Video highlights from the 2011 Roxy Pro Gold Coast featuring Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons and Laura Enever. Courtesy of http://www.roxypro.com.au
1. Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 1 - www.stephgilmore.blogspot.com






2. Carissa Moore (Hawaii) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 3 - www.carissamoore.com





3. Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 2 - www.sallyfitzgibbons.com






4. Silvana Lima (Brazil) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 4 - www.silvanalima.com.br






5. Tyler Wright (Australia) - 2010 ASP Ranking: Rookie - www.ripcurl.com.au





6. Coco Ho (Hawaii) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 7

7. Courtney Conlogue (United States) - 2010 ASP Ranking: Rookie

8. Melanie Bartels (Hawaii) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 8

9. Chelsea Hedges (Australia) - 2010 ASP Ranking: 6

10. Laura Enever (Australia) - 2010 ASP Ranking: Rookie

Special thanks to the following surfers for participating in our 2011 ASP Women's World Tour Preview: Paige Alms, Jamie Baittinger, Rochelle Ballard, Wendy Botha, Serena Brooke, Chloe Buckley, Meah Collins, Shelby Detmers, Amee Donohoe, Jessica Grimwood, Nicole Grodesky, Bethany Hamilton, Shea Hodges, Alexia Jeri, Di Mattison, Kim Mearig, Wini Paul, Lakey Peterson, Marissa Shaw, Jolene Smith, Valeria Sole', Bo Stanley, Lauren Sweeney, Sara Taylor, Valentina Vitale, Kim Wooldridge, and Emily Wratschko. *Click the link to check out the Complete List of Our Top 5 ASP Picks as chosen by all of the surfers named above.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) INTERNATIONAL Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover ASP World Title Event No. 1 of 11 Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover ASP Women’s World Title Event No. 1 of 7 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia February 26 – March 9, 2011 Sally Fitzgibbons, Silvana Lima and Sofia Mulanovich Gear Up for Roxy Pro Gold Coast GOLD COAST, Queensland/Australia (Tuesday, February 22, 2011) –The ASP Top 17 will spring back into action this weekend for the opening event of the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover. Boasting a waiting period of February 26 through March 9, 2011, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast will feature the world’s best female surfers as they start their respective campaigns for the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP Women’s World Runner-Up, is keen to get back into the competition singlet following an off season spent traipsing up and down the Eastern seaboard of Australia. “I've really enjoyed my off season at home,” Fitzgibbons said. “It seemed to fly by so fast and now we are already gearing up for the Roxy Pro. I managed to get all my wisdom teeth pulled out in my time off and spent some time at Snapper when the cyclone swells hit. I surfed and trained up and down the South Coast and I taught one of my heroes, tennis star Martina Navratilova, how to surf.” Fitzgibbons will be honoured as the ASP Women’s World Runner-Up at the ASP World Surfing Awards on the Gold Coast this Thursday. “I had a really exciting year in 2010 and learned so much,” Fitzgibbons said. “I came close to a few wins throughout the year, so I now know the things I have to do to take that extra step and win. I was happy with my consistency last year and finishing at World Number 2 is something to be proud of. I will carry the confidence from that into the upcoming season. I will keep pushing to improve my performance throughout the 2011 World Tour.” Coming off a banner year in 2010, Fitzgibbons will look to firmly cement her reputation as and ASP Women’s World Title contender this season. “My motivations to start the season are as always: that I love competing and surfing with the World's Best and that I want to be World Champion,” Fitzgibbons said. “My goals will be to keep improving my surfing through the year, to win a few events would be amazing and soak up all the excitement that comes with being on the World Tour. I want to enjoy my travels and explore along the way, I'm hoping to find some waves that I haven't yet surfed. I'm really excited for the upcoming event as I like watching everyone and the new rookies and seeing who's switched on for a great year.” Fitzgibbons will face rookie Laura Enever (AUS), 19, and replacement surfer Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), 28, in Round 1 of the Roxy Pro. Silvana Lima (BRA), 26, former ASP Women’s World Runner-Up, spent the off season recharging at home in Brazil, but the progressive Brazilian is keen to return to competition to take on the new generation of talent. “Staying home with family is very good,” Lima said. “I trained hard and I have some new equipment and I'm very excited to get the new season.Last year, I didn’t start very well. After a few events, Iimproved, but the beginning of the year hurt me with a better result this year will not repeat the same mistake, I will give my best to accomplish my big dream. I'm anxious to see the new generation. It excites me greatly. I want to see radical surfing.” Limabattles Rebecca Woods (AUS), 26, and Pauline Ado (FRA), 20, in the opening round of competition. Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 27, former ASP Women’s World Champion, was another South American to capitalize on her native waves during the break, refining her abilities and working on her fitness. “I have been home all my off season,” Mulanovich said. “The waves have been amazing here, there has no been a flat days. I have also been doing a bit of physical training and a lot of meditation and Tai Chi. It feels really good and I feel good for this year. My goal is to improve my surfing and hopefully that gives me good results.” “Snapper is one of the most high-performance waves on tour so it is one of the funnest to surf,” Mulanovich said. “Everyone loves snapper and I am sure all the girls are pumped to surf it. For sure, the ASP Women’s World Champ is always the one to watch, but all the girls on tour are amazingly talented surfers and I think this year the level of women’s surfing will be through the roof.” Mulanovich will take on Paige Hareb (NZL), 20, and Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 31, in the opening heat of the Roxy Pro. The Roxy Pro Gold Coast will run from February 26 through March 9, 2011 and will be webcast LIVE via http://www.quiksilverpro.com Running in conjunction with the women’s event will be the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, the opening event in the ASP World Title season. For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1: Heat 1:Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Paige Hareb (NZL), Jacqueline Silva (BRA) Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA) Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), TBA Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Alana Blanchard (HAW) Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW), Courtney Conlogue (USA) QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1: Heat 1:Adrian Buchan (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS) Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Bobby Martinez (USA), Taj Burrow (AUS) Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patachia (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA) Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), TBA Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), TBA Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS), Taylor Knox (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW) Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Brett Simpson (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS) Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA) Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Daniel Ross (AUS) Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS) Heat 12: Jadson Andre (BRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT)













[ An opinion piece originally written in March of 2010 but sadly still relevant one year later. ]
I'm a big fan of pro surfing, always have been. I know it's not always cool to like the professional aspect of surfing but since I enjoy watching other paid athletes competing in their chosen fields, it's a natural fit for me to sit on the sand and view the best of the best pushing the limits in surf contests as well.
Enter the 2010 ASP Women's World Tour which kicked off a week or so ago at the Roxy Pro held at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast...
This isn't a contest review so let's just fast forward to the Finals where Hawaii's Melanie Bartels met up with World Champ Stephanie Gilmore. Despite the exciting lead-up to the Final, the waves were lackluster at best and Stephanie Gilmore started off where she left off last year, atop the winner's podium with a well-deserved victory.
Surfing aside, what caught my eye (and ear) most about the day was a live interview with Melanie Bartels as she left the water after the Semifinals. Following the joyous acknowledgement of making the Final and after graciously thanking her shaper and accessory sponsor, Mel looked into the camera and speaking directly to the "Surf Industry" (i.e. the surf apparel industry) asked something to the effect of, "Can someone sponsor me please?"
There was a bit of uncomfortable silence, some half-laughter and a quick conversation change by the commentators but the question was hung out there and now deserves an answer.
The ball is now in your court "Surf Industry." How will you answer Mel's inquiry? I ask as well ...how is one of the most talented females to ever ride a surfboard not sponsored by one of you? Is she not blonde enough, too Hawaiian for your taste or does she simply not kiss enough corporate behinds? If she donned a tiny bikini and extended out her bottom turns, would that help her case?
One of the world's most progressive female surfers is sponsorless and that is simply absurd.
-Chris Grant
One final note: The 2011 ASP Women's World Tour is set to kick-off in less than three weeks. As of this moment nearly 30% of the female surfers on the World Tour don't have a major sponsor.
One final note: The 2011 ASP Women's World Tour is set to kick-off in less than three weeks. As of this moment nearly 30% of the female surfers on the World Tour don't have a major sponsor.