Posted at 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Carissa Moore, 14, upsets world surf champ in Australia
Advertiser Staff
Punahou School student Carissa Moore, 14, upset world champion Layne Beachley of Australia in the first round of the Roxy Pro women's surfing contest on Monday.The first and second rounds of the contest were held in 2- to 4-foot waves at Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Australia.
Moore, who is a freshman at Punahou and still an amateur competitor, had to win a separate trials event to earn a spot in the Roxy Pro.
"I think Snapper is the perfect wave, and it's my dream come true just to be here," said Moore. "It's not that big of a deal that I won, I just had fun surfing against Layne."
As a first-round winner, Moore received a bye in the second round. She will have to face Beachley again in the one-on-one third round.
Among the other Hawai'i surfers, Megan Abubo and Melanie Bartels also advanced to the third round, but Rochelle Ballard was eliminated in the second round.
The contest is the first stop on the 2007 World Championship Tour for women.
