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Top: Former World
Champion, Sofia Mulanovich,
continues into Round 3 with a solid victory
in Round 1.
Above: Stephanie Gilmore continues to charge
her way toward a second world title. She meets
up with Maria Tita Tavares in Round 3.
Photos: ASP Morris © Covered Images
Left: Standout of
Day 1, Hawaii's Megan Abubo.
Photo: ASP Morris © Covered Images
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For Immediate Release
Association
of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International
Billabong Girls Pro Rio
Stop No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World
Tour
Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
September 10 – 18, 2008
ASP Top 17 Shine Through Challenging Conditions
on Day 1 Billabong Girls Pro Rio
RIO
DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Wednesday, September 10, 2008) –
Round 1 of the Billabong Girls Pro Rio was completed
today in challenging two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf
at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, and despite the
onshore and inconsistent conditions, the ASP Top 17
lit up the playful beachbreaks to post some solid scores.
Event No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World
Tour, the Billabong Girls Pro Rio called competition
off for the day following the completion of Round 1
in hopes that better waves with manifest later in the
week.
Megan Abubo (HAW), 30, took top honors today, crushing
the Barra da Tijuca peaks on her forehand to net the
day’s high heat total of a 14.65 out of a possible
20.
“That was pretty much my first surf out here in
Brazil,” Abubo said. “I got stitches in
my hand the last day in France and I tried to surf this
morning and it was shocking. I had been watching a little
nugget right coming through and I paddled straight out
to it. I’m so stoked that I got a couple of good
ones straight off and I’m pumped that I’m
through to Round 3.”
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s
World Champion and current No. 1 on the ASP Women’s
World Tour, powered through the challenging conditions
today, besting wildcard Maria Tita Tavares (BRA), 32,
and Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26.
“We often get great setups, but it’s not
always dream waves or conditions and that’s what
happens when you have to kind of clock in at the office
for these ones,” Gilmore said. “However,
I’d rather be doing this any day and I’m
stoked to put another heat behind me and I’m looking
forward to the next round.”
Other Round 1 standouts included Jacqueline Silva (BRA),
29, Amee Donohoe (AUS), 27, Sofia Mulanovich (PER),
25, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 23.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at
8:30am for a possible 9am Round 2 start.
Opening up the elimination Round 2 will be Samantha
Cornish (AUS), 27, up against Julia De La Rosa Toro
(PER), 26, and Serena Brooke (AUS), 32.
The Billabong Girls Pro Rio will be webcast LIVE via
http://www.billabongpro.com/rio08/
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Billabong Girls Pro Rio Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.50, Rebecca Woods (AUS)
10.50, Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER) 7.75
Heat 2: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 11.75, Melanie Redman-Carr
(AUS) 6.25, Samantha Cornish (AUS) 6.10
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.00, Maria Tita Tavares
(BRA) 7.75, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.35
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.10,Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
7.65, Serena Brooke (AUS) 6.90
Heat 5: Megan Abubo (HAW) 14.65, Layne Beachley (AUS)
10.15, Karina Petroni (USA) 7.45
Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.60, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
10.95, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 9.40
Billabong Girls Pro Rio Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Julia De La Rosa Toro
(PER), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Nicola Atherton (AUS),
Karina Petroni (USA)
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