Gilmore Defeats Moore to Claim ASP World Title

Stephanie Gilmore celebrates her win at the Roxy Pro Biarritz. Photo by ASP.

By Rodney S. Yap

The world’s best female surfers gathered in the south of France last week for Event No. 6 of 7 on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour, the Roxy Pro Biarritz.

When the surf had settled Saturday, it was Stephanie Gilmore of Australia who clinched the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship by claiming the her second straight Roxy Pro Biarritz title.

The 24-year-old natural-footer capped her banner year in 2012 by collecting three elite tour wins and placing in the quarterfinals or better in each event thus far.

Gilmore topped 2011 ASP Champion Carissa Moore of Hawaii 17.10-12.50 in the semifinals and then defeated fellow Aussie Tyler Wright in the final 18.53-13.10.

With the win, Gilmore wraps up her fifth ASP world title with one event — the Nike US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif. — remaining on the schedule. The holding period for that event begins July 30.

Hawaii’s Carissa Moore. File photo by ASP.

“I’m pretty happy,” said Moore on ASPworldtour.com. “Obviously I would have loved to surf another final but it’s still pretty good. I think the women’s level has come a long way, but honestly today it was more a matter of being in the right spot and getting in a good rythmn and it’s tough if you don’t get to find the good opportunities and another person does. I’m always looking forward to competing so I’m really looking forward to going to the US Open and hopefully I’ll get a good performance there.”

Gilmore finished third to Moore last year and recalls the handing over the trophy — a large silver bowl she regarded as her trophy — at surfing’s night of nights at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in February. She stirred the pot, and silenced the room, by saying she was only lending it to the Hawaiian for a few months.

“I’m going to miss it,” Gilmore said in a ESPN.com story. “Carissa, take good care of it. I’ll let you borrow it.”

Five months later, Gilmore has been good to her word. She admitted their rivalry is respectful, but heated.

“Definitely there’s venom,” Gilmore told ESPN.com. “We all go to the banquet and we’re all lovey-dovey in our hot dresses and we’re all good friends but as soon as we paddle out in those heats, it’s just a one-track mind.”

Hawaii surfer Coco Ho finished tied for third with Moore at the Roxy Pro.

Ho and Moore reached the semifinals by easily topping their opponents in the quarterfinals. Ho’s 12.60 score got the better of Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia, who put up an 8.76. Moore (16.33) defeated Laura Enever of Australia (12.07).

Hawaii’s Malia Manuel also made the quarterfinals, but lost to eventual champion Gilmore, 13.57-10.00.

ROXY PRO BIARRITZ FINAL RESULTS:
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.53
2. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.10

ROXY PRO BIARRITZ SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.66 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 9.37
SF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.10 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.50

ROXY PRO BIARRITZ QUARTER-FINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.37 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.53
QF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.60 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 8.76
QF 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.57 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.00
QF 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.33 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 12.07

ROXY PRO BIARRITZ ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.40 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.50
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 11.67 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.77
Heat 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.10 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.16
Heat 4: Laura Enever (AUS) 12.13 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 8.66

CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WCT TOP 5 (After Roxy Pro Biarritz):
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 48,400 pts
2. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 42,100 pts
3. Carissa Moore (HAW) 36,700 pts
3. Tyler Wright (AUS) 36,700 pts
5. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 34,800 pts