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(December 12, 2003)
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Beachley Claims Unprecedented Sixth
Consecutive World Title
Samantha Cornish Wins Billabong Pro Maui
Honolua
Bay, Maui (December 12, 2003) Australian Layne Beachley
today set an unprecedented record by winning her sixth consecutive ASP
world title. Samantha Cornish (Aus) then defeated her to win the
Billabong Pro Maui final. The US$60,000 Women's World Championship
Tournament (WCT) commenced with round three this morning and then ran
all the way through for an epic finale this afternoon.
Perfect 4-5 ft (1.5m) waves were again
on offer at Honolua, with clean barrels racing along the picturesque
righthand point break. Another beautiful sunny day provided the ideal
backdrop as the world's best female surfers performed.
The pressurized day was full of drama
as each round unfolded with world title scenarios on the line and the
all-important ratings race nearing its conclusion. As the quarterfinals
wound up virtually all contenders still remained, yet it was during the
semifinals history was created.
Beachley secured her finals
berth and then nervously watched from the shoreline as ratings leader
Keala Kennelly (Kauai, Haw) did battle in the second semi. The Kauaian
needed to advance to keep the dream alive, and was forced to play
catch-up throughout following opponent Cornish's initial 7.5 score. A
determined Kennelly never gave up however, and the 25-year-old came
within the closest of margins. Requiring a 7.46 toward the end, she
posted a 7.4 with some great backhand re-entries. Having narrowed the
gap, she then needed another 6.61, but on her final ride only earned a
4.75 and the racewas over.
For 31-year-old Beachley, the
moment signified becoming surfing's only six-time consecutive world
champion - a feat even Kelly Slater (FL, USA) didn't achieve. The
record-breaking year commenced with a win on Australia's Gold Coast in
March, and then she secured a runner-up placing in France last WCT,
before glory poured upon her this afternoon.
"Oh my god," began Beachley,
with tears in her eyes as friends and media gathered. "I can't
believe this. It's been quite an emotional year. I started so strong and
then took a dive in the middle of the season, but I've come back at the
end. I guess that's what it takes to be a world champion, you just never
give up and I haven't. I'm really fired up to come back next year and
try and win seven.
"This is my sixth consecutive
world title and it creates history cause no other surfer in the history
of ASP has done this," she continued. "Even though Kelly won
six, he didn't win them consecutively, so this is a new one for the
record books. It's such an amazing achievement and something I'm still
in complete disbelief over. I'm really happy and so thankful for all the
support of my friends and family, especially throughout the last few
days. And of course thanks to Sam for winning that last heat
(laughs)."
When the 35-minute final got underway
soon after, it was all back to business though. Beachley created
a commanding lead and appeared set to finally win a Billabong Pro Maui
title. Cornish changed everything however, earning a near-perfect 9.5
and ultimately another 5.8 score last wave to seal her maiden WCT
victory.
Having also equaled the highest total
of the event for 17.75-points this morning, 23-year-old Cornish
announced her intentions early and locked in the #5 position on the
ratings with the fantastic result.
"It's unbelievable," began
Cornish. "Layne winning the world title today and for me to come
out on top in the final... Today was one of the best days of my life. I
got so many perfect barrels and had such a great time here. I didn't
even feel like I was surfing in a contest.
"When she created a bit of a lead
I was thinking maybe it wouldn't happen, but then I got that 9.5 and it
spurred me on to dig deep," she continued. "It came through at
the end, so I'm really happy. I guess I've paid my dues the last two
years on the WCT and gained experience. Hopefully next year I'll have
enough to get off to a good start and go for a world title."
For Beachley, this was a
runner-up finish she could take smiling. Having posted her first perfect
10 on the opening ride of this year's Billabong Pro Maui and then
sealing the ratings race, she graciously accepted one title slipping
from grasp.
"I was really keen to win the
event and top off such an amazing day," admitted Beachley.
"I was surprised Sam scored a 9.5, but she was surfing extremely
well and we both put on a strong performance. Maybe I was a little too
relaxed in the final? The waves were really good and it went right down
to the wire. At the end of the day I've won six world titles and she's
won her first event."
Equal third today were Kennelly and
Heather Clark (SAfr). For the Kauaian - who posted two wins this year in
Fiji and then the following Billabong Pro Teahupoo event in Tahiti, for
a commanding lead - today's result was a bitter blow after months of
anticipation. Nonetheless, the 25-year-oldsurfed valiantly in the
deciding match and proved a true champion in defeat.
"It all came down to this day and
was pretty amazing," began Kennelly. "Everybody in contention
made the quarters onwards and there was unreal surfing, so it was
exciting stuff. If you were going to win the world title you definitely
had to earn it today. That heat with Sam was close. She got an early
lead and I came back strong at the end, but just didn't seem to get the
scores. There's always next year and good on her (Layne). She earned it
today.
"The Triple Crown was the last of
my thoughts," she acknowledged, when told she'd won the prestigious
Triple Crown of Surfing award for her combined efforts over the past
three Hawaiian events. "It was all about the world title today, but
at least I won something (laughs). About time a Hawaiian won the
Hawaiian Triple Crown."
South African Clark regained third
position on the ratings with her fourth semifinal finish at Honolua.
Against Beachley she trailed a commanding lead after the champs' early
8.5 ride, but did manage to fight back and only required a 7.5 score
towards the end. Unfortunately nothing broke during the last 3-minutes.
"I'm glad we had waves," said
Clark. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy coming up against Layne
out here, especially after seeing that barrel yesterday. She got a 10
but I thought it was more like a 12 (laughs). This is my fourth year
I've got a third here, so I'm consistent and pretty happy with that.
Obviously I wanted to make the final and maybe win a 'CT, but I'll be
back next year. My goal coming here, if I couldn't win a title, was to
finish third on the ratings, so I'm stoked."
Finishing equal fifth in the Billabong
Pro Maui were 1993 world champ and last year's event runner-up Pauline
Menczer (Byron Bay, Aus), 1999 event winner Trudy Todd (Gold Coast,
Aus), Melanie Redman-Carr (West Aus) and Chelsea Georgeson (Aus).
Todd posted the highest combined heat
score of the event against an equally in-form Rochelle Ballard (Haw) for
17.75-points this morning, but then lost a nail-biting match with Beachley
in the quarterfinals.
Georgeson was a dark horse for the
world title leading into the Billabong Pro Maui rated third, having won
the previous WCT in France. Super dangerous on her backhand, the 2002
ASP 'Rookie of the Year' was ultimately stopped by a rampaging Cornish,
needing an additional score worth 7.85-points. The goofy footer
unfortunately fell on one good wave near the end and there lost her
chance.
"It's a bit of a shame I blew my
chance at the title, but there's always next year," said Georgeson.
"I'm stoked with how things worked out this year. I won my first
WCT, so everything from then was a bonus."
Defending Billabong Pro Maui champion
Jacqueline Silva (Brz) was eliminated in round three this morning by
Menczer, while then ratings #5 Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) also lost to
Cornish and also placed 9th overall.
Billabong Pro Maui Final Results
1st Samantha Cornish (Aus) 15.3 - US$10,000
2nd Layne Beachley (Aus) 15.0 - US$6,000
Semifinals (1st>Final; 2nd=3rd
receives US$4,000)
SF1: Layne Beachley (Aus) 15.0 def. Heather Clark (SAfr) 14.6
SF2: Samantha Cornish (Aus) 14.0 def. Keala Kennelly (Haw) 13.95
Quarterfinals (1st>Semifinals;
2nd=5th receives US$3,000)
QF1: Heather Clark (SAfr) 16.5 def. Pauline Menczer (Aus) 11.25
QF2: Layne Beachley (Aus) 14.1 def. Trudy Todd (Aus) 12.65
QF3: Keala Kennelly (Haw) 15.0 def. Melanie Redman-Carr (Aus) 6.9
QF4: Samantha Cornish (Aus) 16.6 def. Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 12.75
Round Three (1st>Quarterfinals;
2nd=9th receives US$2,500)
H1: Heather Clark (SAfr) 14.25 def. Marie Pierre Abgrall (Fra) 7.5
H2: Pauline Menczer (Aus) 11.65 def. Jacqueline Silva (Brz) 11.15
H3: Trudy Todd (Aus) 17.75 def. Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 16.15
H4: Layne Beachley (Aus) 14.75 def. Julia Christian (USA) 6.75
H5: Keala Kennelly (Haw) 9.25 def. Kate Skarratt (Aus) 8.75
H6: Melanie Redman-Carr (Aus) 14.75 def. Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 8.4
H7: Samantha Cornish (Aus) 17.75 def. Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 8.35
H8: Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 16.15 def. Megan Abubo (Haw) 15.25
2003 ASP Ratings After Billabong Pro
Maui, WCT #5/5
1. Layne Beachley (Aus) 3,696-points
2. Keala Kennelly (Haw) 3,516
3. Heather Clark (SAfr) 3,240
4. Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 3,060
5. Samantha Cornish (Aus) 2,664
6. Trudy Todd (Aus) 2,436
7. Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 2,424
8. Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 2,220
9. Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 2,052
10. Jacqueline Silva (Brz) 2,028
[Source: Association of
Surfing Professionals (ASP), Jesse Faen, International Media Manager, jesse@aspworldtour.com,
C: +61-(0)-407-189-289; Billabong, Kim Peterson, Group Communications
Director, E: kim@billabong-usa.com,
C: (949) 300-5546; Hotline: +1-(808)-665-1092.]
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