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Reigning World Junior Champion makes ASP history by qualifying for 2009 Women's World Tour
by George Mojo
26/06/2008:// Reigning World Junior Champion Sally Fitzgibbons has made ASP history by securing enough ratings points on the World Qualifying Series to qualify for the 2009 Women's World Tour well before the halfway point this season a feat that has never been accomplished by any surfer in history.
The 17-year-old Australian, who claimed the Billabong World Junior Championships in early January, has been on a tear since then, winning the Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival in Phillip Island, the Arrive Alive Central Coast Pro at Soldiers Beach, finishing runner-up at the Midori Pro in Newcastle, equal 5th at the Drug Aware Pro in Margaret River and finishing runner-up at the Billabong Surf ECO Pro to amass an unprecedented 9,090 ratings points.
"My initial reaction when I found out that I had qualified was elation," Fitzgibbons said. "It is a dream come true to qualify for the ASP Women's World Tour and an honor to be competing against the top women surfers in the world."
Al Hunt, ASP WQS Tour Manager, confirms Fitzgibbons' historic feat following her runner-up finish to current ASP World No. 11 Silvana Lima, from Brazil, at the ASP WQS 5-Star Billabong Surf ECO Festival in Bahia, Brazil last weekend.
"This is the earliest that any ASP WQS surfer, man or woman, has ever qualified for the following year's ASP World Tour," Hunt said. "Sally's current worst results are scores that others would love to have as their best, and the young natural-footer should be able to set a record winning margin by year's end if she keeps up her current form."
Excited about joining the Dream Tour in 2009, Fitzgibbons will be squaring off against the best female surfers in the world in some of the most idyllic settings on the planet.
"I have had a very good run of events so far this season," Fitzgibbons said. "My success has come from solid preparation and great support from my sponsors, management, family and friends. This year I have really been enjoying myself surfing some new locations, it's been an exciting learning curve."
"I'm looking forward to surfing some amazing locations with just a few girls in the water and also some hard competition, it should be really exciting," she added. "I look up to all the girls on tour. They are really talented and experienced competitors. I'm privileged to have the opportunity to compete against them next season in some good waves."
Australian Stephanie Gilmore, the reigning ASP Women's World Champion, has witnessed Fitzgibbons' natural talent and competitive savvy firsthand, having faced the young qualifier in the Finals of the ASP WQS 6-Star Midori Pro last April, and looks forward to seeing her on tour next season.
"Congrats to Sally," Gilmore said. "She deserves a place on the ASP Women's World Tour because she is one of the most talented, well-rounded athletes that I've ever met and one that will continue to push the sport in the right direction. Great to have her on tour next season."
Fitzgibbons will join the already staggering ranks of talent on the ASP Women's World Tour in 2009.
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