Women's surfing world champion Sofia retains Roxy Pro title in Fiji

Fiji Islands, Apr 23: Current world champion Sofia Mulanovich has won an incredible Roxy Pro final in the dying seconds, defeating former six-time world champion, Layne Beachley, in clean five-foot (1.5 metres) waves on Thursday at Cloudbreak Reef, Fiji.

Mulanovich looked very focused on the final day, defeating Hawaiian Rochelle Ballard in a semi-final after eliminating Australian Samantha Cornish in the quarter-finals.

The Roxy Pro was memorable for huge 6-10 foot (2-3m) surf on the day of competition with outstanding performances from the top women professional surfers who broke new ground for women's surfing.

Beachley beat Hawaiian Keala Kennelly in the quarter-finals and Megan Abubo (Haw) in the semis ahead of the final showdown against Mulanovich.

Trailing for most of the final but holding priority to catch the next wave, Mulanovich waited patiently for nearly half the 35-minute final hunting the score she needed.

When it seemed that victory might be Beachley's after she consolidated her score with an inside ride, Mulanovich paddled into the heat winner with 10 seconds left on the clock.

Needing less than a five-point ride, but under intense pressure, the Peruvian confidently racked up a series of quick manoeuvres to score seven-plus points for an emphatic victory.

With the Roxy Pro being the richest event on the 2005 ASP Women's World Championship Tour (WCT), Mulanovich won a first prize cheque of US$ 10,600 out of the total US$75,800 purse.

Mulanovich took Beachley's world title crown last year after embarking on a three-event winning streak after victory in this same event.

By successfully defending her Roxy Pro Fiji title, Mulanovich is the first dual winner in the five-year history of the contest.

Mulanovich has also now won back-to-back victories on this year's tour, after winning at Bells Beach, Australia, last month, and she has taken the lead on the 2005 ratings. Hawaiian Megan Abubo is in second place with Layne Beachley third.

Source: Zeenews.com

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