ASP HISTORY, ROOKIE SENSATIONS AND A SHOWDOWN IN HAWAII!

Following last week’s victory at the Mancora Peru Classic, event No. 6 of 8 on the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour, rookie phenom Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has further solidifed her ratings lead and is in a position to make ASP history as the first surfer ever to clinch the ASP World Title in their rookie season.

With two events left in the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach and the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay, only six surfers remain who can potentially claim this year’s ASP Women’s World Title.

In addition to Gilmore, current No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), compatriot Samantha Cornish (AUS), former ASP Women’s World Champions Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and Sofia Mulanovich (PER), as well as reigning and seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS) are all still mathematically in contention for this season’s crown.

If Gilmore secures a 5th or higher at the upcoming Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, then Hedges, Beachley and Cornish will be eliminated from contention, leaving only Mulanovich and Lima.

If Mulanovich suffers a 17th at Sunset Beach, and Gilmore finishes 9th or higher, the Peruvian will be eliminated from contention. Concurrently, if Mulanovich finishes 9th and Gilmore finishes 5th or higher, the former champ will also be eliminated. If Gilmore finishes 4th or higher at Sunset Beach, there is no way Mulanovich can overtake this season.

For Gilmore to clinch the title at Sunset Beach, Lima will need to finish 9th or lower while Gilmore finishes 3rd or higher, or 4th or lower while Gilmore finishes 2nd or higher. If Gilmore wins the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, and Lima fails to finish 3rd or higher, then the race will be over.

While a possible ASP Women’s World Title finish may be on offer at the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, it is likely it will come down to the final event of the season at the Billabong Pro in Maui.

The upcoming Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach will begin its waiting period on November 23rd and run through until December 6th, while the season-ending Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay will run from December 8–20th, 2007.

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR STANDINGS AFTER MANCORA PERU CLASSIC

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5508 points

2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 4982 points

3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4567 points

4 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3878 points

5 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 3854 points

6 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3684 points

7 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3434 points

8 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 3000 points

9 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 2899 points

10 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 2474 points

11 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 2424 points

11 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2424 points

13 – Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 2412 points

14 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2244 points

15 – Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 2232 points

16 – Caroline Sarran (FRA) 2052 points

17 – Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 1260 points

18 – Leilani Gryde (HAW) 612 points