HONOLUA BAY, Maui — The upcoming Billabong Pro Maui at the world-famous Honolua Bay from December 8 to 20 will culminate the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, proving pivotal for girls looking to requalify for next year’s Dream Tour as
HONOLUA BAY, Maui — The upcoming Billabong Pro Maui at the world-famous Honolua Bay from December 8 to 20 will culminate the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, proving pivotal for girls looking to requalify for next year’s Dream Tour as well as those in the hunt for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title.
Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore, defending Billabong Pro Maui Champion, collected her historic second consecutive ASP women’s world title on Monday at Sunset Beach and now has her eyes on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title, sitting a scant 50 points out of the lead.
“I suppose I’m still letting the ASP women’s world title thing sink in, but the season isn’t over yet and I’m frothing to get over to Maui to defend my event title,” Gilmore said. “The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title is easily the next best thing to a world title. Proving yourself in Hawai‘i, in sizable surf, is really satisfying and I’m looking to do well at Honolua.”
Layne Beachley, former seven-time ASP women’s world champion and current ratings leader on the 2008 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series, made the finals at Hale‘iwa and the semifinals at Sunset Beach to put herself in excellent position to clinch the Specialty Series title, but knows that there are several girls in the hunt.
“A win at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing would be a swan song for me,” Beachley said. “I have been coming to Hawai‘i for so many years and I love surfing here. I’ve won the Vans Triple Crown twice and to make it a three-peat would be fantastic.”
Beachley, who has called 2008 her last season as a full-time competitor on the ASP women’s world tour, would love nothing more than to finish strong in Hawai‘i, a venue that has cemented the iconic natural-footer’s place in surfing history.
“A lot of people have been asking if I am reflecting at events now that this is my last full season,” Beachley said. “It’s impossible not to, but it’s certainly not at the forefront of my mind. I know that although this is my last season in Hawai‘i as a full-time competitor, it’s certainly not my last season coming here to surf these waves. I’m taking the stance that the last events of the season will not define my career and I am looking forward to surfing well in Maui.”
Jessi Miley-Dyer, last year’s Billabong Pro Maui runner-up and current No. 7 on the ASP women’s world tour, put in her season-best performance on Monday at Sunset Beach, finishing third. A former winner at the Billabong Pro Maui (2005), Miley-Dyer hopes to repeat and finish the season on a high note.
“I had a rough start to the year with my injury and a couple of average results,” Miley-Dyer said. “I’m stoked to be back in Hawai‘i and I love the waves here. My knee/shin injury feels like it’s finally coming good and I’m looking forward to the Billabong Pro Maui. Hopefully we get some solid surf and I can have a strong finish to 2008.”
