RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Wednesday, September 10, 2008) – Round 1 of the Billabong Girls Pro Rio will hit the water this morning at 10:15am in clean three-foot (1 metre) waves at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro.
Event No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Girls Pro Rio is set to play a pivotal part in the race for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title as well as the requalification campaigns for the 2009 Dream Tour.
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We will be running Round 1 with Round 2 on standby,” Brooke Farris, ASP Women’s World Tour Manager, said. “
Solid matchups in all six heats of Round 1 with the girls eager to find their feet in Rio and some vital mid tour ratings points.”
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour rating, will face the explosive Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, and wildcard Tita Tavares (BRA), 32, in Heat 3.
Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 2 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour will take on stylish South African Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, and wily veteran Serena Brooke (AUS), 32, in Heat 4.
Samantha Cornish (AUS), 27, defending event champion, has had a solid year thus far and will be looking to claim her first event win of 2008. The competition-savvy natural-footer will face Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 29, and Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), 33, in Heat 2.
First up will be Amee Donohoe (AUS), 27, up against winner of yesterday’s ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star event Rebecca Woods (AUS), 23, and Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER), 26.
The Billabong Girls Pro Rio will be webcast LIVE via
www.billabongpro.com/rio08 beginning at 10:15am.
For more information, log onto
www.aspworldtour.comBillabong Girls Pro Rio Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Tita Tavares (BRA)
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 5: Layne Beachley (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW), Karina Petroni (USA)
Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
