ASP Top 17 Release ‘Welcome to the Life'

COOLANGATTA, Australia (Tuesday, June 2, 2009) – While the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour is currently recharging in a mid-season break, the best female surfers in the world have been keeping busy. Launching today is the Official ASP Women’s World Tour Media Kit, dubbed “Welcome to the Life”, chronicling the 17 unique and beautiful faces that make up professional surfing’s finest.

For over 30 years, the dream of traveling the world and surfing exotic locations has been a reality for the world’s best female surfers as they follow the ASP Women’s World Tour, the most prestigious professional circuit in competitive surfing.

Heralding from all ends of the Earth – Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Brazil, Hawaii and South Africa – the ASP Top 17 is made up of a diverse and dynamic group of girls all looking to etch “ASP Women’s World Champion” next to their name.

Long recognized as a male dominated sport, today’s female surfers are giving their male counterparts a run for their money.

“The young crop this year has created a new era for women’s surfing,” Kelly Slater, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, said. “They’re younger, faster, more radical surfers, with good looks and great style to match. The girls on the 2009 tour now would challenge most of the guys surfing today – and that’s saying something.”

“I’d like to see more of them in the spotlight,” Slater said. “I don’t think there’s enough emphasis placed upon the enormous and diverse talent of each individual in surfing. This year’s Top 17 are particularly marketable, so it’s time we saw this happen.”

The ASP Top 17 travel year-round, competing in some of the most exotic and desirable venues on the planet. At the end of the season, the surfer who has accumulated the most points throughout the year seizes the prestigious honor of being crowned the ASP Women’s World Champion, a title that brings with it much prestige and adulation, opening doors and opportunities around the world.

Names like Tom Carroll, Tom Curren, Wendy Botha and Lisa Andersen dominated the sport in the 1990s, contributing to the rise of the surf lifestyle industry.

Today, two Australians, Layne Beachley (a record seven-times ASP Women’s World Champion) and reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, are synonymous with the progression of female surfing. While Beachley cemented herself as an icon within the sport, it is Gilmore leading the next generation of talent, exuding athleticism, vibrancy and femininity.

With two ASP Women’s World Titles and multiple endorsement deals at her helm, Gilmore knows firsthand how fortunate she is to form part of the ASP Top 17.

“The ASP Women’s World tour presents the most exciting, challenging and talented female surfers on the planet, taking the surfing lifestyle on a journey around the world, all with the quest to be crowned ASP Women’s World Champion,” Gilmore said.

Sharing the sentiments and dreams of the best in the world is South American icon and 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion Sofia Mulanovich.

“Being on tour is the most wonderful thing ever,” Mulanovich said. “You get to surf good waves, meet amazing people, experience different cultures and at the same time you do what you love, it is living the dream.”

The ASP Top 17 are dispersed across the globe in preparation for the next chapter in the ASP Women’s World Tour, when the Beachley Classic kicks off in Sydney Australia on September 30, followed by the Rip Curl Pro Search, Somewhere in the North Atlantic on October 26.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

TRIGG POINT, Western Australia (Sunday, May 31, 2009) – Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) today claimed his fourth consecutive ASP Australasia Pro Junior victory today, with a convincing win at the ASP Grade-4 Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Point, Western Australia. The $6000 winner’s cheque means that Wright has now won more prize money than any other surfer in the history of the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series.

At just 19 years of age, Wright now sits clearly on top of the ASP Australasia Pro Junior ratings, as well as holding down the No. 3 spot on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings.

The best surf of the event was saved for the Finals, where clean two feet waves allowed for some true high performance surfing, with all finalists stepping up to the challenge.

Wright’s scores in the 30 minute Final against Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach, QLD) reflect his total dominance of the three day event. He locked in a 9.50 ride in the opening minutes which set him up for the rest of the Final. He went on to score a back up 8.90 to finish with a combined total of 18.40 from a possible 20, the highest total for the entire event.

Wright’s razor sharp forehand attack was perfectly suited to the long lefthanders on offer, with his smooth style and trademark aerial manoeuvrers causing an eruption of applause from the crowds at Trigg Point. Wright was pushed by a determined Lane who persisted with a counter-attack and scored a combined total of 16.50 from a possible 20.

“I was stoked with the waves we had in the final,” Wright said. “We couldn’t have asked for much more. I was a bit worried that the surf was going to be small, especially after three weeks of pumping waves in Bali, but it turned out to be a great Final.”

In the women’s event, local girl Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys, WA) caused an upset to claim her first ASP Pro Junior win. Palmateer defeated event favourite Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) in the Semifinals and carried the momentum with her into the finals, where she defeated Angela Keighran (Mullaway, NSW). Palmateer nearly doubled the score of her rival in the finals, racking up a combined score of 14.25 out of a possible 20, Keighran didn’t look as comfortable at Palmateer’s home break, scoring a combined total of only 7.75.

After the great success of the 2009 Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Point, major sponsor Brownes Chill have solidified their commitment to junior surfing in WA, supporting a range of events over the course of the next two years.

Surfing WA Event Manager Justin Majeks said, “It’s great to have Chill on board for a long-term partnership, the brand is a great fit with surfing and their support is much appreciated. It’s important for WA to have an ASP sanctioned Pro Junior event and we’re all looking forward to an even bigger and better Chill Pro Junior in 2010.”

For all results and news from the weekend check out www.chillprojunior.com

TRIGG POINT, Western Australia (Saturday, May 30, 2009) – Ideal conditions continued into Day 2 of the Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Beach, Western Australia. With the swell remaining at one-to-two foot (1 metre), competitors made the most of the quality beachbreaks on offer and put on a show for the packed car park at Trigg Point.

Preliminary heats this morning were highlighted by the performances of Matt Baldock (Margaret River, WA), Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach, QLD) Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW), Perth Standlick (Bondi, NSW), Chris Friend (Alexander Headland, QLD) and Jack Freestone (Coolangatta, QLD), who all won their Round 2 heats with ease.

No one could match the intensity of Davey Cathels who surfed the morning’s best heat and was rewarded with a combined total of 15.50 out of a possible 20. Cathels, who is currently ranked third on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series, looks to be on track for a Finals appearance.

“The waves were slighty smaller than yesterday, but I managed to grab a few runners which I could open up on,” Cathels said.

He’ll have his work cut out for him when he meets Jordi Watson (Currarong, NSW), Cahill Bell-Warren (Bells Beach, VIC) and Regan Fredricks (Cabarita, NSW) in one of the standout heats of Round 4 which will run first thing tomorrow.

Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) won his Round 3 heat and confirmed his intentions of taking out his first ASP Pro Junior event for 2009. Bowen amassed a total of 13.25 to claim victory over Jesse Adam (Newle, NSW) who finished with a total of 13.20. The close encounter was what Bowen was looking for leading into the business end of the competition.

“It was a tough heat, there were a few good sets and Jesse and I were the only ones to find them,” Bowen said. “I’m feeling pretty comfortable out there and cant wait to surf again tomorrow.”

In the women’s event, the Quarterfinals were completed with local WA surfers Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys) and Laura Macaulay (Gracetown) both making it through to the Semifinals. Joining the West Australians will be Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) and Angela Keighran (Mullaway, NSW) who both survived close quarter final encounters.

With the swell expected to increase tomorrow the projection is looking promising leading into the Finals.

The Chill Pro Junior presented by the City of Stirling will continue tomorrow, Sunday 31st May at Trigg Point. Be sure to check the live action online at www.chillprojunior.com

 TRIGG POINT, Western Australia (Friday, May 29, 2009) – Day 1 of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-4 Chill Pro Junior commenced today at Trigg Point, Western Australia. Despite initial concerns over the size of the surf and some inconsistency, competitors were greeted with clean one-to-two foot (1 metre) quality right and lefthand waves which gave them ample opportunity to impress with some polished displays of surfing.

No. 1 seed, Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW)m asserted his authority with a convincing win in his opening heat. Wright opened his campaign with the typical flair and style that has him currently holding down first place on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior ratings. His wave ion and devastating forehand attack were enough to see him rewarded with the morning’s highest scoring wave, a 8.55 out of a possible 10. He went on to secure a back up 7.25 ride to finish with a combined total of 15.80 out of 20.

“The waves were pretty fun, although they were sort of slow at the start of the heat,” Wright said. “I managed to pick off a few good ones and get a few turns in so Im pretty happy.”

Owen joined Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) to take some time out to have a chat with local students attending learn to surf classes at Trigg beach. Arguably two of the best juniors in the world, Wright and Bowen still found the time to sign some autographs for admiring fans.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Wrights, with eldest of the two sisters Kirby progressing through to the next round. However, defending champion of the event Tyler Wright was eliminated by Angela Keighran (Mullaway, NSW) and Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown, WA) in her Round 1 heat.

Although Kirby scored an impressive 8.00 point ride in her heat, she had to settle for second behind Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys) who used her local knowledge to earn a win at her home beach.

West Aussies Jethro Hedstrom (Margaret River) and the Macaulay sisters, Laura and Bronte (Gracetown) also stepped up to the challenge and posted wins in their opening heats.

Other surfers to set the pace early on Day 1 included Max Ashyford (Matraville, NSW), who scored an 8.33 ride (out of a possible 10) for a series of forehand re-entries, which threw huge fans of spray. Ashyford will face Dean Bowen (NSW), Brad King (NSW) and Brad Edgar (NSW) when his round two heat hits the water later today.

The Chill Pro Junior presented by the City of Stirling will continue, Saturday 30th May at Trigg Point, WA and will run until Sunday 31st May, 2009.