Credit: © ASP / SCHOLTZ

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, current ASP World No. 2, warming up at Back Beach for the start of the TSB Bank Women’s Surfing Festival. The Hawaiian will take on local Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, and rookie Lee Ann Curren (FRA), 20, in the opening round of competition.

Round 1 of the TSB Bank Women’s Surfing Festival has been called on at the backup venue of Arawhata Road, a 45 minute drive south of the main site of Fitzroy Beach, where offshore three foot (1 metre) waves are breaking along the righthand point.

Stop No. 3 on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the TSB Bank Surfing Festival will commence competition this morning with Round 1 hitting the water at 10am.

“We’ve relocated south and found some fun little righthanders at Arawhata Road and will begin Round 1 at 10am,” Dave Shipley, ASP Head Judge, said. “We’ll be looking to complete Round 1 with Rounds 2 and 3 on standby. With the dropping tide, we’re expecting conditions to improve but we’ll monitor throughout the day.”

Up first this morning will be Coco Ho (HAW), 18, against Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Amee Donohoe (AUS), 30, in the opening heat of the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival.

The TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival will be webcast LIVE via www.nzsurffestival.co.nz

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

TSB BANK WOMEN’S SURF FESTIVAL ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), Sarah Mason (NZL)
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Nikita Robb (ZAF)
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)