[i]Friday, 11 November, 2005
Haliewa, Hawaii, USA

ROXY PRO HAWAII (12 November – 23 November)

Photo courtesy of www.aspworldtour.com

EVENT #8 ON THE ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR

Live on www.aspworldtour.com and www.roxy.com/roxypro

The Roxy Pro Hawaii, the second to last event on the 2005 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Tour, will enter it’s 12-day waiting period at Haleiwa’s Ali’i Beach Park on Oahu’s North Shore tomorrow, Saturday, 12 November.

The event, in terms of its history and its bearing on the yet to be decided 2005 world title race is of obvious extreme importance plus it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of competitive women’s surfing.[/i]Notably absent from the roster however will be former six-time world champion and long shot contender for the 2005 world title, Layne Beachley (AUS). Citing a herniated disc in her neck, Beachley has withdrawn from competition for the rest of the year and is currently exploring the possibility of surgery, an option that would likely waylay her for all of 2006 as well.

Having not surfed since her last heat at Malibu in September, Beachley would have needed two first place finishes, combined with the early elimination of top seeded surfers Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), to win her seventh world title.

Former ASP Women’s World Tour competitor now injury alternate, Prue Jeffries (AUS), will replace Beachley in the upcoming Roxy Pro Hawaii and the final Billabong Pro Maui event.

Also out of commission for the duration of the 2005 season is tour rookie Rebecca Woods (AUS). Injuring her shoulder in Tahiti earlier this year, Woods is at liberty to let it heal thanks to her first-place finish and resulting requalification 0n the top tier tour for next year.

Replacing Woods will be former world number two, Pauline Menczer (AUS).

“I have pulled out of the final two events with the hope my shoulder will heal in time for next year’s first event, the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast,” Woods explained. “If I push it I could risk being out for another three years or at least compete at only 50 per cent capacity. I have to surf against the best girls in the world and it’s hard to beat them at 100 per cent so I’m just not willing to do it. It might take a while but this is the best job in the world and I don’t want to lose it.”

In addition to the 17 women currently included in the Roxy Pro Hawaii draw, there will be one wildcard entrant to be added after a surf-off between hot up-and-coming Hawaiian surfers Carissa Moore, Bethany Hamilton, Chastity Baltazar, and last week’s Roxy Trials winner Tory Titcomb takes place.

The Roxy Pro Hawaii is the first of three events that comprise the Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing for the women. The other events include the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing Sunset Challenge, a specialty event with no bearing on the world title race, and the final WCT of the year, the Billabong Pro Maui.

Go to www.aspworldtour.com and www.roxy.com/roxypro to watch it all LIVE!