Claire Bevilacqua claims Tidal 9 Women’s Pipeline Pro

Tidal 9 Women’s Pipeline Pro

10 April, 2009 : – - Another perfect day of waves for the final day of competition! The girls showed up ready to do their best to advance to the final heat of their division. It was truly a blessing from above! The winds backed off and the 2-3 feet Hawaiian waves were ready for the taking.

The first final of the day was the shortboard division with two countries represented by the four finalists. Carissa Moore (HAW) was the first to pick a wave off in the heat. Anastasia Ashley (USA) soon followed suit, but it was Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) who dropped in to a nice wave, pulled in, and found an exit to up her score.

Laura Enever (AUS) found a few good rides, but not enough to keep pace with Bevilacqua and Moore. Bevilacqua caught the wave of the heat–she pulled into a barrel, made it out, and completed the ride by blasting off the top of the wave as the section “closed out”. Moore was definitely giving Bevilacqua a run for her money.

She was really showcasing her powerful surfing abilities. When the final seconds ran out, everyone knew the results would be close. Australia’s Claire Bevilacqua took the first place finish along with 1,000 points towards her WQS (World Qualifying Series) standing and $3,500 USD.

The elegant longboarders were all over the line-up paddling back and forth to maintain their position and pick off the best waves that came through during their heat. It was an all USA final heat with two Hawaii wahines: Crystal Dzigas and Rachel Spear. Kaitlin McGuire (USA) was on the prowl for a good wave, but it just didn’t come together for her as she had hoped.

Cori Schumacher (USA), on the other hand kept getting some solid waves to secure herself a high score. She had a nice nose ride at Backdoor, showing great board control; almost making it look easy! Dzigas went right on a wave, and also found a nice “Backdoor bomb” and showcased some of her good nose riding skills. It was Schumacher (USA) who prevailed, picking off some of the best waves of the day during the longboarding division and earned 1,500 points and $2,000 USD.

The finals of the bodyboarding division was full of excitement and emotions. 3 of the 4 girls in the heat were surfing their first final heat at Pipeline for the first time. Current world champion, Neymara Carvalho (BRS) was ready to surf her heart out and made the “up and comers” really work hard if they really wanted to take the win in this final!

There were many good waves ridden in the heat, but none could top off the perfect ten point ride from Luz Marie Grande Perez (PRCO). It was an extremely close heat–barely a point between the first and fourth place finisher, but Puerto Rico’s Luz Marie Grande Perez came out on top winning $3,000 USD and 1,500 points.

Shortboard Division Finalists
1st Place: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
2nd Place: Carissa Moore (HAW)
3rd Place: Anastasia Ashley (USA)
4th Place: Laura Enever (AUS)

Longboard Division Finalists
1st Place: Cori Schumacher (USA)
2nd Place: Crystal Dzigas (HAW)
3rd Place: Kaitlin McGuire (USA)
4th Place: Rachel Spear (HAW)

Bodyboard Division Finalists
1st Place: Luz Marie Grande Perez (PRCO)
2nd Place: Eunate Aguirre (SPN)
3rd Place: Neymara Carvalho (BRS)
4th Place: Jessica Becker (BRS)