HUNTINGTON BEACH, California / USA (Thursday, July 28, 2011) – The final stop on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title Series will see the ASP Top 17 wrap their season up at the 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing and although Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, clinched her inaugural ASP Women’s World Title earlier this month in France, the defending event champion will return to defend her title.
While the women’s US Open of Surfing has long been held as an ASP 6-Star event, 2011 has seen an upgrade to ASP Women’s World Tour status and the 2011 Nike US Open of Surfing is set to host the most progressive field of female talent in the history of Huntington Beach surfing.
Carissa Moore, who has finaled in every event on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title season, has been unstoppable throughout the year and despite clinching her crown early, is motivated to finish her year on a high-note in Huntington Beach.
“I'm really looking forward to the US Open,” Moore said. “The US Open is one of the biggest events in surfing and even though there is no longer a World Title on the line I would still love to perform and get a great result. It's nice to not have the pressure of the World Title lingering and I get to have fun.”
The Hawaiian prodigy is also eager for the opportunity to bring the current elite level of ASP Women’s World Tour competition to the iconic venue of the Nike US Open of Surfing.
“I think it is definitely a really positive thing for women's surfing,” Moore said. “To finish off our year at such an arena with the crowds, the different festivities, all the hype, it will be really exciting.”
Lakey Peterson (USA), 16, current No. 7 on the ASP Women’s World Ranking and Nike US Open of Surfing Wildcard, is in excellent position to join female surfing’s elite next year and is looking at the wildcard opportunity to push her personal limits.
“I'm so excited to be in the US Open this year,” Peterson said. “I'm just looking forward to the experience of getting to surf against the best girls in the world on surfing's main stage. Whenever I surf against any of the girls on the World Tour, it always makes me surf so much better. I’m stoked to have the opportunity to surf the best I can against the best.”
The Nike US Open of Surfing will run in conjunction with the men’s ASP PRIME event and ASP Pro Junior Divisions and is also part of a greater action sports festival, including BMX, Skate, Art and Music, all of which are free to the public.
The Women’s Nike US Open of Surfing holds a waiting period from August 1 – 7, 2011 and is webcast LIVE via www.usopenofsurfing.com
Upcoming Nike US Open of Surfing Round 1 Heats:
Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA), Pauline Ado (FRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Lakey Peterson (USA)
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rebecca Woods (AUS)
