ASP Top 17 Prepare for Explosive Showdown at Roxy Pro Gold Coast
Pictured: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning and two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, will begin her campaign for a third consecutive crown at the upcoming Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile.
COOLANGATTA, Australia (Thursday, February 19, 2009) – The start to the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour is less than two weeks from commencing and the world’s best surfers are gearing up for an assault on one of the world’s best waves, Snapper Rocks, host of the 2009 Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning and two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, will return to the singlet once again in 2009, looking to collect her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title.
“Second time around, the title has definitely sunk in quicker and having experienced the process that follows winning a world title this time last year, I’ve really been able to enjoy the attention, rather than be overwhelmed,” Gilmore said. “This season feels great. After the celebrations settled down mid-January, everything is now completely fresh and I’m really utilizing my time at home to get stuck into some training and surfing the Snapper and D’Bah as much as possible.”
Despite possessing a wealth of local experience at her homebreak of Snapper Rocks, Gilmore’s track record at the opening event of the year has been less than stellar since claiming victory as a wildcard in 2005.
“Having bad results here the last two years hasn’t ever affected my year-end result so I’m quite at ease with the first event,” Gilmore said. “However, in saying that, not having done well here since 2005, I’m really going to push myself to be on top of my preparation and equipment, carrying nothing less than a win in my mind.”
Absent from this year’s competition will be former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, who announced her retirement from full-time competition at the end of last season. Even without the threat of a well-rounded veteran such as Beachley, Gilmore confesses that 2009’s rookie class will bring challenges of their own.
