After an extremely close end to the 2007 women’s World Championship Tour of surfing, South Africa’s top female surfer Rosy Hodge is back on the coveted premier tour for the 2008 season. Initially Rosy failed to qualify, falling one place short, but due to an early retirement of a former world champion she has suddenly found herself back on the tour.

“It was my first year on the WCT, and I had a fairly good year,” said Rosy on hearing the news. “Obviously I was really disappointed not to make the cut, being only one place short of the cut-off. Still, I got lucky and I’m back on, so now I am obviously so stoked.”

Despite her best-ever performance in a WCT event at the last event of the women’s tour, the Billabong Maui Pro in Hawaii, Rosy couldn’t fight off some determined surfing from the other competitors and found herself agonisingly close to the prestige tour, but not close enough.

After finishing off her 2008 travel plans for another year on the WQS grind, Rosy was told the news – that Roxy team mate Chelsea Hedges had retired from the tour for 2008 due to personal reasons, and Rosy would be filling up Hedge’s position on the tour.

“I’ve leaned a lot from my first year on the WCT and I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to get back on the tour and improve on my position,” said a cheerful Rosy. “I’m focused on working on my boards and fitness and getting some solid results in 2008.” Her first event of the year will be the Roxy Pro which takes place on the Gold Coast of Australia from February 23rd to March 6th. For more details on this event and on the women’s pro tour check out the ASP website.

Rosy will be joining Quiksilver rider Travis Logie, who will also be competing on the WCT this year. Travis was sidelined half-way through last year with a knee injury, but was awarded one of the ASP injury wildcards which sees him back in the top 45 for 2008.