Layne Beachley Wins 7th ASP World Title; Jessi Miley-Dyer Wins Billabong Pro Maui; + Sofia Mulanovich Wins Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

Women’s pro surfing ended the season in Hawaii on a high-point Sunday, December 10th with excellent 4-6-foot waves during the final jewel of the Vans Triple Crown, the Billabong Pro Maui. Tour rookie Jessi Miley-Dyer from Australia defeated Keala Kennelly from Hawaii to win the final event, even beating the 02006 World Champion of the ASP World Tour, Layne Beachley, in the semi-finals. In her rookie season on tour, Jessi finished an amazing 4th place, making her the woman to watch in surfing in the future.

Keala Kennelly, known for her unique kamikaze style, almost claimed a perfect 10 score in the final wave against Jessi, by capturing a barrel. But, as she said to Ocean Promotion from Hawaii after her defeat, “I was standing up to celebrate already so I got clipped in the head; I started celebrating too early buy it’s cool, if I was going to lose, I was going to lose trying to get a 10!”

Keala, although qualified for the ASP 02007 Women’s World Tour, is bowing out to work on a TV show series for HBO, “John from Cincinnati,” which she says will hopefully bring women’s surfing to a more mainstream audience.

For Layne Beachley, she secured her 7th ASP World Tour title by making it to the semi’s in the Billabong Pro Maui—even though she didn’t win the event. “It’s surreal,” exclaimed Layne. “This is my 5th world title in Maui and my 7th title overall. Maui obviously has a very special place in my heart; it’s such as amazing amphitheatre. It’s been such a beautiful day and such a surreal experience—I don’t know how to explain it.”

And finally, for Sofia Mulanovich from Peru, she clinched the Vans Triple Crown title and $10,000 by winning enough points overall in all three events, including the OP Pro Haleiwa, Roxy Pro Sunset, and 3rd in the Billabong Pro Maui to take the title.

The ASP Women’s World Tour is off for 3 months and resumes again in 02007 in February one the Gold Coast of Australia. Meanwhile, stay tuned for more from the final men’s events, the RipCurl Pro and Pipeline Masters from the North Shore of Oahu.