SEIGNOSSE, France (Thursday, August 31, 2006) – Pending the arrival of ratings leader Layne Beachley (AUS) and current world numbers two and four, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) and Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) respectively, the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle may begin tomorrow, Sept. 1, 2006.
After a failed attempt to transit from last week’s ASP Women’s World Tour event in Brazil to Seignosse, France for the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle, three of the top four rated surfers are still in the air somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. A hurricane in Miami is to blame. Though today was the first day of the official waiting period (which stretches from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5), small surf and airborne surfers have seen the event put on hold.
Reigning world champion Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) arrived on time, but her boards didn’t. Still, Georgeson is happy just to be alive.
“Our plane was taking off, heading down the runway full-throttle when the pilot suddenly hit the breaks and we skidded down the runway for ages,” Georgeson said. “Apparently there was engine trouble. Everybody had to get off the plane but then they reboarded us on the same one just a little while later! When we were taking off the second time all the pilot said was ‘Hopefully this will work this time! Talk about nerve-wracking.”
Georgeson’s stress levels won’t be waning anytime soon. Without out her equipment and needing a stellar result in France to keep any hope of retaining her world crown alive, the 22-year-old Australian will have to dig deep and find the championship form that led her to her first world title last year.
As defending champion of the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle, she is wholly capable. Georgeson also won the event in 2003.
The event wildcard has been given to France’s Pauline Ado, current ASP Europe champion. This marks Ado’s first ASP Women’s World Tour appearance.
“I’m just very happy that Rip Curl invited me and that the contest is in France – I am from Anglet, which is near Spain but not far from here,” Ado said. “I am not here for a result; I am here to learn and am just really excited to surf with all of the professional surfers who I admire. I just hope to surf to the best of my ability.”
The fifth of eight events on the 2006 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle will tender a telling take on where the world’s best women surfers will sit going into the final stretch of the season.
The next call on competition status will occur at 8am local time tomorrow, Sept. 1, 2oo6.
Round One Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle Match-Ups: 1st and 2nd advance; 3rd surfs Round Two
Heat 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Trudy Todd (AUS)
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Heather Clark (ZAF), Julia Christian (USA)
Heat 3: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA), Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Keala Kennelly (HAW), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 5: Chelsea Gerogeson (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 6: Megan Abubo (HAW), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS)
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