ASP Dream Tour Qualification Comes Down to Billabong Pro Maui

Pictured: The world famous Honolua Bay is projected to awaken mid-week for the start of the Billabong Pro Maui.

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Sunday, December 7, 2008) – The Billabong Pro Maui, the final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, begins its waiting period tomorrow and the event will serve as last opportunity for surfers trying to requalify for the 2009 ASP Dream Tour as well as the deciding bout in the hunt for the 2008 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title (an ASP Specialty Series).

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, holds a narrow lead in the Triple Crown ratings, but is being closely stalked by newly-crowned two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 24.

Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22, 2008 rookie current No. 13 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, scored her career-best result at Sunset last week with a 4th place finish and will look to continue the momentum at the Billabong Pro Maui to ensure her place amongst the world’s best next season.

“Well, the ASP Women’s World Title has been clinched so I guess the focus is now on the final requalification spots,” Atherton said. “It’s a tough event because it’s the last roll of the dice for people sitting on the bubble. It’s hard not to feel a bit of pressure coming into Maui. I haven’t looked into the current points situation, but I know I need a solid result to keep a spot on tour.”

Atherton will face Gilmore and the surf-off winner in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Maui.

The 18th spot in the Billabong Pro Maui will be decided by a six-woman surf-off featuring Maui locals Lani Doherty, Monyca Byrne-Wickey, Melissa Proud, Alana Hendrickson and Oahu import Carissa Moore.

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Surfline.com, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Maui, are calling for a possible swell to come up Tuesday afternoon, meaning that the event could begin on Wednesday, December 10, 2008.

Event organizers will convene tomorrow at 7am tomorrow morning for a possible 8am start.

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Maui will run from December 8 – 20, 2008.

The Billabong Pro Maui will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

BILLABONG PRO MAUI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Nicola Atherton (AUS), TBA
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Megan Abubo (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 6: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Karina Petroni (USA)

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS: Following Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6348 points
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5233 points
3 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 5138 points
4 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 5006 points
5 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3882 points
6 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3871 points
7 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 3384 points
8 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 3320 points
9 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 3218 points
10 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2904 points
11 – Julia De La Rosa (PER) 2654 points
12 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 2616 points
13 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 2490 points
14 – Karina Petroni (USA) 2424 points
15 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2412 points
16 – Serena Brooke (AUS) 2094 points
17 – Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 2052 points
18 – Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 1272 points*

*First replacement on ASP Women’s World Tour