What: Mr. Price Pro, ASP 5 Star WQS Womens Event #7
Where: North Beach, Durban, South Africa
When: 29 June – 26 July 2008

Brazilian surfer Silvana Lima won the 5-Star ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro, defeating 2006 European Junior Champion Pauline Ado (FRA) to become the second ever Brazilian women’s champion at Durban’s New Pier.

Posting the only perfect ten-point rides, Lima advanced into the finals where she proved unstoppable against 17-year-old Pauline Ado. Defeating her European opponent with 17.83 points to Ado’s 13.10 (out of 20.00), Lima earned R28,000 and jumped from 50th to 20th on the ASP World Qualifying Series ratings. “I’m really, really feeling good,” Lima said. “Thanks to God, thanks to my friends, thanks to everybody from Brazil and everyone here. I feel awesome!”

Arguably one of the most radical female surfers on tour, Lima wowed Durban beach-goers with her explosive surfing style defeating WQS No.1 Sally Fitzgibbons (BRA) in the quarterfinals and WQS No.7 Bruna Schmitz (BRA) in the semifinals. Lima went on to seal her 2008 Mr Price Pro victory with a pair of near-perfect scores, a 9.33 and 8.50 (both out of ten) in the final.

“I think that Brazilians do so well here because the waves are very similar to what we have at home,” Lima said. “The waves are really good here in Durban and I love competing at this event.” Winning the 5-Star WQS in Brazil prior to competing in Durban, Lima said it would be one of her last WQS events this year as she returns her focus to top tier competition on the ASP Women’s World Tour.

Ado finished with her career best result, placing runner-up in her second ever WQS competition, to earn R14,000 and jump to 42nd on the WQS ratings. “I’m so happy I made the final,” Ado said. “When I came here I wasn’t expecting such a good result, I just wanted to get some experience so that I can try to qualify on the WQS next year.”

Ado defeated European Junior Champion Lee Ann Curren (FRA) in the semifinals and South African Roseanne Hodge in the quarterfinals, making a big impression in Durban. “The final was amazing, I knew it would be tough to beat Silvana who was just amazing, she was just ripping the whole event,” Ado said.

RESULTS

Womens Quarterfinals:
Heat 1: Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 14.00; Heather Clark (ZAF) 13.34
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 18.93; Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.67
Heat 3: Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.26; Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 12.44
Heat 4: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 13.83; Laurina McGrath (AUS) 13.67

Womens Semis:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 17.67; Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 7.84
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.83; Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 8.17

Womens Final:
Silvana Lima (BRA) 17.83 ; Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.10