Posted on: Friday, December 12, 2003

Beachley barrels into perfect wave

Advertiser Staff

Australia's Layne Beachley is not yet ready to give up the women's surfing world championship.

She proved it yesterday by scoring a perfect 10-point ride in the first round of the Billabong Pro Maui. The first and second rounds were completed in 4- to 5-foot waves at Honolua Bay, Maui.

Beachley, the five-time defending women's world champ, received the perfect score for a long barrel ride.

"It's my first perfect 10 in a contest, and what a place to score it," said Beachley, 31. "I was so excited. Not just because of the barrel, but more that I scored my first career 10."

All five surfers in contention for the 2003 world championship advanced to the third round, including Beachley. The other four are Keala Kennelly of Kaua'i, Chelsea Georgeson of Australia, Heather Clark of South Africa and Sofia Mulanovich of Peru.

Kennelly is currently ranked No. 1 and the only surfer from Hawai'i in title contention. She leads No. 2 Beachley by 36 points.

Two other Hawai'i surfers — Megan Abubo and Rochelle Ballard — also advanced to the third round yesterday. Maui's Helena Suehiro won the trials heat to earn a spot in the contest, but was eliminated in the second round.

The Billabong Pro Maui is the final stop on both the 2003 women's World Championship Tour and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series. Mulanovich and Kennelly are the top contenders for the Triple Crown championship.

• Men on hold: The men's Xbox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters was postponed yesterday because of insufficient conditions at the Banzai Pipeline. The contest is expected to start either today or tomorrow.