Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, has claimed her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title today, making history as the only surfer ever to win the prestigious crown each year they have competed at the elite ASP World Tour level (men’s or women’s).

The clinching was somewhat unexpected as today’s competition began with six surfers in contention for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Title. With each heat advancement and the narrowing of the field at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, Event No. 6 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the irrepressible Gilmore navigated her way to her third ASP Dream Tour Title.

“It’s surreal to win for a third time,” Gilmore said. “It’s amazing! I woke up this morning and knew it was going to be a good day. The waves were building and you sort of get that fuzzy feeling throughout the day. I really don’t even know what to think about it. I just want to thank everyone for the support that I’ve had throughout the whole year.”

read more at asp

SUNSET BEACH, Oahu/Hawaii (Wednesday, November 25, 2009)

A massive swell in the 15–to-18-foot (5-6 metre) range has slammed in to Oahu’s North Shore and has forced event officials to call the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, off for today.

“Of all the places in the world, this is one where you call a contest off because it’s ‘too big’ rather than ‘too small’,” Randy Rarick, Vans Triple Crown Contest Director, said. “We’ve got 15-to-18-foot surf conditions that are expected to build throughout the day, and it’s closing out Sunset Beach so obviously too big for competition. It will be a day for Waimea today. We’re off tomorrow for Thanksgiving, and this swell should be slowly declining throughout the next several days so we’ll look to catch the backside of it on Friday.”

Surfline.com, official foreers for the Vans Triple Crown, are calling swells to remain strong over the next several days but gradually decline from today’s peak.

The Gidget Pro Sunset Beach represents the second stop on the highly coveted Vans Triple Crown Series and the sixth of seven events on the ASP Women’s World Tour, playing a crucial role in surfers’ quests for requalification for a spot amongst the elite in 2010.

Tomorrow, November 26, marks the observed American holiday of Thanksgiving and no competition will be held.

Event organizers will reconvene Friday morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible start.

The Gidget Pro Sunset Beach will be web LIVE via www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

original story from asp

Congratulations to Joel Centeio on his first major ASP WQS win at his home break of Haleiwa in the ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME Reef Hawaiian Pro. Joel’s only previous win was at Sunset Beach in 2007.

Obviously Joel was ecstatic with his $20,000 winner’s cheque and the 3500 points that went with it moved him to 51st on the ratings.

Fellow finalists were CJ Hobgood, who also was not that interested in the ASP WQS points and more wanting the Vans Triple Crown Title. In third was Jay Thompson and fourth Alain Riou.

Jay and Alain definitely wanted the points over money ,and Jay’s third has all but guaranteed him a start in the ASP World Tour next year as he has moved to 6th with 13,638 points. Alain jumped a lot also, but is still back in 26th on 11,082.

The Top 15 cutoff has moved slightly upward from 12,125 to 12,200 and is looking like being around that 12,500 mark.

Current Top 25 on the ratings are:
1 Ross,Daniel AUS 14975 1375
2 Gudauskas,Patrick USA 14876 1625
3 Andre,Jadson BRA 14813 1375
4 Wright,Owen AUS 14338 1225
5 Melling,Adam AUS 14288 1225
6 Thompson,Jay AUS 13638 1125
7 Yeomans,Nathan USA 13419 1225
8 Munro,Luke AUS 13263 1125
9 Simpson,Brett USA 13150 1375
10 Wilkinson,Matt AUS 12850 1300
11 Logie,Travis ZAF 12344 1181
12 Polo,Marco BRA 12331 1156
13 Thornton,Blake AUS 12325 1225
14 Dornelles,Rodrigo BRA 12206 1181
15 Courtney,Drew AUS 12200 1125
16 Gudauskas,Tanner USA 12175 1225
17 Duru,Joan FRA 12125 1375
18 Payne,Dusty HAW 11925 1225
19 Ware,Austin USA 11725 1225
19 Zubizarreta,Gony ESP 11725 1375
21 Atkinson,Dion AUS 11669 1225
22 Miranda,Bernardo BRA 11601 875
23 Hall,Glenn IRL 11600 1500
24 Jackson,Brandon ZAF 11431 1100
25 Cardoso,Willian BRA 11151 1125

read more at asp