Bartels surfs to title at Oceanside

Advertiser Staff

Wai'anae's Melanie Bartels won the Gallaz Pro women's surfing contest on Sunday at Oceanside, Calif.

In the four-woman final, she beat Australians Prue Jeffries and Jenny Boggis and California's Jodie Nelson.

Bartels earned $2,000 and increased her lead on the women's World Qualifying Series. Through eight events on the 2003 WQS, Bartels is ranked No. 1 with 4,675 points.

Australia's Serena Brooke is a distant No. 2 with 3,652.

The top-ranked WQS surfers at the end of the year will earn spots on the elite World Championship Tour for 2004.

Slater wins: Florida's Kelly Slater won the Billabong Pro yesterday at Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa.

The final day of the week-long competition was completed in 4- to 6-foot waves.

Slater, a six-time former world champion, beat another Florida surfer, Damien Hobgood, in the final.

Slater had a two-wave score of 18.36 (out of 20) to Hobgood's 15.83.

Slater earned $30,000 and moved up to No. 2 in the World Championship Tour ratings. Kaua'i's Andy Irons, who was eliminated in the third round, remains No. 1.

Hobgood received $16,000, and semifinalists Taylor Knox and Taj Burrow each got $10,000.

Through six of 13 contests on the world tour, Irons has 5,280 points. Slater has 4,620.

BODYBOARDING

Kaua'i's Hubbard finishes second: Kaua'i's Jeff Hubbard placed second in the Human Cronulla Shark Island Challenge bodyboarding contest last week at Shark Island, Australia.

Brazil's Guilherme Tamega scored 46 points (out of 50) to win the $4,000 top prize. Hubbard scored 41.3 points and received $2,000.

Through two of four events on bodyboarding's World Super Tour, Hubbard is ranked No. 3. Australian Damian King is No. 1, and Tamega is No. 2.