December 2, 2008 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, scalped her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title with an emphatic win at the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, ripping through the three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at Sunset Point to defeat fellow finalists Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, and Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22.

Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach proved the most decisive event of year, seeing shock eliminations on the final day before Gilmore soared to victory to claim the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title.

“I had no idea this was going to happen today when I woke up this morning,” Gilmore said. “Sofia (Mulanovich) went down and then Layne (Beachley) went down and I found myself in the Final with a chance to clinch it. It feels unbelievable.”

“I knew I had to win the Final to claim the title here at Sunset and when Silvana (Lima) got off to such a solid start, I thought I would have to get a result in Maui,” Gilmore said. “I had a pretty solid score, but still needed a 6-something and there weren’t many waves at all. Then I saw this little lump out the back and I knew it would be good when I was stroking into it. Turned out to be the best wave of the heat and put me over the top.”

Gilmore’s clinching of her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title makes it two-for-two for the young Australian, who has claimed the prestigious accolade in both years as a member of the ASP Women’s World Tour.

“The second one definitely feels better than the first one,” Gilmore said. “I’m going to savor this one for a while and then readjust my goals for next year. There should be big celebrations on for tonight.”

Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, scored her season best finish with a 3rd place today, pushing the goofy-footer into 7th on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings heading into the season-ender in Maui where she finished runner-up last year.

“I finished 4th out here at Sunset last year so I’m stoked to finish 3rd this year and hopefully I can keep improving next year,” Miley-Dyer said. “I was in the water with Steph (Gilmore) last year when she won the ASP Women’s World Title so to be in the water again feels really special. As for me, this year started off slow with an injury and a couple of average results, but I’m happy with my finish here and am looking forward to a strong showing in Maui.”

STEPHANIE GILMORE

2008 (age 20):
o 1st place Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii (December)
o 1st place Movistar Classic Mancora Péru by Rip Curl, Péru (November)
o 1st place Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle, Hossegor, France (September)
• 1st place Midori Pro 6-star WQS, Newcastle, Australia (April).
• 1st place Rip Curl Pro WT event, Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia (March).
• 9th place Roxy Pro WT event, Snapper Rocks, Qld, Australia (March).
• Surfing Australia Female Surfer Of The Year Award winner (February).
• The only female nominated among 6 final contenders for 2008 Laureus Foundation World Action Sportsperson of the Year (January). The other 5 finalists were 2007 men’s world surfing champion Mick Fanning (Australia); Venezualan BMX rider Daniel Dhers; UK kiteboarder Aaron Hadlow; American skateboarder Ryan Sheckler and eventual winner, American snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White.

2007 (age 19):
• 2007 ASP WT Champion (December). The first “rookie” to claim an open age world pro crown and the 2nd youngest female world champion in 30 years of pro surfing.
• 1st place Billabong Pro WT event, Honolua Bay, Hawaii (December).
• 2nd place final 2007 WQS Ratings (November).
• 1st place Mancora Peru Classic WT event, Mancoru, Peru (October).
• 1st place NAB Beachley Classic WT event, Manly, NSW, Australia (October).
• Ranked # 2 surfer in the world in 2007, in USA Surfer Magazine Poll (September).
• 3rd place (semi-finalist) Billabong Pro WT event, Itacare, Brazil (August).
• 1st place US Open 6-star WQS event, Huntington Beach, California, USA (July).
• 1st place Rip Curl Pro WT event, Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia (April).
• 5th place (quarter-finalist) Roxy Pro WT event, Snapper Rocks, Qld, Australia (March).
• Surfing Australia Female Surfer Of The Year Award winner (February).
• 1st place Roxy Pro 5-star WQS event, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (January).
• 3rd place (semi-finalist) Billabong World Pro Junior Championships, Narrabeen, NSW, Australia (January).

2006 (age 18):
• 2nd place final 2006 WQS Ratings (December).
• 2nd place Roxy Pro WCT event, Sunset Beach, Hawaii (December).
• 2nd place Op Pro 6-star WQS event, Haleiwa, Hawaii (November).
• 1st place Havianas Beachley Classic WCT event, Manly, NSW, Australia (October). This victory made Steph the first surfer to win 2 WCT events as a wildcard.
• 3rd place Tampax Pro 3-star WQS event, Newquay, England (August).
• 1st place Mr Price Pro 5-star WQS event, Durban, South Africa (July).
• 3rd place Costao Pro 4-star WQS event, Florianopolis, Brazil (February).
• 1st place Roxy Pro 5-star WQS event, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (January).
• 1st place Roxy Pro Junior, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (January)
• 5th place (quarter-finalist) Billabong World Pro Junior Championships, Narrabeen, NSW, Australia (January).

2005 (age 17):
• 4th place ASP Australasia Pro Junior Championship Ratings (October).
• 1st place ISA World Junior (Under 18) Championships, Huntington Beach, California, USA (October). Victory in this event made Steph the first surfer (male or female) to claim consecutive ISA World Junior Titles since Kathy Newman in 1989/90, as well as the only surfer (male or female) to reach the ISA World Junior final 3 years running.
• 1st place Roxy Pro WCT, Snapper Rocks, Qld, (March). Victory in this event saw Steph become the 2nd youngest women’s WCT event champion in 30 years of pro surfing.
• 1st place Billabong Pro Junior, Burleigh Heads, Qld, Australia (February).
• 1st place Billabong Pro Junior, Avoca, NSW, Australia (February).
• 1st place Roxy Pro Junior, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia (January).

2004 (age 16):
• 1st place ISA World Junior (Under 18) Championships, Tahiti (December).
• 1st place Australian (Under 18) Girls Championships (December).
• 2nd place ASP Australasia Pro Junior Championship Ratings (October).

2003 (age 15):
• 2nd place Australian (Under 18) Girls Championships (December).
• 4th place ISA World Junior (Under 18) Championships, Durban, South Africa (August).
• 5th place on ASP Australasia Pro Junior Championship Ratings (October).
• 2nd place Australian (Under 18) Championships (December).

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