Reigning three-time ASP Women’s World Champion Steph Gilmore (AUS), whom we interviewed for the current issue of Cooler continued her dominance on the world of women’s professional surfing by taking out the ASP 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro in Seignosse, France, taking the title after overcoming Coco Ho (HAW) in the 35-minute final at the main contest site of Les Bourdaines.

The swell remained a solid 4-5ft (1-1.5m) throughout the entire day with a strong onshore wind making conditions again tough for the girls and turning heats into another battle of physical fitness as well as surfing ability.

Gilmore stormed home claiming the Swatch Girls Pro title leading from the opening siren and finishing off with an 8.5 out of a possible 10 with only seconds remaining smashing the long rights on offer at low tide to seal the victory which never looked in doubt. “It is good training and great to hang out with all the girls here,” said Gilmore about her experiences at the Swatch Girls Pro 2010. “It is hard work these events because you have to surf more times and there are more girls in the water so it is difficult but it feels good to know that I can still cut it and compete at these events and I’m sure that all these girls are hungry to join the world tour soon.”

Coco Ho (HAW) 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour “rookie” of the year has finished off a great week finishing second in the Swatch Girls Pro adding to her runner-up place yesterday in the Swatch Girls Pro Junior to find some confidence leading into the remaining events of the year. “It is great to come to France and make the podium for both the Pro Junior and the WQS and to surf the final against Steph Gilmore, the best surfer at the moment and to be part of all this here. The conditions didn’t go my way to find a good scoring wave and hopefully for the other events left on the tour this will help my confidence to know I can make finals.”

Full results

FINAL
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.33
2 – Coco Ho (HAW) 8.60

SEMIFINALS
SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.25 Laura Enever (AUS) 11.50
SF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 11.25 Def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.90

QUARTERFINALS
QF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.30 Def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.00
QF 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 16.25 Def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.90
QF 3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.65 Def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 10.50
QF 4: Coco Ho (HAW) 13.00 Def. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 9.75

ROUND 5
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.00, Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.50, Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 9.35
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 11.50, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 9.75, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 5.55
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.40, Coco Ho (HAW) 8.50, Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) 6.95
Heat 4: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 13.40, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 11.25, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 8.20