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THE BAY OF DREAMS
Steph Gilmore stands out at Honolua Bay during day one of the Billabong Pro Maui
We're claiming it right here, right now: Honolua Bay is the most beautiful surf spot in the world.
Nowhere on earth has quite the cosmic combination of coastal scenery, water color, water clarity, and, most importantly, mind-boggling wave quality. Surfing here is like being dropped into the middle of a tropical aquarium...with perfect surf.
This is especially true on a day like today, Tuesday, December 8. The "Swell of the Decade" that has been closing out spots all across Hawaii's north shores was being funneled perfectly in-between Maui and its neighboring island, Molokai, toward this hidden little gem of a cove and directly at its most stunning section of reef - a spot known affectionately as "The Cave." (We're also claiming that Honolua's cave is the worst place to lose your board in the world.)
Quite simply, the waves today for Day One of the Billabong Pro Maui were perfect. Like, really perfect. Like, oh-my-God-wouldn't-we-all-like-to-be-out-there-right-now perfect. And it was in these ideal conditions that organizers staged three rounds of this, the final event on the ASP Women's World Tour of 2009.
Recently crowned three-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore was one of the main standouts of the day and is now on target for her third consecutive Billabong Pro Maui title after moving through to the quarterfinals with the day's top heat score.
The 21-year-old regularfoot carved up Honolua's pristine walls with her trademark style to progress with ease over wildcard Aleesa Quizon with a heat total of 18.80 -- including a 9.63.
After an epic day of women's surfing, Gilmore is now the front-runner for the $25,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title and also for the Nixon WTA (Winner Takes All) custom Nixon watch valued at over $10,000 -- awarded to the event's highest single-heat score.
Former Vans Triple Crown ratings leader Alana Blanchard's hot streak ended with her elimination by fellow tour rookie Sally Fitzgibbons. Blanchard, who is now out of contention for the Triple Crown, charged The Cave but fell inside a crucial barrel to be eliminated with a heat score of 10.26 to Fitzgibbons heat total of 16.40.
Fitzgibbons will next meet Hawaii's Coco Ho in the quarterfinals. Ho narrowly eliminated Brazil's Bruna Schmitz to advance by less than a point to Schmitz's 13.16. Ho, current ASP Women's World Number Three has had a sensational season while competing in her rookie year. The Hawaiian regular-foot has been the only rookie thus far to claim an event victory in 2009 and is hoping to become the first Hawaiian to win the Billabong Pro Maui.
A perfect ten-point ride by World Number Two Silvana Lima ended the strong run of Hawaiian Carissa Moore, who entered the Billabong Pro Maui fresh off her first major professional surfing title at Sunset Beach last week. Lima charged with deep take-offs, barrel rides and full top-to-bottom turns to secure her quarterfinal berth with a heat total of 14.33 to Moore's 13.50.
Australia's Sam Cornish was another standout. The 2003 Billabong Pro Maui champion posted one of the day's highest wave scores in her round-one heat and then secured a quarterfinal berth after eliminating Paige Hareb in round three.
At the other end of the draw, Rebecca Woods advanced over fellow Australian Chelsea Hedges to progress into the quarter finals where she will go up against Sofia Mulanovich.
With perfect surf forecast throughout the day tomorrow, there is a good chance the Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines may finish up tomorrow. Organizers will assess surf conditions tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for the official call.
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December 9, 2009
