By Press Team - Published on 14th July 2008

BIARRITZ, France (Friday, July 11, 2008) - The third edition of
the Roxy ASP Women's World Longboard Championships (WWLC) got
underway today at La Côôe des Basques in wind-blown two to three
foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves. With the high tide not allowing any
surf, the first competitors paddled out at 2 PM (GMT+1) and
sixteen heats were wrapped up for this first day of action.


© 2008 - ASP World Tour

Chelsea Williams (AUS), who placed equal 3rd in the Roxy ASP
WWLC last year, put on a show for her first appearence in the
event and ended up winning Heat 10 with a solid 14.75 point heat
result (out of a possible 20), including an excellent 8.75 point
ride (out of a possible 10). Williams, who has been a top female
longboarder for a couple of years now, showed other competitors
whe was in excellent form and aiming at a big result.

"My first wave was fantastic, very long, so I could do a lot of
moves on it", Williams said. "I am stoked to have this excellent
point ride, and I will feel more confident for the following
heat."

Williams, who defeated European longboarders Estitxu Estremo
(EUK) and Caroline Angibeaud (FRA), advances through to Round 3
and avoids the sudden-death round scheduled for tomorrow.

Jennifer Smith (USA), reigning ASP Women's World Longboard
Champion, was much awaited for her start in the event and came
close to a second place finish in Heat 8. Smith, who was surfing
against Kelly Nicely (USA) and Event Wildcard Ophelie Ah-Kouen
(REU), was out of rhythm in the messy ocean and had to wait for
a last-second ride to jump in first and avoid Round 2.

"I totally freaked out when I started to surf because the flag
did not turn and I did not hear anything", Smith said. "I was very
nervous but I am stoked now. It is going to be very hard to
defend the title because the surfing level is much higher than
last year."

Crystal Dzigas (HAW) was a winner as well today when she
defeated Emma Wilson (AUS) and Kirsty Webster (AUS) in a low
scoring Heat 6. Dzigas, 2007 ASP Women's World Longboard Tour No.
5, paddled out in the outgoing tide conditions and secured her
win thanks to her two last rides to finish with a 9.90 point
heat total (out of a possible 20).

"I was very nervous in the water and fortunatly I did not hear
the results during the heat", Dzigas said. "Physically I feel very
good but psychologically I am a bit under stress because my goal
is to do better than last year. I finished 5th, so it is going
to be hard to do but I have to be more confident, I believe I
can do it."

Schuyler McFerran (USA), 2006 ASP Women's World Longboard
Champion, suffered an unexpected Round 2 relegation when she
placed third to Isabelle Braly (FRA) and famous Honolulu rising
surfer Carissa Moore (HAW). McFerran, who placed equal 9th last
year in Biarritz, will have to find her way out of her
one-on-one encounter against Marianne Bellegarde (FRA) when
competition resumes tomorrow.

Carissa Moore (HAW), who will be surfing in the ASP Grade-2
Women's Roxy Pro Junior from Monday, July 14, managed to advance
through to Round 3 today and enjoyed her first paddle-out in the
French Basque water.

"This is my first contest here and I am still nervous", Moore
said. "I know everything can change, I am not used to this spot
and it is hard to surf with the tides but I am riding
my favorite longboard and stoked I won the first heat."

Justine Dupont (FRA), who finished runner-up in 2007 behind
Smith, led the 10-surfer French contingent winning her first
encounter with a promissing 13.50 point heat total (out of a
possible 20) but had to use tactics against an inform Karina
Abras (BRA) who was relegated to Round 2.

" I don't know what happened, I was very stressed and could not
focus hard enough", Dupont said. "I was nervous and shaking all
heat long and found rhythm in the end only."

Dupont, 16, a favorite for the Roxy ASP crown, was relieved to
secure a Round 1 win and will enjoy her time off to relax before
she starts with the one-on-one match-ups in Round 3.

"I tried my best to concentrate and wanted to get confidence
back", Dupont said. "That last wave came right on time and I knew
it was the one that would make me win the heat. I am relieved
now."

Thirty-two girls will meet tomorrow Saturday, July 12, at 8 AM
(GMT+1) for a possible Round 2 start at La Cote des Basques.

All news, results and photos available at www.roxyjam.com and
www.aspworldtour.com

UPCOMING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Julie Cox (USA) Vs Ophelie Ah-Kouen (REU)
Heat 2 : Schuyler Mc Ferran (USA) Vs Marianne Bellegarde (FRA)
Heat 3 : Leah Dawson (USA) Vs Caroline Angibeaus (FRA)
Heat 4 : Selby Riddle (AUS) Vs Georgia Young (AUS)
Heat 5: Claire Karabatsos (FRA) Vs Emma Wilson (AUS)
Heat 6: Kelly Nicely (USA) Vs Alizee Stoklosa (FRA)
Heat 7: Karina Abras (BRA) Vs Justine Mauvin (FRA)
Heat 8: Estitxu Estremo (EUK) Vs Yoko Furuchi (JPN)
Heat 9: Cristiana Pires (BRA) Vs Marloes V Elswijk (NDL)
Heat 10: Kirsty Webster (AUS) Vs Sarah Baum (ZAF)
Heat 11: Helene Chabeaud (FRA) Vs Marine Ah-Kouen (REU)
Heat 12: Sabrina Olas (BRA) Vs Rachel Barry (USA)
Heat 13: Isabelle Braly (FRA) Vs Candice OÃ¥onnel (GBR)
Heat 14: Claire Dereux (FRA) Vs Kelly Coward (USA)
Heat 15: Emma Neuschwanger (REU) Vs Gaelle Szymkowiak (FRA)
Heat 16: Rachel Wadoux (FRA) Vs Nathalie Destendau (FRA)

ROUND 1 RESULTS

Heat 1 : Kelia Moniz (HAW) 11.25 pts, Leah Dawson (USA) 9.50
pts, Yoko Furuchi (JPN) 5.30 pts
Heat 2 : Kassia Meador (USA) 9.75 pts, Claire Dereux (FRA) 8.30
pts, Justine Mauvin (REU) 4.45 pts
Heat 3 : Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.00 pts, Isabelle Braly (AUS)
10.40 pts, Schuyler Mc Ferran (USA)10.10 pts
Heat 4 : Jennifer Flanningan (USA) 6.00 pts, Alizee Stoklosa
(FRA) 5.55 pts, Sabrina Olas (BRA) 5.00 pts
Heat 5 : Roxy Towill (ZAF) 9.10 pts, Julie Cox (USA) 6.80 pts,
Helene Chabeaud (FRA) 4.35 pts
Heat 6 : Crystal Dzigas (HAW) 9.90 pts, Emma Wilson (AUS) 7.00
pts, Kristy Webster (AUS) 6.35 pts
Heat 7 : Joy Monahan (HAW) 11.85 pts, Georgia Young (AUS) 8.50
pts, Cristiana Pires (BRA) 8.25 pts
Heat 8 : Jennifer Smith (USA) 13.50 pts, Kelly Nicely (USA)
11.40 pts, Ophelie Ah-Kouen (REU) 5.30 pts
Heat 9 : Justine Dupont (FRA) 13.50 pts, Karina Abras (BRA)
11.25 pts, Marianne Bellegrade (FRA) 6.10 pts
Heat 10 : Chelsea Williams (AUS) 14.75 pts, Estitxu Estremo
(ESP) 8.90 pts, Caroline Angibeaud (FRA) 6.55 pts
Heat 11 : Coline Menard (FRA) 10.50 pts, Emma Neuschwanger (REU)
7.75 pts, Marloes V Elswijk (NDL) 3.00 pts
Heat 12 : Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 9.25 pts, Selby Riddle (AUS)
6.90 pts, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 5.40 pts
Heat 13 : Yuko Shimajiri (JPN) 7.00 pts, Marine Ah-Kouen (REU)
3.10 pts, Rachel Wadoux (FRA)
Heat 14 : Miku Uemura (HAW) 11.50 pts, Nathalie Destandau (FRA)
7.00 pts, Rachel Barry (USA) 5.90 pts
Heat 15 : Myriam Imaz (ESP) 9.65 pts, Claire Karabatsos (FRA)
8.95 pts, Candice OÃ¥onnell (GBR) 5.35 pts
Heat 16 :Kailtin Maguire (USA) 14.50 pts, Kelly Coward (USA)
8.10 pts, Gaelle Szymkowiak (FRA) 4.35 pts