Peruvian conquers world
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Thanks to Sofia Mulanovich, Peru can now be added to the list of top surfing countries.
Bernie Baker • Special to The Advertiser
Mulanovich placed second in the Roxy Pro surfing contest yesterday, clinching the 2004 women's world title in the process. She is the first surfer — male or female — from a South American country to win a professional world championship.
Australia's Layne Beachley won the Roxy Pro, and a women's record $20,000 first-place check.
"I hope they are all stoked," Mulanovich, 21, said. "I feel like I did this for my whole country and all of South America."
It ended a six-year reign as women's world champion for Australia's Layne Beachley. But all was not lost for Beachley, as she won the Roxy Pro and a record monetary prize.
The final day of the contest was completed yesterday at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach. Wave-faces ranged from 6 to 12 feet.
Beachley dominated the four-person final, recording a two-wave score of 13.26.
However, Mulanovich entered the final knowing she only had to place third or better to clinch her first world title.
"I wanted to win the contest also, but my biggest goal was to be world champion," she said. "I said to myself I just have to beat one of these girls."
Mulanovich's path to the title was cleared earlier in the day when Kaua'i's Rochelle Ballard was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Ballard was the only surfer with a realistic shot at catching Mulanovich in the final two events of the year.
Beachley was the world champion from 1998 to 2003, but yesterday was her first victory of 2004. "It's a sense of achievement and a sense of relief all in one," said Beachley, 32.
Beachley received $20,000 for the victory — a record first-place check for a women's surfing contest.
Mulanovich
After the final ended, Beachley and Mulanovich caught a wave to shore together, with Beachley raising Mulanovich's arm in triumph.
"Of all the girls on tour, I really feel she is most deserving," Beachley said. "She calls it luck, but I call it greatness."
The Roxy Pro was the sixth of seven contests on the 2004 women's world tour. The final event is the Billabong Pro Maui, Dec. 8 to 20 at Honolua Bay.
Roxy Pro
1, Layne Beachley (Australia), $20,000. 2, Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), $12,000. 3, Chelsea Georgeson (Australia), $9,000. 4, Maria Tita Tavares (Brazil), $7,000. 5 (tie), Jacqueline Silva (Brazil) and Keala Kennelly (Hawai'i), $3,100. 7 (tie), Megan Abubo (Hawai'i) and Melanie Bartels (Hawai'i), $2,900. 9 (tie), Heather Clark (South Africa), Laurina McGrath (Australia), Rochelle Ballard (Hawai'i) and Pauline Menczer (Australia), $2,800. 13 (tie), Melanie Redman-Carr (Australia), Lynette MacKenzie (Australia), Trudy Todd (Australia) and Samantha Cornish (Australia).
2004 Women's World Championship Tour
Through 6 of 7 events
1, Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), 5,484 points. 2, Rochelle Ballard (Hawai'i), 4,392. 3, Layne Beachley (Australia), 4,176. 4, Chelsea Georgeson (Australia), 3,924. 5, Maria Tita Tavares (Brazil), 3,846.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
