Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships (WWLC)
ASP Women’s World Longboard Title Decider
La Côte des Basques, Biarritz – France
July 10-14, 2009
ROXY ASP WWLC FINAL
1st, Jennifer Smith (USA) 12.25 pts
2nd, Coline Menard (REU) 9.55 pts
ROXY ASP WWLC SEMIFINALS
Heat 1: Coline Menard (REU) 11.75 pts Def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.15 pts
Heat 2: Jennifer Smith (USA) 15.25 pts Def. Chelsea Williams (AUS) 13.25 pts
BIARRITZ, France (Tuesday, July 14, 2009) – Jennifer Smith (California, USA), 23, won the Roxy Jam in Biarritz today to claim the second ASP Women’s World Longboard title of her brilliant career after defeating fellow finalist and outsider Coline Menard (Reunion Island, FRA), 21, in the final exchange of the 2009 edition. Smith, who dominated the final bout from the beginning until the end, confirmed her stellar Semifinal run where she managed to score a 9.25 point ride, the highest wave score of the event, defeating Menard confidently.
“To win a second world title is just unbelievable,” Smith said. “That heat against Chelsea (Williams)… I was ready to bow out in the semis and I had no idea I was going to get that wave and this score down. I was feeling pretty confident after that and when once I made the final I was definitely looking for the second title, for sure.”
Smith, who raised her world title trophy in front of a cheering crowd at La Côtes des Basques, signed an unexpected stellar come-back on top of the international hierarchy today, after several months without a win.
“I had no expectations this year as I had not won an event in months, maybe a year,” Smith said. “I came over here to give my best and see what happens, and I made the final and won it. It’s just so good to get a second one. I am going to celebrate with all my best friends that are here tonight and fly back home tomorrow.”
With three favorites and one outsider in the Semifinals, the 2009 Roxy Jam witnessed spectacular levels of surfing through the four-day waiting period, the new 32-woman format bringing more intensity into the ASP Women’s World Longboard title race. Menard’s final berth showed again how strong the French female longboarders were getting with a second representative making the final in three years.
Rip Curl Girls Tour
Stop No 4 of 10 on 2009 UK PST
Bournemouth UK
28 June 2009
Rip Curl Sponsor the biggest Women’s Event on the 2009
The Rip Curl Girls Tour will this year feature a series of Women’s surfing contests in England and Wales. Three of these events; Bournemouth, Croyde and St Ives will combine to make a two star event on the Women’s UK Pro Surf Tour, with £1,000 prize money available. The surfer who accumulates the most points over these three competitions will win the only two star women’s event on the UK Pro Surf tour
In addition to the Pro events each venue will host a Newbie event. If the girls have not competed in a surf contest before they will have the opportunity to compete for the first time against surfers with the same experience as themselves. The finalists of these events will be put in the draw against the top Pro Surfers in the UK along with winning prizes from Rip Curl and the other sponsors.
The first event will take place at Bournemouth 28th June, at the location of the UK’s first artificial reef. There will be many activities taking place throughout the day to entertain the competitors. World Champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia will be in attendance giving advice and supporting the development of the sport for Women.
The second stop on the Rip Curl Girls Tour will be Llanglennith on the Gower Peninsula, 23rd July. This event will not be part of the Pro Tour Series, due to the expected number of Newbie entries for the first timer’s competition. For the last 3 years over 200 female surfers have taken the opportunity to attend this event.
Stop three is at Croyde Beach, North Devon. Widely recognised as one of the best beach breaks in the country. It will give the best surfers a good opportunity to show their skills in quality surf.
The final stop is Porthmeor Beach in St Ives, situated below the Tate Gallery; Porthmeor is possibly one of the most popular beaches in Cornwall. In addition to the First time and Pro Event there will be a Women’s Longboard Event, the only Women’s Longboard event on the UK Pro Surf Tour. At this event we will crown the winner of the Rip Curl Girls Tour and give away £1,000 prize money.
Bournemouth 28th June
Llanglennith Wales 23rd July
Croyde Devon 26th July
St Ives Cornwall 28th 29th July
After three successful screenings to very enthusiastic audiences at the Film Festivals in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz , California. The Women and the Waves travels across the Pacific Ocean to screen at the Celestial Cinema under the stars on opening night as an Official Selection in the Maui Film Festival on June 17, 2009. www.mauifilmfestival.com
Through the collaborative efforts of Heather Hudson (Graciegirl LLC) and Peck Euwer (Swell Pictures Inc.), the film documents the female surfing experience through the lives of ten women from age 17 to 64. From the swells of Mexico to Hawaii’s temperate waters and the enticing California coastline, audiences will gain insight into what it’s like to “Surf Like a Girl!” Shot in High Definition, The Women and the Waves pays tribute to pioneers who paved the way and recognition to the everyday surfers who keep the dream alive.
