HONOLUA BAY, Maui/Hawaii (Wednesday, December 9, 2009) – Three time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, won the Billabong Pro Maui, in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 - 2 metre) waves at the iconic pointbreak of Honolua Bay over Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, clinching her third consecutive Billabong Pro Maui title in her three years of competition at the premier event.
Gilmore wrapped up her dominating Hawaiian season amongst the Worlds Top 17 on the ASP Women’s World Tour by claiming her second consecutive Vans Triple Crown title today as well.
Gilmore won the USD25000 Triple Crown bonus when she advanced over Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, in the Semifinals, en route to defending her flawless record at the Billabong Pro Maui while claiming the prized Hawaiian specialty series.
Gilmore absolutely dominated the day’s proceedings, blitzing the highest heat total of the entire 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season by surfing a near-perfect heat of 19.67 out of 20 to usurp Samantha Cornish (AUS), 29, in her Quarterfinals heat before topping Fitzgibbons and Mulanovich en route to her second ASP Women’s World Tour win of 2009 and the USD12000 winners cheque to claim a total of $43,100 over the Hawaiian season. More prize-money, than she had claimed all year prior to the Hawaiian leg.
Gilmore added to her booty by also claiming the additional prize of “Winner-Takes-All” award of a custom, limited edition Nixon watch valued at over $10,000 for posting the highest heat score of the Billabong Pro Maui.
Mulanovich campaigned through a lengthy day of competition, topping Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 23, Australian veteran Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and ASP Women’s World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, but was unable to top Gilmore for the victory and claimed a runner-up finish at the final event of the year to finish her season ASP Women’s World No. 3.
Fitzgibbons navigated the Honolua Bay lineup with poise and maturity beyond her years and posted some amazing scores before falling in her Semifinals bout against Gilmore, but clinched a narrow heat victory over Coco Ho (HAW), 18, in the Quarterfinals on the way to her third place finish.
Lima, who smashed one of two perfect 10-point rides during the Billabong Pro Maui with amazing barrel riding in yesterday’s action, was in stellar form for the final day of competition, but was overtaken by former Peruvian ASP Women’s World Champion, Mulanovich, in the dying minutes of their Semifinals heat, taking a third place finish to wrap up her year while finishing ASP Women’s World No. 2 for 2009.
The Billabong Pro Maui Title once again alluded Hawaiian surfers with both Coco Ho, 18, and Melanie Bartels eliminated from the quarterfinals. Rookie Ho bowing out on a heat total of 14.50 after a close match up with Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) who posted a 15.83 heat score to advance. Ho finished wrapped up her year with an impressive world no.4 ranking - the highest placing of any of the 2009 tour rookies.
2008 runner-up Bartels outpointed by Silvana Lima of Brazil in a one-sided affair. Lima posting a heat total 16.70 to defeat Bartels with a total tally of 7.20.
For Billabong Pro Maui highlights, videos, photos and more log on to www.triplecrownofsurfing.com or www.billabongpro.com
Final 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings
- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
- Silvana Lima (BRA)
- Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
- Coco Ho (HAW)
- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Melanie Bartels (HAW)
- Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
- Paige Hareb (NZL)
- Rebecca Woods (AUS)
- Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
- Samantha Cornish (AUS)
- Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
- Alana Blanchard (HAW)
- Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
- Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
- Amee Donohoe (AUS)
- Megan Abubo (HAW)
- Layne Beachley (AUS
