After a rather difficult contest, that started with 6 consecutive lay days, Carissa Moore (HAW), 18,has finally been crowned winner of the first event of the 2011 ASP Women’s World Tour over Tyler Wright (AUS), 16.

“It’s been an amazing finish to the event and the waves were so good for us today,” Carissa said. “If I didn’t have priority and hadn’t dropped in on Tyler (Wright) on that wave, then she probably would have gotten the score and won the heat. It’s been an incredible event for me and I’m excited for the year ahead.”

The young Hawaiian’s victory today, her fourth elite win of her career, can be taken as a fierce declaration of her plans for the year, clearly eyeing her maiden ASP Women’s World Title. “It’s still early in the season but the ASP Women’s World Title is definitely a goal,” she continued “I’m just happy to be surfing the way I am and getting results. I’m riding a Mayhem Matt Biolis shape. It’s a 5’9” and I love it, it’s kind of a magic board, so I’m stoked. Luckily I have a couple just like it so I’m trying to take care of them.”

Now sitting in the driver’s seat in the hunt for the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title, Moore looks towards the next event and pushing the now unbridled progression of women’s surfing. “All the girls are surfing amazing and we really saw it at this event. It’s going to be an exciting year on tour. I just can’t wait to see what happens.”

But also Tyler Wright, who is into her first full year as an ASP Women’s World Title campaigner, blew people away with her performances throughout the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, and came up just shy of taking down the event. “In every heat I think you can learn something, pull something out of it that’s positive,” she reconciled afterwards. “I won’t change too much, I’ll do my own thing and hopefully I can catch a couple of waves. We’ve got snapper with only one other person out and I love this wave. Congrats to Carissa (Moore) – she surfed amazing. It was incredible to be out there in waves like that and I can’t wait for the rest of the season.”

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP Women’s World Runner-Up, was part of the select few to consistently break the boundaries of women’s surfing at the event, but the young natural-footer couldn’t stop a rampaging Moore in their Semifinal clash. “It’s always disappointing coming up short in a contest. I’m happy with the way I’m surfing, but it just didn’t go my way in the Semifinals. It’s been a great off season though. I had a month at home and you can’t complain about that. Just have to buckle down and focus on the next one.”

Laura Enever (AUS), 19, 2011 ASP Top 17 rookie, had a sensational run at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, taking down a bevy of high-profile names before falling to Wright in the Semifinals. For her efforts, Enever finished Equal 3rd in her first event as an ASP Women’s World Title campaigner. “Being in the water with these girls has been amazing. I’m just happy to make the Semifinals in my first World Tour event. It’s going to be an exciting year and I can’t wait to have fun around the world.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 23, reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion, has consistently held the ASP Women’s No. 1 position since August 2008. However, the iconic natural-footer was unable to overtake a rampaging Enever in her Quarterfinal bout. “Laura (Enever) and I went out with different game plans for that heat and hers obviously paid off,” she said. “It’s disappointing for sure, but she was surfing really well and things worked out for her. For me, this event was about trying to find my feet and I think I did a little bit. Hopefully I can recover a bit more between now and the next event.”

Check out the highlights yourself at roxypro.com.au

The next stop on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title season will be the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach in Victoria from April 19 – 25, 2011.

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.34
2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.37

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.53 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 11.84
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.00 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.50

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.77 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 10.44
QF 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.67 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.50
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 19.20 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 14.50
QF 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 18.37 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.83

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE TOP 5 (After Roxy Pro Gold Coast)
1. Carissa Moore (HAW) 10,000
2. Tyler Wright (AUS) 8,000 points
3. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 5,200 points
3. Laura Enever (AUS) 6,500 points
5. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5,200 points
5. Silvana Lima (BRA) 5,200 points
5. Coco Ho (HAW) 5,200 points
5. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 5,200 points