Another Lay Day Called for Billabong Girls Pro Rio, Storm Coming

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Saturday, September 13, 2008) – Another lay day has been called for the Billabong Girls Pro Rio with competitors and event organizers opting not to run in the one-to-two foot (0.5) metre waves on offer this morning at Barra da Tijuca Beach in Rio De Janeiro.




Event No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Gils Pro Rio has already seen some standout performances from local Brazilians Silvana Lima, 23, and Jacqueline Silva, 29, and with an impending storm forecast to move in this afternoon, event organizers are hopeful that competition will resume tomorrow.

“We’re experiencing the calm before the storm right now,” Brooke Farris, ASP Women’s World Tour Manager said. “It’s supposed to roll in this afternoon and pick the swell up so hopefully we come back tomorrow and are greeted with some more waves.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 3 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, is in the running Kustom Best Wave Award with her 9.00 out of a possible 10 single-wave score from Round 3. Beachley will face the ever-dangerous Lima in Quarterfinal 4.

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion and current No 2 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, has been putting time in the past two mornings despite the small conditions to prepare for her battle against Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, in Quarterfinal 3 when competition resumes.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, eliminated lethal wildcard Maria Tita Tavares (BRA), 32, in Round 3 and will face teammate Silva in Quarterfinal 2.

When Billabong Girls Pro Rio competition resumes, defending event champion Samantha Cornish (AUS), 27, will be up against Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, in Quarterfinal 1.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 8am.

The Billabong Girls Pro Rio will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com/rio08

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Girls Pro Rio Quarterfinal Match-Ups:

Quarterfinal 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Quarterfinal 2: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Quarterfinal 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Quarterfinal 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Layne Beachley (AUS)

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