GILMORE WINS: Steph Claims Bells Over Sofia

Reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has defeated Sofia Mulanovich (PER) to claim the 2008 Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta in classic four-to-six foot (2 metre) surf on offer at Bells Beach today.

Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro final was a repeat showdown from last year’s event, where Gilmore and Mulanovich squared off for the first time at Bells Beach. Today’s victory marks the second consecutive Rip Curl Women’s Pro win for Gilmore, who jumps up to No. 2 on the ratings.

“It feels absolutely amazing to ring the bell for a second time in a row,” Gilmore said. “I really tried to brush off the first event and come down to Bells with a fresh head. Rip Curl’s done an amazing job, and we’ve had classic Bells conditions all morning. To be able to showcase your talent out in such good waves with just one other girl is an incredible thing.”

Although Mulanovich held the lead for the majority of the final, Gilmore stroked into a solid Bells righthander with five minutes remaining to, stylishly weaving through floaters and top turns and scalping the day’s high single-wave score of a 9.33 out of a possible 10 and taking the lead. Mulanovich was unable to recover and watched Gilmore claim her second consecutive Rip Curl Women’s Pro title.

“I don’t know how I did that on that wave,” Gilmore said. “Sofia (Mulanovich) had been surfing so well all day, and to come back from such big scores, it just feels amazing. I was feeling a bit nervous and I knew I needed a big score. My boards have been feeling good all week, so I just put everything I had into it, and it paid off.”

Mulanovich, who took out the season-opener on the Gold Coast of Australia, saw her ratings lead on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour strengthen today with her impressive Runner-Up finish at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro.

“I’m feeling really good, and to lose to Steph (Gilmore) like that isn’t a bad thing,” Mulanovich said. “She was ripping, and yeah, a first and second to start the year out is what you need to do to win world titles. I’m just happy that I’ve had a strong start to the season and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Finishing runner-up to Gilmore in last season’s Rip Curl Women’s Pro as well as the 2007 ASP Women’s World Title race, Mulanovich has set herself apart as the No. 1 challenger to Gilmore’s current crown.

“Steph and I seem to be making lots of finals together, so it is exciting,” Mulanovich said. “She’s a really great champion, and I think it’s good for women’s surfing that we can have these kinds of competitive rivalries.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and three-time past winner of the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Bells Beach (’94, ’98, ’99), looked solid in her Quarterfinal victory over Samantha Cornish (AUS) this morning, but a crucial priority mistake in her Semifinal bout saw the legendary Australian fall to eventual champ Gilmore.

“I’m really pissed off right now,” Beachley said. “I had priority on that one set, and then I second-guessed myself and Steph (Gilmore) got it, and that was my undoing. Then I had the wave at the end, and I normally thrive under pressure, but for some reason, my foot slipped off and that was it.”

Beachley collects an equal 3rd place finish to join an equal 5th from the season opener of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour season, and will look ahead to the next event to strength her campaign for an unprecedented eighth ASP Women’s World Title.

“Equal 3rd is a good result, but to come so close to a victory (and it’s been so long), is just really frustrating,” Beachley said. “One of these days, I’m going to get these grommets back. I’ll definitely head to the next event with lots of confidence and I’ll look to make another dent there.”

Amee Donohoe (AUS), who posted a sensational last-minute Quarterfinal win over Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) earlier in the day, was unable to find her rhythm against Mulanovich in their Semifinal clash, and collects her second equal 3rd place finish of 2008.

“It’s good to get another 3rd, but a bit frustrating that I couldn’t crack a final,” Donohoe said. “Everyone wants to do well here as Bells Beach is such an amphitheatre and we all want to perform. There’s always next year though, and I’ll just focus on the next event from here out.”

While the Rip Curl Women’s Pro has completed, the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers has yet to finish with the ASP Top 45 gearing up for a showdown of their own at Bells Beach.

Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro pres. by Snickers commenced at noon. Event officials are aiming to complete as many heats of the round as possible this afternoon. Another release covering the men’s portion of proceedings will be distributed this evening.

The Rip Curl Pro pres. by Snickers will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com

Rip Curl Women’s Pro pres. by Ford Fiesta Final Results:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.50
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.17

Rip Curl Women’s Pro pres. by Ford Fiesta Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.50 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) 10.17
SF 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.67 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 7.34

Rip Curl Women’s Pro pres. by Ford Fiesta Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 16.33 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 11.00
QF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.83 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 8.83
QF 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.17 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 12.16
QF 4: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.50 def. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.33

Current 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Rankings After Rip Curl Women’s Pro:
1. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2172 points
2. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 1560 points
3. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1524 points
4. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 1512 points
5. Layne Beachley (AUS) 1308 points
6. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 912 points
6. Megan Abubo (AUS) 912 points
6. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 912 points
9. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 732 points
9. Julia De La Rosa (PER) 732 points
11. Silvana Lima (BRA) 720 points
11. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 720 points
11. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 720 points
11. Serena Brooke (AUS) 720 points
11. Nicola Atherton (AUS) 720 points
16. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 552 points
17. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 540 points
17. Karina Petroni (USA) 540 points