.”

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, was also on fire throughout the entire event, topping 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, en route to her third place finish, but could not find a solid score in her Semifinal heat against eventual Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic winner, Lima.

“I couldn’t really find a rhythm in that last heat,” Mulanovich said. “I couldn’t land a turn, but it’s alright. I guess I was a bit nervous and the waves didn’t come my way, but it’s the same conditions for everyone. I’ll just look at where things went wrong and use that for next time.”

Mulanovich, who was the 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, has now notched back-to-back third place results, leaving her in third overall on the ratings, but as a former champion, the Peruvian natural-footer knows she’ll need to win events this year if she is to claim another ASP Women’s World title.

“Silvana got me at Bells too,” Mulanovich said. “It’s the same result. A third-place is a good result and I need to work a little more on the mental side of things, but I know that, so that’s what I’m going to do. A third is good, but you need to win events to win the title. I’m still towards the top of the ratings and I’m just going to go from there.”

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, was a standout performer throughout the event’s entirety, ousting an international field of competitors including Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, on the way to her Semifinals berth. The talented Hawaiian struggled to find a solid score in her battle against Gilmore, bowing out of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic with a third place finish.

“I just wasn’t in rhythm out there and I couldn’t find anything,” Bartels said. “It’s tough out there, but I’m stoked that I made the Semifinals, it’s a good result, but I just wanted to surf well, I wanted to put on a good performance and I don’t feel like I did that, but that’s how it goes.”

The next stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Rip Curl Search in Peniche, Portugal, which holds a waiting period from October 26 through 30, 2009.

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Final:
1- Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.60
2- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.67

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.87
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA)10.60 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5.40

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.35 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.97
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.54 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.80
Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.57 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.86 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.10

ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings After Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3241 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 2880
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2139
4 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 1983
5 – Coco Ho (HAW) 1723
6 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 1711
7 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 1704
8 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 1519
8 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 1519
10 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 1512
11 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1308
12 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 1116
12 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 1116
14 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 1110
15 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 918
16 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 756
16 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 756

Shawn Johnson, Stephanie Gilmore win Teen Choice Awards

The Teen Choice Awards won’t air until tomorrow, but we’ve got a list of all the winners. If you don’t mind spoilers, check ‘em all out after the jump.

MOVIES

CHOICE MOVIE: ACTION ADVENTURE
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

CHOICE MOVIE: DRAMA
Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: ROMANCE
Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: BROMANTIC COMEDY
Marley & Me

CHOICE MOVIE: COMEDY
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

CHOICE MOVIE: HORROR/THRILLER
Friday the 13th

CHOICE MOVIE: MUSIC/DANCE
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: DRAMA
Robert Pattinson, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: DRAMA
Kristen Stewart, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: ACTION ADVENTURE
Hugh Jackman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: ACTION ADVENTURE
Jordana Brewster, Fast & Furious

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: COMEDY
Zac Efron, 17 Again

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: COMEDY
Anne Hathaway, Bride Wars

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: MUSIC/DANCE
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: MUSIC/DANCE
Zac Efron, High School Musical 3: Senior Year

CHOICE MOVIE: VILLIAN
Cam Gigandet, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: FRESH FACE FEMALE
Ashley Greene, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: FRESH FACE MALE
Taylor Lautner, Twilight

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: DRAMA
My Sister’s Keeper

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: COMEDY
Up

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: ROMANCE
The Proposal

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: ACTION ADVENTURE
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE STAR: MALE
Shia LaBeouf, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE STAR: FEMALE
Megan Fox, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

CHOICE MOVIE HISSY FIT
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie

TELEVISION

CHOICE TV SHOW: DRAMA
Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV SHOW: ACTION ADVENTURE
Heroes

CHOICE TV SHOW: COMEDY
Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: ANIMATED SHOW
SpongeBob SquarePants

CHOICE TV: REALITY
The Hills

CHOICE TV: REALITY MUSIC COMPETITION
American Idol

CHOICE TV ACTOR: DRAMA
Chace Crawford, Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: DRAMA
Leighton Meester, Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV ACTOR: ACTION ADVENTURE
Tom Welling, Smallville

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: ACTION ADVENTURE
Hayden Panettiere, Heroes

CHOICE TV ACTOR: COMEDY
Jonas Brothers, JONAS

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: COMEDY
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: PERSONALITY
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol / E! News

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT SHOW
JONAS

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT STAR FEMALE
Demi Lovato, Sonny With a Chance

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT STAR MALE
Frankie Jonas, JONAS

CHOICE TV: MALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Adam Lambert, American Idol

CHOICE TV: FEMALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Lauren Conrad, The Hills

CHOICE TV: VILLAIN
Ed Westwick, Gossip Girl

CHOICE FAB-U-LOUS!
Miss Jay, America’s Next Top Model

CHOICE TV: SIDEKICK
Emily Osment, Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: LATE NIGHT SHOW
Chelsea Lately

CHOICE TV: PARENTAL UNIT
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana

MUSIC

CHOICE MUSIC: SINGLE
Miley Cyrus, “The Climb”

CHOICE HOOKUP
Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis, “Just Dance”

CHOICE MUSIC: MALE ARTIST
Jason Mraz

CHOICE MUSIC: FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

CHOICE MUSIC: R&B ARTIST
Beyonce

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT GROUP
Paramore

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT ARTIST

CHOICE MUSIC: LOVE SONG
David Archuleta, “Crush”

CHOICE MUSIC: R&B TRACK
Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

CHOICE MUSIC: RAP/HIP HOP TRACK
The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow”

CHOICE MUSIC: ROCK TRACK
Paramore, “Decore”

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (MALE ARTIST)
Jason Mraz, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (FEMALE ARTIST)
Taylor Swift, Fearless

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (GROUP)
Jonas Brothers, Lines, Vines and Trying Times

CHOICE MUSIC: SOUNDTRACK
Twilight

CHOICE MUSIC: TOUR
Demi Lovato / David Archuleta

SPORTS

CHOICE MALE ATHLETE
David Beckham

CHOICE FEMALE ATHLETE
Shawn Johnson

CHOICE ACTION SPORTS MALE
Ryan Sheckler

CHOICE ACTION SPORTS FEMALE
Stephanie Gilmore

OTHER

ULTIMATE CHOICE AWARD
Britney Spears

CHOICE MALE HOTTIE
Robert Pattinson

CHOICE FEMALE HOTTIE
Megan Fox

CHOICE RED CARPET ICON FEMALE
Selena Gomez

CHOICE RED CARPET FASHION ICON MALE
Jonas Brothers

CHOICE WEB STAR
Fred

CHOICE COMEDIAN
George Lopez

CHOICE CELEBRITY ACTIVIST
Hayden Panettiere

CHOICE CELEBRITY PET
Bo Obama

CHOICE VIDEO GAME
Rock Band 2

CHOICE CELEBRITY BABY
Honor Marie Warren

Steph Gilmore claims Roxy Pro crown

Hands down the most dominante woman in the world right now, TWO-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore is off to the perfect start in 2009, taking out the season opening Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast.

The 21-year-old, affectionately known as Happy, had more than 10,000 people singing her praise as she stormed home to reclaim her Roxy Pro throne.

Four years after winning the event as a teenage wild card the reigning world champion rocked the final in front of the record crowd for a Womens World Tour surfing event.

It is the first time Gilmore, who is a member of the Snapper Rocks Surfriders club, has won her home event since taking the title as a 17-year-old in 2005. The phenomenal natural-footer has been a perennial event favorite at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast but despite her extensive local knowledge, Gilmore had failed to secure a solid result at home since beginning her ASP Dream Tour campaign until this comp.

From Round 1 through the Final the reigning world champ made short work of everybody she faced. In the final  Gilmore against Hawaii’s Melanie Bartels in two- to three-foot waves, and registered the day’s high single-wave score of a 9.57 to open the heat, after a long series of fin releases and power turns.

“It’s a new start for me,” said Steph. “To win on your home turf, in front of all these people, it’s unbelievable.”

Despite the disappointing showing in Final, Bartels’ runner-up finish sees the Hawaiian rocket up the ratings from ASP World No. 7 to No. 2 heading into the rest of the season.

Gilmore now leads the world championship rankings in her quest for third consecutive title.

The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour is the Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford New Fiesta at Bells Beach from April 8 – 13, 2009

Roxy Pro surf contest on but women’s tour may be facing wipeout

The stage is set for a stellar finish to the Roxy Pro Gold Coast with quarterfinalists being decided in rising 1-metre waves at Duranbah on the southern end of Australia’s Gold Coast today.

The season-opening ASP women’s world tour tournament returned to the water this morning for the first time in almost a week, with rounds two and three being completed ahead of this afternoon’s quarterfinals.

It will be a battle of the rookies in quarterfinal one, with Kiwi upstart Paige Hareb taking on Brazilian Bruna Schmitz.

This will be followed by the battle of local stars; with reigning and two-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore coming up against former world champion Chelsea Hedges in quarter two.

Hawaii’s Coco Ho will take on Australian Rebecca Woods in quarter three, whilst Hawaiian Melanie Bartels is matched up against Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich in the final quarterfinal.

Just as Gilmore begins a quest to win a third championship in as many years on the ASP Women’s World Tour,  a formidable force looms on the close horizon — for all 17 surfers on the elite tour. It’s the ravaged economy, which threatens to wipeout a large chunk of the tour schedule.

The LA Times’ Pete Thomas writes:

Corporate sponsors, ailing because of sluggish sales and mounting debt, have either pulled out or are contemplating pulling out of some events in order to cut costs.

There are eight contests on the World Tour schedule but at least one — a prestigious event next winter at Sunset Beach on Oahu — has no sponsor and might be dropped. Roxy, which operates under the Quiksilver umbrella, was the title sponsor last year.

Also, Billabong reportedly is considering dropping sponsorship of one of two contests on the women’s schedule: the Billabong Girls Pro Rio.

At least two other contests are in jeopardy this year, so whoever wins the world title might do so on a severely diminished schedule.

Said ASP Women’s World Tour Manager Brooke Farris, in an e-mail:

“The financial crisis is being felt by the ASP and the best women surfers in the world. We are currently actively seeking a sponsor for the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Sunset Beach as well as trying to confirm a number of events on the tour.

Hopefully the ASP will find those partnerships and quickly. The men’s 10-contest World Tour schedule, an ASP spokesman said, is so far intact.

2009 Women’s World Tour surfers announced

December 29, 2008 – The best female surfers in the world are locked in and the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour looks to be one for the record books. Days after the conclusion of the Women’s ASP World Tour season in Maui the roster for next year’s Tour has been finalized. 

While the surfers on tour will include 11 Women’s World Title holders represented over four competitors – Stephanie Gilmore Layne Beachley, Sofia Mulanovich and Chelsea Hedges – there are also five rookies joining the vets — all teenagers.

Sally Fitzgibbons, 18, made history earlier this year by becoming the fastest surfer ever to qualify for the world tour in a season.  She will be joined by Brazil’s Bruna Schmitz, Kiwi Paige Hareb, Hawaiian Alana Blanchard (all 18) and Coco Ho, 17.

Aussies will dominate the tour, with Fitzgibbons and current world champ Stephanie Gilmore leading eight of their compatriots.

Seven-time world champ Layne Beachley remains on the tour, though she previously announced her retirement.  The move allows her to still compete at some events, though she will not participate in all events (there are eight total events).

The new season kicks off on Feb. 28, 2009 with the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.

Here are the 2009 World Tour Surfers:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA)
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4 – Layne Beachley (AUS)
5 – Amee Donohoe (AUS)
6 – Samantha Cornish (AUS)
7 – Melanie Bartels (HAW)
8 – Rebecca Woods (AUS)
9 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
10 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
11 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
12 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
13 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
14 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15 – Paige Hareb (NZL)

Stephanie Gilmore new Women’s ASP World Champion

December 2, 2008 – Aussie Stephanie (’Happy’) Gilmore’ had every reason to smile this week. Gilmore won her first Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach in Hawaii and her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Tour Champion Title.

Ripping through the three-to-five foot waves  Gilmore defeated fellow finalists Silvana Lima , Jessi Miley-Dyer,  and Nicola Atherton.

Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Roxy Pro proved the most decisive event of year, seeing shock eliminations on the final day before Gilmore soared to victory to claim the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title.

After winning her first Championship at just 19 – the first ever surfer to win such an accolade in their rookie year – Gilmore made it two-for-two by beating overall points leaders Sofia Mulanovich, Silvana Lima and Layne Beachley to win the most prestigious prize in women’s surfing once again.

 ROXY PRO SUNSET FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.83
2 – Silvana Lima (PER) 14.16
3 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 9.00
4 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 6.46

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS:
Following Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6348 points
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5233 points
3 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 5138 points
4 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 5006 points

Check the official report from the ASP website: