What: Roxy Jam Cardiff
Where: Cardiff, California, USA
When: September 19-21, 2008

Cori Schumacher won the Roxy Jam Cardiff after defending champ Jen Smith in 2-4 foot surf at Cardiff Reef this weekend.

The ASP Longboard Qualifying Series 6-Star event acts as a qualifier for the ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships held in France and is the only ASP Women’s longboarding event held in North America. The competitors were out to earn valuable ratings points on offer at the Roxy Jam Cardiff to try and find their way into one of the 32 spots available in the ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships.

Schumacher claimed the win in front of an adoring home crowd in an action-packed final. The California local earned a heat total of a 16.50 out of 20 to take the win, leaving Smith, who finished in second, needing a near-perfect 9.95 out of 10 point score to take the win.

“I can honestly say that turning around and seeing everyone on the beach and being able to hear the cheers gave us so much more to work for,” Schumacher said. “Roxy, ASP and Linda (Benson) put on such a great event here.”

Schumacher was a finalist in the Roxy Jam Cardiff in 2006, but did not compete in the event last year, leaving her with a low seed for this year’s event. The regular-footer had an unprecedented run leading up to the event win. Schumacher began in Round 1 and was the one to watch throughout the contest with her long nose rides and big swooping cutbacks. She earned the event’s highest single wave score of a 9.75 out of a possible 10 in Round 1 and continued to build momentum throughout the entire event.

“I was really nervous after not competing in the event last year,” Schumacher said. “I’m glad that I started in the earlier rounds because it allowed me to shake the nerves out. The waves are amazing and the people I surfed with, starting with the quarters, it could have been finals all the way. I just found the good waves, but it could have been anybody’s game out there.”

The local favorite was thrilled with the conditions on offer throughout the event and took advantage of the excellent surf in each of her heats. “For whatever reason, there are always amazing waves for this event,” Schumacher said. “Today is no exception. Cardiff is putting on a show for some of the greatest surfers in the world.”

Smith jumped out to an early lead in the final, but was unable to fend off the local standout. The defending Roxy Jam Cardiff champion earned a second place finish behind Schumacher this year. “The goal for me was just to make the final again this year,” Smith said. “It’s awesome with Cori competing again this year. She didn’t compete last year, but she competed in 2006 and made the final and now she came back in 2008 and made the final again. It’s really special to surf a heat with Cori out there because she pretty much owns Cardiff. I love watching her surf this wave.”

Williams, who finished third, and Romero, who finished in fourth, each displayed excellent performances throughout the event, but were unable to put a stop to Schumacher. Romero, also a local in the event, was happy to earn a spot in the final. “I am so stoked,” Romero said. “I’ve exceeded all of my expectations. Never in a million years did I think I would make the final.”

Final:
1- Cori Schumacher (USA) 16.50
2- Jen Smith (USA) 13.05
3- Chelsea Williams (AUS) 10.60
4- Summer Romero (USA) 8.30

Semifinals:
Heat 1: Summer Romero (USA) 13.75, Chelsea Williams (AUS) 12.75, Bianca Valenti (HAW) 11.45, Ashley Lloyd (USA) 7.75
Heat 2: Cori Schumacher (USA) 16.25, Jen Smith (USA) 13.25, Kelly Nicely (USA) 9.25, Janna Irons (HAW) 9.15

Quarterfinals:
Heat 1: Bianca Valenti (USA) 17.50, Summer Romero (HAW) 13.25, Crystal Dzigas (HAW) 12.90, Kelia Moniz (HAW) 12.85
Heat 2: Ashley Lloyd (USA) 9.75, Chelsea Williams (AUS) 7.45, Rosie Locke (AUS) 6.50, Jennifer Flanigan (USA) 6.20
Heat 3: Jen Smith (USA) 16.00, Janna Irons (HAW) 13.25, Ashley Quintal (USA) 10.00, Rachel Barry (USA) 5.95
Heat 4: Cori Schumacher (USA) 14.00, Kelly Nicely (USA) 10.90, Megan Godinez (USA) 10.40, Kassia Meador (USA) 8.50