BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Saturday, April 23, 2011) –Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 20, claimed her maiden ASP Women’s World Title event win today after a hard-fought Final with current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, taking out the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta over and firmly announcing herself as a threat to the 2011 ASP World Title race.
The second stop of the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title season, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach enjoyed some of the best conditions ever offered to the ASP Top 17, culminating in this afternoon’s epic clash in glassy three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves at Rincon.
Fitzgibbons, who earlier knocked off four time world champion Stephanie Gilmore 18.37 to 12.60 in their semi-final, scored 16.77 to beat Moore's 15.40 in the decider.
It was a particularly sweet win for Fitzgibbons, who finished runner-up at tour events THREE times last year. This is the Australian's third year on tour and she finished runner-up to Gilmore in last year's title race.
Fitzgibbons who was face painted (as all Rip Curl Champions traditionally are) by the local Aboriginal Wathaurong Community said the moment was surreal.
Adding further significance to Fitzgibbons' triumph, it is the 50th anniversary of competition at Bells Beach and the fact that her father Martin Fitzgibbons promised to shave off his famous mow when Sally posted her first ASP world tour win.
Moore continued her world title campaign here at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, only falling short to Fitzgibbons in the Final. The gracious Hawaiian remains firmly in the driver’s seat in this year’s hunt for the ASP Women’s World Title, and will look to further cement her position at next week’s event in New Zealand.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 23, reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion, enjoyed more of a return to form at Bells Beach, but the former three-time event winner was unable to overcome a rampaging Fitzgibbons in their Semifinal clash. Today’s Equal 3rd place finish has Gilmore sitting in ASP Women’s World No. 4 heading into the New Zealand event.
Gilmore said Fitzgibbons was just too good today and is well aware she has her work cut out for her in this years world title race.
Silvana Lima (BRA), 26, past event winner, put on a valiant effort in today’s conditions but ultimately fell to eventual winner Moore in her Semifinal. Lima failed to find her quarterfinal form that saw her post a 9.5 ride to eliminate fellow South American Sofia Mulanovich (Peru).
The next stop on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title season will be the Subaru Pro TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival in Taranaki, New Zealand from April 27 – May 1, 2011.
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.77
2 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.40
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.10 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.60
SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.37 def Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.60
Full report at : Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
