For the second consecutive year, Bahia is hosting The Billabong Girls Pro Itacare. The event combines the two main ASP women’s circuits: The World Qualifying Series (WQS) that takes place from August 16th to 19th and the Women’s World Championship Tour of Surfing (WCT) from August 20th to 27th.
The 4-Star WQS expects to have more than 100 competitors from all over the world in the fight for the US$20,000 prize money and a slot in the Women’s World Championship Tour of Surfing 2008. Last year, the event was won by Brazilian rider Tita Tavares, who also guaranteed a wild card spot in the Billabong Girls Pro WCT event. Event organizers confirmed the same will happen this year, but this time the best 4 positioned riders in the WQS event will run a special 20-minute heat for a spot in the Billabong Girls Pro WCT event, taking place the week after.
The third stop on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour of Surfing will host the world’s best 17 female surfers battling for the world title on a 7-stop tour across some of the best surf spots in the world. In addition to ratings points, the surfers will have access to a total prize money of $80,000.
The Billabong Girls Pro Itacare is also offering three parallel events during the WCT and WQS: Von Zipper Air Show, Kustom Best Wave and Nixon Best Trick, each of these contests offering $1,000 prize money for the riders.
Billabong will build an environment-friendly contest site using natural and recyclable materials to preserve the magnificent spot of Itacaré.
The waves at Tiririca beach offer short, hollow rides over a sandy bottom. Thanks to Contas river, fresh sandbars are constantly popping up in the region, and waves on hand offer both barrels and launch pads.
After two WCT events this year, Australians Chelsea Hedges and Stephanie Gilmore are both tied in the first position. Last year’s event champ Layne Beachley comes in fourth place tied with three more riders – one of them Brazilian Silvana Lima, who is very excited at the prospect of competing in Brazil again.
