Billabong Pro Maui: Good Things Come in Three's
Three is her lucky number: today Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, won her third consecutive Billabong Pro Maui title, matching her three consecutive world titles – all in her first three years on the World Tour. This year, she will bring the Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing trophy back to Australia as well.
“Once again, Maui has just been incredible and to win this event three times in a row is just awesome,” Gilmore said. “I couldn’t have been happier with the way things have gone today. Winning the Vans Triple Crown is definitely up there with winning the World Title and it’s definitely one of the biggest accolades of surfing professionally. I can’t believe it’s all happening again, it’s awesome.”
To win the Billabong Pro title, Gilmore took out world champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, in the finals in clean four-six foot surf (1.5 metre) at Honolua Bay on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii.
“It’s been a great day,” Mulanovich said. “Congratulations to Steph (Gilmore). She’s a champ and a hero to all of us and thanks to the sponsors of the event and my family and friends. It’s been a great event.”
The Billabong Pro launched Tuesday, with eight-foot (2.5 metre) surf, proving once again that the Hawaii leg on the ASP tour is heavy and surfers must be prepared to tackle some of the biggest waves of the year.
To match the big waves, Gilmore reviewed her quiver and took a leap of faith by selecting a board different from her competitors. “I’m not even here to do turns,” Gilmore said. “I’m probably on a way bigger board than all of the other girls, but it’s a place where you can take a really nice drop and get all stylish and try and pull into the tube.” The board proved fit- Gilmore scored 18.80 points out of 20 in round 3. On the second day of competition the Australian scored an impressive 19.67 points out of 20.
Honolua Bay also represents the last chance for WQS surfers to qualify for the WCT for 2010, as well as surfers already on the tour to re-qualify. Here are the final standings at the close of the 2009 World Tour:
Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Final:
1 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.00
2 - Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.17
Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.03 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.94
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.83 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.70
Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.83 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.83
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 19.67 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.26
Heat 3: Silvana Lima 16.70 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.20
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.77 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 6.50
Final 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2. Silvana Lima (BRA)
3. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4. Coco Ho (HAW)
5. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
6. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
7. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
8. Paige Hareb (NZL)
9. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
10. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
11. Samantha Cornish (AUS)
12. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
13. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
14. Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
16. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
17. Megan Abubo (HAW)
18. Layne Beachley (AUS)
