HONOLUA BAY, Maui (Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007) – Event organizers at the Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines have called competition on this morning, with the highly-anticipated Round 3 match-ups hitting the two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Honolua Bay at 12:15pm.

The final event of the 2007 ASP Women's World Tour season, the Billabong Pro Maui will crown the 2007 ASP Women's World Champion, and remaining contenders Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Sofia Mulanovich (PER) and Silvana Lima (BRA) will battle it out throughout the day to see if a winner will decided today..

"We've been waiting around all morning and just recently, there have been some contestable sets breaking through Honolua Bay," Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director Dino Andino (USA) said. "The swell is projected to increase throughout the day, and we're keen to utilize the swell while it is here. We're unsure what is one the horizon, and with the ASP Women's World Title on the line, we're going to put the girls out in the best conditions available."

If Mulanovich places 9th, Gilmore must finish 5th or better, and Lima must finish 1st or 2nd to claim the crown.

If Mulanovich places 5th, Gilmore must finish 3rd or better and Lima must win the Billabong Pro Maui to claim the title.

If Mulanovich places 3rd, Gilmore must finish 2nd to win, and Lima is out of contention regardless.

If Mulanovich places 2nd, Gilmore must win the event, and if Mulanovich wins the event, she also wins the title.

Last Sunday, spectators at the Billabong Pro Maui saw the opening two round of competition completed with some fantastic peformances put in by the ASP World Title frontrunners as well as defending event champions Chelsea Hedges (AUS) and Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS).

ASP Women's World Title match-up in Round 3 will see Gilmore, Mulanovich and Lima square off against Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Keala Kennely (HAW) and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) respectively.

In addition to the showdown for the ASP Women's World Title, the 2007 Vans Triple Crown will come to a close today at the Billabong Pro Maui, with frontrunners Mulanovich and Megan Abubo (HAW) looking to finish on top.

Both Abubo and Mulanovich have scalped one event each in this season's Vans Triple Crown, taking out the Reef Pro at Haleiwa and the Roxy Pro at Sunset respectively. Although Abubo suffered a horrific abdominal injury at Sunset Beach, the stylish Hawaiian rallied to net the opening day's highest single wave score of a 9.25 out of a possible 10.

Round 3 Billabong Pro Maui action will hit the water at 12:15pm.

All Billabong Pro Maui action will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com/maui07/index.asp and www.aspworldtour.com