Billabong Pro Maui
Beachley Wins World Crown
Falconer Defends Event Title
mardi 4 décembre 2001 –
Surf Surf #Surf remained 3-4ft (1.3m) throughout the day at Honolua Bay, allowing organizers to finish this crucial event at the ’Caves’ section of the legendary break.
Beachley, 29, who was eliminated during the quarterfinals by Heather Clark (SAfr) this morning, after making an uncharacteristic mistake, went through the full spectrum of emotions. Needing 6.11 points to advance, and holding priority, she took off on a crucial wave with 15 seconds remaining in the heat, but to the disbelief of spectators lining the cliffs above the break, fell on her first maneuver. Her disappointment apparent immediately, when she cried, "I feel like I’ve lost a loved one," and did not return to the beach, electing rather to continue surfing further up the point and listen to the event commentary.
Through an amazing succession of losses by fellow world title contenders, Beachley’s title hopes continued to grow as each contender was eliminated from the event.
Hawaiian Keala Kennelly, who needed to advance to the final to keep her title chances alive, was first out of the race when she lost the third quarterfinal to 13th seed Kylie Webb (Aus). Melanie Redman (Aus), who posed the biggest threat to Beachley’s title hopes from the start of the event, rated a slim 30 points behind, was then defeated by Falconer the next heat.
By this point Clark was the only one who could overtake the ratings lead, needing to win the Billabong Pro Maui. Menczer denied this, however, scoring the event’s only perfect 10-point ride during their semifinal clash. The diminutive natural footer snuck into a long tube, executed a vertical re-entry, and then proceeded to do a number of roundhouse cutbacks that ultimately sealed Clarks’ loss and handed Beachley her fourth ASP world title.
"What a traumatic day," exclaimed Beachley afterward. "When I lost my heat, I felt like the world had been pulled out from under me. I refused to come out of the water until it had all been decided. I feel like the luckiest, most loved world champion right now. I feel so blessed."
Falconer, 29, who stamped her mark on the Billabong Pro Maui last year with an impressive win, put her polished backhand attack to further good use today, collecting US$10,000 for her second consecutive title.
"I had a good feeling about the event when I pulled up here the other day, just remembering the good times I’ve had here before, and I hoped for good waves in the contest," said Falconer. "I’ve always felt pretty confident on my backhand, especially in good point break waves. The secret here was obviously to wait for the sets and get the right positioning because some were swinging wide and closing out."
Menczer, 31, had stated her intentions of winning the event before it began, saying, "If I can’t win the world title, the least I can do is win the event." And while finishing so close, Beachley promised to make up the difference of US$4,000 in prizemoney to Pauline for helping her to attain the all-important accomplishment.
In a short ceremony adjacent to the pineapple fields above Honolua Bay immediately after the final, both the event champion and the new world champion were crowned, and quite fittingly, Layne received a pineapple as an unofficial trophy for her fourth world title.
Official Results of Billabong Pro Maui Final Day
1st Neridah Falconer (Aus) 20.6 - US$10,000
2nd Pauline Menczer (Aus) 10.6 - US$6,000
Semifinals (loser finishes equal third and receives US$4,000)
SF1 : Pauline Menczer (Aus) 22.75 def. Heather Clark (SAfr) 20.1
SF2 : Neridah Falconer (Aus) 20.1 def. Kylie Webb (Aus) 14.25
Quarterfinals (loser finishes equal fifth and receives US$3,500)
QF1 : Pauline Menczer (Aus) 17.25 def. Serena Brooke (Aus) 15.35
QF2 : Heather Clark (SAfr) 18.6 def. Layne Beachley (Aus) 17.8
QF3 : Kylie Webb (Aus) 19.15 def. Keala Kennelly (Haw) 18.85
QF4 : Neridah Falconer (Aus) 16.9 def. Melanie Redman (Aus) 16.5
Final ASP 2001 WCT Ratings
1. Layne Beachley (Aus) 1760-points
2. Melanie Redman (Aus) 1730
3. Neridah Falconer (Aus) 1600
4. Rochelle Ballard (Haw) 1570
5. Serena Brooke (Aus) 1550
5. Keala Kennelly (Haw) 1550
5. Heather Clark (SAfr) 1550
8. Megan Abubo (Haw) 1450
9. Maria ’Tita’ Tavares (Brz) 1390
10. Pauline Menczer (Aus) 1260
11. Jacqueline Silva (Brz) 1230
12. Kate Skarratt (Aus) 1060
13. Kylie Webb (Aus) 930
14. Prue Jeffries (Aus) 750
15. Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) 600
15. Trudy Todd (Aus) 600
2002 WCT Seed Order
1. Layne Beachley (Aus)
2. Melanie Redman (Aus)
3. Neridah Falconer (Aus)
4. Rochelle Ballard (Haw)
5. Serena Brooke (Aus)
6. Keala Kennelly (Haw)
7. Heather Clark (SAfr)
8. Megan Abubo (Haw)
9. Maria ’Tita’ Tavares (Brz)
10. Jacqueline Silva (Brz)
11. Lynette MacKenzie (Aus)
12. Samantha Cornish (Aus)
13. Amee Donohoe (Aus)
14. Chelsea Georgeson (Aus)
15. Pauline Menczer (Aus)
16. Kate Skarratt (Aus)
Dans la même rubrique
Billabong World Junior Championships : Parkinson Defeats Fanning To Reclaim World Junior Crown