As reported live, in the last Beyond Boarders post, wildcard surfer Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), has not only won the richest event in women?s surfing history, She led the entire 35-minute Havaianas Beachley Classic 2006 final, against six-time world champion Layne Beachley (AUS), to post an emphatic victory at Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia.
The 19-year-old is the only individual in surfing history to win two ASP World Championship Tour events as a wildcard. Currently rated second in her first full year on the ASP?s World Qualifying Series (WQS), her place amongst the elite on next year?s tour is almost assured. Her prior performances indicate that she?ll stir things up when she gets there. Already this year she has the scalps of the world's top three.
With just two events remaining on the tour, the world title is still being fiercely contested.
Since, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) finished 9th after being eliminated by Gilmore in Round Three of the Havaianas Beachley Classic, Layne Beachley now goes to the top of the rankings table, with Melanie a close second but hot on both their heels is Chelsea Georgeson in third place, her title hopes kept alive by Layne's defeat in the final.
ASP Women?s World Tour Ratings after the Havaianas Beachley Classic
1. Layne Beachley (AUS) 5424 points
2. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 5112 points
3. Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 4800 points
4. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 3324 points
5. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 3168 points
