(May 1, 2002)

Mulanovich Dominates Opening Day
Roxy Pro Fiji

TAVARUA ISLAND, FIJI  (May 1, 2002) Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) today dominated the Roxy Pro Fiji by winning the event Trials and then overcame current world #1 Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) and Heather Clark (SAfr) to advance straight into round three. All first and second round heats were completed this afternoon in the US$60,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT).

Perfect 4-6 ft (1.5-2m) surf persisted throughout the day, with offshore winds creating a picturesque lineup.

Mulanovich, 18, was always the favorite leading into today's Trials. Having narrowly missed a spot on this year's WCT, and after winning both the 2001 event Trials, as well as the Roxy Pro Trials on Australia's Gold Coast earlier this year, the young Peruvian completely dominated Adelina Taylor (Canary Is.), Stacy Holt (Aus) and Veronica Kay (USA), who finished in that order respectively.

Later, against MacKenzie and Clark in round one, she again put her powerful backhand attack into overdrive, selecting superior waves and bashing the critical lips all the way down the line. She will now face MacKenzie
head-to-head; since the Australian survived her round two clash this afternoon.

"I felt really good in that heat and the waves were insane," said Mulanovich, after her second victory. "You could catch one of the best waves of your life out there. It's so beautiful and perfect here, like a dream.

"So stoked I made it out of the trials," she continued. "I think these trials events are helping me. I didn't qualify (last year) for a reason, as maybe I needed more experience. I didn't care who I had in that last heat
though."

World #2 and last year's event runner-up Melanie Redman-Carr (Aus) put in an outstanding performance to defeat Keala Kennelly (Haw) and fellow Australian Serena Brooke. Leading from the outset, she solidified her position with a 9.0 ride on her final wave, the best single score of the day, to post the
highest total for 23.5-points. Having recently won a World Qualifying Series (WQS) tournament at her home break in Western Australia, the 26 year old is displaying superb form.

"I was confident then," said Redman-Carr. "I knew Keala would be going for barrels, so I kept on the lookout for them as well. There wasn't many though, so I just did turns on my waves.

"That last wave was pretty rare," she explained. "A bigger one that peeled slowly and was good for turns the whole way. I was actually waiting to get barreled, as I know the judges want to see that, but I kept doing turns as the section never came."

Four-time world champion Lisa Andersen (USA) overcame current four-time titleholder Layne Beachley (Aus), as well as tour newcomer Amee Donohoe (Aus). In what proved a fairly one-sided affair, Andersen held the lead throughout, as her opponents were unable to secure a strong third scoring wave.

"To be honest, I wasn't even paying attention to her," said Andersen, of opponent Beachley. "I was just excited to be in the lineup. This is the third time I've been to Tavarua and it's been flat previously, so this is
great to actually get some surf. I think I was more concerned with just staying safe and not hitting the reef. It doesn't really matter who you have in your heat, as they're all hard.

"There's nowhere quit like this and we're very fortunate to be here," added the 33 year old mother of two. "It's probably the best contest I've everbeen in."

World #9 Maria 'Tita' Tavares won her opening match after a two-wave count back was necessary to separate her scores from fellow Brazilian Jacqueline Silva. Tour newcomer Samantha Cornish (Aus) was also close, but had to settle for third place. Tavares, who missed the year's first WCT due to a broken ankle, was extremely pleased just to be back in the water, let alone winning heats.

"I'm very happy to make it 'cause I missed the first WCT," said Tavares. "I broke my ankle doing a floater (surfing maneuver), and the doctor told me I had to stay out of the water for 25 days. Thanks to Jesus I'm back now, and my coach is also here helping me."

Tour newcomer Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) continued her maiden WCT season on track, outscoring defending Roxy Pro Fiji champion Megan Abubo (Haw) and Neridah Falconer (Aus). The 18 year old was overjoyed with conditions, unable to wipe the smile off her face afterward.

"I was pretty relaxed," began Georgeson. "Megan won the contest last year and I knew it was going to be a tough heat, so I just tried to catch those waves with the open faces. I had a lot of fun.

"I've never surfed in a contest on a left-hander like this in my life," added the goofy-footer. "I've only ever surfed beach breaks and right-handers, so this is pretty much a dream for me."

Australian tour veterans Pauline Menczer and Neridah Falconer were the only surfers eliminated from the Roxy Pro Fiji today. Both lost their first heats, and then placed third in the 'losers' second round.

Official Results of the Roxy Pro Fiji

Round One (third place moves into round two)
H1: Kate Skarratt (Aus) 20.4; Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 15.75; Pauline Menczer (Aus) 15.4
H2: Melanie Redman-Carr (Aus) 23.5; Keala Kennelly (Haw) 19.15; Serena Brooke (Aus) 10.4
H3: Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 22.65; Heather Clark (SAfr) 18.75; Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 15.0
H4: Lisa Andersen (USA) 17.55; Layne Beachley (Aus) 11.9; Amee Donohoe (Aus) 10.75
H5: Maria Tavares (Brz) 12.4; Jacqueline Silva (Brz) 12.4; Samantha Cornish (Aus) 11.6
H6: Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 15.0; Megan Abubo (Haw) 14.0; Neridah Falconer(Aus) 8.9

Round Two (first two place getters progress)
H1: Serena Brooke (Aus) 15.65; Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 15.65; Pauline Menczer (Aus) 11.7
H2: Samantha Cornish (Aus) 19.75; Amee Donohoe (Aus) 19.55; Neridah Falconer (Aus) 17.78

Trials Final
Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 23.25; Adelina Taylor (Canary Is.) 11.5; Stacy Holt (Aus) 11.4; Veronica Kay (USA) 9.35

Further Information and Surfer Profiles: www.aspworldtour.com & www.quiksilver.com  Media numbers onsite: +679-65-11-(125), or (126) and (127).

Kirk Willcox - Media/Marketing Manager, Quiksilver International kirk.willcox@quiksilver.com.au, Ph (Aus): +61-(0)-2-9973-5555

Complimentary digital images will be available to all newspapers, websites, and magazines. Contact Pierre Tostee/ASP World Tour Photographer: tostee@aspworldtour.com

[Source: Jesse Faen, Media Director, ASP Int'l, jesse@aspworldtour.com, www.aspworldtour.com, Mobile (Aus): +61-(0)-407-189-289, ASP Office (Aus): +61-(0)-755-991-550]