November 15, 2016 Beverley Morris
Courtney Conlogue Claims the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Crown

DEE WHY, Sydney NSW/AUS (Saturday, April 21, 2012) – Courtney Conlogue (USA), 19, has won the prestigious 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, over Malia Manuel (HAW), 18, at Dee Why beach today. In clean, but challenging two-to-three foot (1.5 meter) waves, the world’s best female surfers battled head-to-head for the biggest prize purse on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, with Conlogue taking home USD$30,000.

Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, run by seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley, has caused some interesting twists and turns in the race for the coveted ASP Women’s World Title. Yesterday saw the early exit of reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), 19. Then today the current ASP Women’s World No. 1 and 2 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, both bowed out in the Quarterfinals.

Conlogue who has won multiple ASP 6-Star events, today claimed her maiden win on the elite ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, a feat that sees her jump to 4th on the ratings. Conlogue and Manuel battled through the stacked field of competitors to reach the Final. The dying swell made conditions difficult, but Conlogue found the best waves with the help of  highly rated scuba computers for beginner divers that allowed her to execute multiple powerful turns.

“I’m speechless right now!” Conlogue said. “It’s been two years on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour where I kept losing in the Quarterfinals. Then today after winning my Quarterfinal I just tried to go and win the thing. Malia (Manuel) was surfing great in the Final, even though the waves were tricky. I’m really stoked to have won this event! I love Steph (Gilmore) and Sally (Fitzgibbons) and to have them chair me up the beach was absolutely amazing!”

Manuel’s run to the Final wasn’t easy, defeating Gilmore and Tyler Wright (AUS), 18, in the morning’s Quarterfinal and Semifinal. Manuel’s smooth style and tail drifting turns saw her earn big scores and new fans all event. Her red-hot run was only ended by Conlogue’s superior wave selection. Manuel is now equal 6th on the ASP World Championship Tour, and she is now the highest ranked 2012 rookie.

“I’m really relieved to get a good result here at Dee Why,” Manuel said. “I’m happy to move up the ratings. It’s a great confidence boost going into the next three events. I’m really stoked to make a final in my rookie year. I hope the battle for ASP Rookie Of The Year goes down to the last contest. It’s really close between me and Lakey (Peterson). I’m not going to count her out.”

Rebecca Woods (AUS), 28, and Wright were the highest placed Australian surfers, both finishing equal 3rd place. Wright has placed 3rd three times this year, but this is Woods’ best result of the 2012 season and is sure to help her requalification campaign.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling at the moment,” Woods said. “I’ve had a few last places this year, so in some regards I was just happy to put it together for a few heats. I’ve made about nine Semifinals in my life and still never made it into that elusive Final. It’s good to be pushed by the younger girls. I woke up this morning and thought Courtney (Conlogue) was going to win today, then she was on my side of the draw and I cursed myself for putting that in my head. Then she beat me and won the contest, so I was right.”

Gilmore, four-time ASP Women’s World Champion, suffered a shock early exit at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic today. Gilmore has had three final appearances in the first three events of the year, and today added a respectable equal 5th place finish to her tally. In testing conditions Gilmore was bested by an in-form Manuel, who also defeated her in their non-elimination Round 3 match-up yesterday.

“It’s disappointing,” Gilmore said. “But it’s not a terrible result for me. I feel really strong. When there’s great waves on offer I feel like I’m surfing great. It’s just a matter of getting those waves and I didn’t get them today. I’m looking forward to heading over to Brazil and finding the form I had in the first few events.”

Fitzgibbons went down in the Quarterfinals to eventual event winner Conlogue. Fitzgibbons held an early lead with two mid-range scores, but Conlogue snared the best wave of the heat and tore it apart with some impressive turns, netting a 9.00 (out of a possible 10) and won the heat.

“This is the worst part about what we do,” Fitzgibbons said. “Today I just wasn’t good enough. When you’re feeling strong, you really want to progress through to that Final. I got some early scores and it was really challenging out there. That one wave popped up for Courtney (Conlogue) and she grabbed a 9.00, which is the highest score of the day. I’m really happy for her. She’s a good friend and she trains and surfs really hard and that paid off today.”

More info www.ASPWorldTour.com

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:
1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.17
2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.56

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.67 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.50
SF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.33 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.10

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.43 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 12.50
QF 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.00 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.47
QF 3: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.73 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.73
QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.97 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.34

CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR TOP 6 (after the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic):
1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
3: Tyler Wright (AUS)
4: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
5: Carissa Moore (HAW)
6: Laura Enever (AUS)
6: Malia Manuel (HAW)

 
November 15, 2016 Beverley Morris
Event Champion To Be Crowned Today At The Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

DEE WHY, Sydney NSW/AUS (Saturday, April 21, 2012) – The Finals are on now live at the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic. The event will be crowning a 2012 champion at Dee Why beach today. The surf is clean, with two-to-three foot (1.5 meter) waves on offer for the Top 17 female surfers in the world to battle for the richest prize purse on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour.

Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic is run by seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley, and is in its seventh year.

“There are a lot of sevens in my life at the moment,” Beachley said. “I’m so proud I’ve been able to run this event for seven years. I’m really appreciative of the Commonwealth Bank’s support and am thrilled with the level of women’s surfing. It’s Finals day today Click Here to watch the live recording on youtube via btrendie page. We’ve had a decrease in swell, but the girls are incredible at what they do and I’m sure they’ll be able to put on a great show today. I’ll be getting in the water later in the day for the celebrity challenge, and maybe even the Nikon Expression Session.”

 
November 15, 2016 Beverley Morris
Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Back On At Dee Why

 DEE WHY, Sydney NSW/AUS (Friday, April 20, 2012) – The 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic is back on at Sydney’s Dee Why beach today. The stormy conditions that we’ve seen over the past few days are starting to clean up, with clean six foot (2 meter) surf on the beach and the point.

Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic run by seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley is one of the most exciting stops on tour, with the world’s best female surfers competing in Australia’s biggest city.

“The direction of the swell has gone a little more east,” Beachley said. “That’s favourable for Dee Why point and the beach break. We’ve got an increase in swell of a couple of feet, I’d say it’s six-to-seven feet. There’s a lot of water moving which is really challenging for the girls and they’ll have to decide where they surf, either the beach or the point. We’re powering through and Round 2 and 3, with Round 4 on hold and the possibility of running the Nikon Expression Session.”

More info www.ASPWorldTour.com

REMAINING COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 3: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
HEAT 4: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Justine Dupont (FRA)
HEAT 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
HEAT 6: Sarah Mason (NZL) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)

 
November 15, 2016 Beverley Morris
Sally and Steph Soar at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

DEE WHY, Sydney NSW/AUS (Thursday, April 19, 2012) – The 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic got off to a sensational start in Sydney today. The tricky four foot (1.5 meters) surf, at the world famous Dee Why point offered up the perfect challenge for the world’s best female surfers to show what they’re made of.

Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic is one of the most exciting stops on tour, offering the biggest prize-purse and the prestige of surfing in an event run by seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley.

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, runner-up to the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title and current ASP Women’s World No. 2, amassed the highest two wave heat total of the day – 18.65 (out of a possible 20). Fitzgibbons attacked every section with massive turns and was rewarded with near perfect scores to advance directly into Round 3.

“It’s a really good way to start the event,” Fitzgibbons said. “You always want to start a new campaign strong. It’s tricky today, you really have to pick those double-ups, the real meaty ones. It was a good battle with Malia (Manuel), she was dropping high scores too. It always feel nice to post a couple of 9-point-rides. It’s rewarding to have the judges appreciate what you’re doing. I just wanted to throw those bigger turns in the biggest sections, that’s where you get the big scores. It’s great competing here in Sydney, it’s the closest event I have to my home on the South Coast. My friends and family came up and it’s great to have that support.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, four-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1, defeated two of the youngest surfers in the field in her opening heat, wildcard Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), 17, and Sarah Mason (NZL), 17. Gilmore and Mason both had close encounters with the infamous Dee Why reef, Mason was clearly shaken with bruising and scratches to her face.

“The direction of the swell is straight onto the reef,” Gilmore said. “I took off on the first one and slammed onto the reef and I cut my elbow. When I turned around Sarah (Mason) was holding onto her face. You switch from heat mode to going and asking if she’s ok. She slammed her face on the reef which isn’t nice and it rattles you a little bit. You second guess which ones to take off on.”

Lakey Peterson (USA), 17, ASP Women’s World Tour rookie and and current ASP Women’s World No. 6, won the opening heat of the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic over Pauline Ado (FRA), 21, and Laura Enever (AUS), 20. Peterson is going from strength to strength in her first year on tour, climbing up the ratings at each event.

“The waves were really tricky,” Peterson said. “When the right ones come you just had to be on them. I got lucky. I’ve never surfed Dee Why, it was good to get my feet wet and make it through that first heat. Right now a big goal of mine is to finish the year as ASP Rookie Of The Year. You’re only a rookie once and I want to make the most of it. Layne (Beachley) is one of the biggest names in women’s surfing. She’s such a nice person and she’s putting on a great event for us. Before my heat she came up to me and gave me some words of wisdom and I was pretty stoked about that.”

Tyler Wright (AUS), 18, posted a dominant performance in her opening heat today, and sealed the heat with a massive score at the end – 9.15 (out of a possible 10). Wright won the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic as a 14-year-old wildcard, and is now a full-time competitor on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, currently rated No. 4 in the world.

“I’m happy with how I put that heat together,” Wright said. “I feel like I’ve been fairly consistent on tour this year and I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had. I also feel like my surfing is the best it’s ever been. I’ve had some great match-ups against Laura (Enever) and Steph (Gilmore) and I’m really enjoying it. When I won this event when I was 14-years-old, I was awestruck by everything that was going on. I was really enjoying my time that year and I’m going to try and do the same thing this year.”

Carissa Moore (HAW), 19, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and winner of the last event in New Zealand survived a scare in her opening heat. Moore was trailing fellow Hawaiian Coco Ho (HAW), 20, for the majority of the battle, but found a wave in the dying minutes that netted her the required score.

“I’m really relieved right now,” Moore said. “It’s really important to win that opening heat and skip that second round. I wasn’t sure if I’d get the score because I fell on my last move, I’m super stoked. I really like surfing with Coco (Ho), we’ve surfed against each other since we were little girls. We travel together all the time.”

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 1 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.75, Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.50, Laura Enever (AUS) 6.40
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.65, Sage Erickson (USA) 13.05, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 8.70
HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.75, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 14.10, Sarah Mason (NZL) 6.80
HEAT 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.05, Coco Ho (HAW) 13.50, Justine Dupont (FRA) 5.40
HEAT 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.65, Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.60, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 4.10
HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.00, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.35, Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.75

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 2 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.05 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.85
HEAT 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.20 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 9.10

REMAINING COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 3: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
HEAT 4: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Justine Dupont (FRA)
HEAT 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
HEAT 6: Sarah Mason (NZL) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)

 
November 15, 2016 Beverley Morris
Sydney Harbour Launches The 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

DEE WHY, Sydney NSW/AUS (Tuesday, April 17, 2012) – This morning the world renowned Sydney Harbour played host to the official launch of the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic. Seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, Layne Beachley welcomed the surfers and media to the seventh annual Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, the event that offers the richest prize purse on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, with USD$130,000 on the line.

Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic is the halfway mark on this year’s tour. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, four-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1, has built up an intimidating lead on the ratings after two wins and a runner-up finish from the first three events.

“Last year was one of the most valuable years of my entire life,” Gilmore said. “I learnt that you can overcome things and comeback stronger. Last year my heart wasn’t in it 100%. I was focusing on different things. This year I’m loving being on tour, I love surfing with all the girls. We’re all pushing each other to new heights and I think women’s surfing is in a really good place.”

Layne Beachley is proud to host the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic in her hometown of Sydney, and is looking forward to a promising surf forecast.

“The surf is looking good for Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” Beachley said. “It’s looking like we might have six foot waves at Dee Why point again this year, but mother nature is in charge and we will see what happens. It will be some of the most challenging waves the girls will face all year and I’m looking forward to seeing them out there.”

Carissa Moore (HAW), 19, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion, is excited to be to be back in Sydney and defend her title as defending Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic event champion.

“It’s great to be here in Sydney,” Moore said. “It’s a beautiful city and I love coming here. I think that coming into the season as defending ASP Women’s World Champion is definitely different than chasing after a world title. Each year is a clean slate and I’m having as much fun as always.”

Laura Evever (AUS), 20, current ASP Women’s World No. 5 and Northern Beaches local will be looking to post a good result in her hometown event.

“It’s my second year on the ASP Women’s World Tour,” Enever said. “I’m training harder and putting more into it. I’m still myself and having fun, but I’m focusing more on improving my surfing. It feels good to be at home. I think it’s an advantage having my friends and family by my side and backing me.”

Nikki Van Dijk (USA), 17, has been awarded the event wildcard for the second year in a row. Van Dijk finished equal 5th at last year’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic after an impressive run to the Quarterfinals.

“I want to do as well, if not better than I did last year,” Van Dijk said. “It’s great to be here with these girls because they’re the best in the world. I’m only 17-years-old so this is the best experience I can get. Hopefully we will some good waves and Dee Why. ”