Big Waves For The Best Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Friday Dec. 8, 2006) - The Billabong Pro Maui, the final of eight events on the 2006 ASP Women's World Tour, has commenced in excellent conditions at Honolua Bay this morning.

Rochelle Ballard (HAW) will be featured in the first heat of Round 1. She has drawn fellow Hawaiian Megan Abubo and Brazilian Jacqueline Silva.

"It's about five to six foot out there, but there are some thick eight foot sets for sure," Ballard said. "There's a whole lot of water moving around the Bay this morning."

There are two additional wildcards in the Billabong Pro Maui because ASP Women's World Tour surfers Silvana Lima (BRA) and Trudy Todd (AUS) withdrew from the event citing injury and illness.

This morning's trials winners Paige Alms (HAW) and Melanie Bartels (HAW) will join Billabong appointed wildcard Courtney Conlogue (USA) in the main event.

Bartels won the ASP Women's World Tour event previous to the Billabong Pro Maui, the Roxy Pro Sunset, as a wildcard last week. Bartels earned her trials invitation due to her strong contention to win the 2006 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series of which the Billabong Pro Maui is the final event. She is currently in third place on that series.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) who leads the Triple Crown ratings, was also an invited trialist. She finished second to Alms in that heat and did not earn a main event berth. Sofia Mulanovich is currently rated second on the Triple Crown ratings.

In the outside chance that both Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) and Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) are eliminated today, Layne Beachley (AUS) will win her 7th ASP Women's World Tour Title.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch it all LIVE!

Billabong Pro Maui Round 1 Match-ups:

(1st and 2nd advance to Round Two; 3rd surfs Round Two)

Heat 1:
Megan Abubo (HAW), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

Heat 2:
Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

Heat 3:
Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Keala Kennelly (HAW), Paige Alms (HAW)

Heat 4:
Layne Beachley (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF), Courtney Conlogue (USA)

Heat 5:
Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)

Heat 6:
Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Julia Christian (USA)

Source: ASP News

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