For Immediate Release

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International
6-Star Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa
 
New Generation Steals the Show at Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa

HALEIWA, Hawaii (Saturday, November 15, 2008) - The teenage new wave of women’s professional surfing stole the show at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa today. In their opening day of competition, the ladies enjoyed solid overhead waves and two rounds of competition as they whittled the 44-woman, 11-nation field down to 16 Quarterfinalists.

From the first heat, a wildcard battle among six young Hawaii surfers, it was clear that the new crop is determined to rise to the top at this year’s Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Wildcard winner Carissa Moore, 16, and winter roommates Laura Enever (Australia), 17, and Coco Ho (Hawaii), 17, administered the major damage against some of the top-seeded surfers and are all through to the Quarterfinals. Enever posted the highest scores of the day in Round 1: 9.37 and 9.33 for 18.7 total.

Heading into the Quarterfinals, seven of the 16 ladies remaining are 18 years of age or under: Bruna Schmitz (Brz, 18), Ho, Enever, Courtney Conlogue (CA, 16), Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus, 17), Moore, and Alana Blanchard (HI, 18).

Defending Reef Hawaiian Pro and Vans Triple Crown champion Megan Abubo (Hawaii) was the biggest casualty of the day, eliminated in Round 2 by Ho and Enever.

"This is my first time competing in a Triple Crown event at Haleiwa," said Ho, who won the heat. "My ultimate goal this year was to get into this event with the four results I’ve got this year. I didn’t expect to come this far or have a chance at qualifying (for the ASP Women’s World Tour). I try not to think about qualifying, but it’s on my mind."

Coco hails from the North Shore’s most famous surfing family her father, Michael, is a former Pipeline Master and Triple Crown champion, and her uncle Derek was Hawaii’s first ASP World Champion, as well as a Pipe Master and Triple Crown champ. As for the pressure to uphold the famous Ho family name: "I’m trying to learn and live up their expectations and enjoy myself."

Carissa Moore is rapidly blazing a trail all her own. Over the past two years, she has inflicted major damage with every wildcard opportunity she has earned. Today was just another notch in her belt and she is through to the quarters.

"I love surfing Haleiwa, it’s my favorite wave on the North Shore," Moore said. "I’m just super stoked for the opportunity to get into this event. It would be cool one day (to win the Triple Crown) if it works out, but until then I’m just going to go with the flow and enjoy things."

Prior to the women’s competition, men’s Round 3 wrapped up and saw South African Jordy Smith, 20, take flight in an incredible performance that earned him 18.0 out of 20 points with waves scores of 9.50 and 8.50.

A heavyweight on the elite ASP World Tour, Smith is a reliable standout in the Triple Crown, with the size and power of Hawaiian surf suiting him to a tee.

"It was classic Haleiwa today," Smith said. "I definitely like big waves and I love coming over here. I love the vibe. It’s pretty much where a guy goes from a boy a becomes a man and I’m in the transformation of that now."

"Getting a wave like that pretty much takes the pressure off the heat," Smith said of his 9.50. "I was just lucky to find that wave early on in the heat."

Others to advance beyond men’s round three this-morning included Dayyan Neve (Aus), Adam Melling (Aus), Yuri Sodre (Brz), and Tim Reyes (CA). When men’s competition resumes, it will see the entrance of the top seeds of the tournament, including: 2007 world champion Mick Fanning, favored local Pancho Sullivan, defending men’s Vans Triple Crown champion Bede Durbidge (Aus), and defending Reef Hawaiian Pro champ Roy Powers (HI).

Two full days of competition remain at the Reef Hawaiian Pro. By the conclusion of today’s heats, a very wet front moved in from the north west and it is uncertain if competition will resume tomorrow morning. To examine surf updates for the coming days, visit official forecasters Wetsand.com .

For complete results, please visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com and www.aspworldtour.com