Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
News ASP Top 17 Descend Upon Victoria for Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
[Last year's Champion Stephanie Gilmore]
Best surfers in the world converge upon Victoria
by Dave Prodan
12/03/2008:// Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour will see the best surfers in the world converge upon Victoria for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach running from Mar. 19 – 24, 2008.
Coming just weeks after the season-opener on the Gold Coast, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will see the ASP Top 17 battle it out in the idyllic setting of Torquay, determining who will come out on top and ring the bell.
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), current ratings leader on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, is riding a high after her recent victory at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast and will be the woman to beat heading into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
“I feel great and winning on the Gold Coast was really amazing for me,” Mulanovich said. “I have never done well there before, so to win was one of my best victories. I feel confident and ready to go compete in all kinds of waves.”
Mulanovich, who won the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Bells Beach in 2005, has always been a threat at the venue and will look to consolidate on her early lead this season.
“I love Bells as it reminds me a lot to the waves of Punta Hermosa where I live,” Mulanovich said. “I always have a good vibe when I am there. I’m not thinking about the world title yet as it is still early in the season, but I am hoping for a strong result at Bells.”
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), reigning ASP Women’s World Champion, surfed brilliantly in the opening rounds on the Gold Coast, but stumbled when ousted by Trials Winner Carissa Moore (HAW). Gilmore will hope to improve upon her equal 9th place finish in the opening event and defend her title at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
“There are a lot of girls on tour this season that can be considered threats,” Gilmore said. “It’s not going to be an easy season, but I’m just taking things one heat at a time, one event at a time.”
Megan Abubo (HAW), who took out the ASP Women’s World Tour event at Bells Beach in 2000, had a banner end to 2007, and took her incredible level of surfing to the Gold Coast, where she netted some of the highest scores throughout the opening round of competition.
“I worked with my trainer and did core training when my got my ribs finally healed which is the most important thing for me.” Abubo said. “I did lots of cardio and have been eating well. I was surfing a lot at home during the off season and working on my boards with my shaper Eric Arakawa.”
Abubo finished an equal 9th on the Gold Coast, but will look to use her years of competitive experience to post a solid result at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
“The big advantage of being a veteran is that you've been there, done that,” Abubo said. “You know what to expect and you’re comfortable in your own shoes and nothing really fazes you. Girls start asking you for advice and you see rookies make hideous mistakes in and out of the water. I love the knowledge that is stored in my head right now. As long as I can physically keep up with the younger girls, which I can honestly say is fine because I am fitter than I have ever been.”
Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), who narrowly missed out on requalifying for this season’s Dream Tour, will don the singlet once again in Bells, this time competing for Melanie Bartels (HAW) who has withdrawn from the event. Bevilacqua managed an equal 9th place finish at last month’s Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as a replacement for Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), and will look to improve upon her year thus far in Victoria.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach begins its waiting period on Mar. 19, 2008.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com
Briton Russell Winter's run in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal came to an abrupt end when the Cornisman finished last in his second round heat
The upcoming Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley may be the closest thing eight-time ASP World Champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) has to a home court advantage on the ASP World Tour
Home advantage saw Lee Ann Curren claim top spot in Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the inaugural Quiksilver Skins invitation competition, one of the most innovative contest formats to grace the circuit
Champions tell the story of their succes step by step
Four-to-six foot swell predicted for event No. 3 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour
Skype us
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment