Shattered Title Hopes and Perfect Barrels At The Billabong Pro Maui

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii (Friday Dec. 8, 2006) -Billabong Pro Maui wildcard Melanie Bartels (HAW) has ended Melanie Redman-Carr's (AUS) hopes of clinching her maiden world title at Honolua Bay today - this just one week after winning the previous ASP Women's World Tour event at Sunset Beach as a wildcard.

Bartels' earned 18.85 out of a possible 20.00 points in the six to 10 foot (two to three metre) conditions to post the highest heat total of the event and a spot in the quarterfinals. Redman-Carr earned an early exit, leaving the door open for six-time world champion Layne Beachley (AUS) and reigning world champion Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) to battle it out for the 2006 ASP Women's World Title.

"I came into this contest having nothing to lose and everything to gain -- knowledge, extra time practicing out there with all the other girls - so I was just looking at it like a normal contest," Bartels said. "I didn't even think about the title implications, or taking out Mel Redman; I just wanted to surf well."

Bartels was a last minute invite to participate in the Billabong Maui Trials through which she earned her main event berth today. Her invite came courtesy of her strong contention for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title.

"The waves were so perfect; I think I had one of the biggest barrels of my life here today and it's just because of the contest," Bartels said of the 9.60 barrel she tucked into. "I'm stoked to be here and to have been invited."

Bartels, who was on the ASP Women's World Tour in 2004 and 2005, has qualified via the World Qualifying Series (WSQ) to be back on the elite tour next year. If her performances over the last couple of weeks are any indication, her previous battle with competitive confidence seems to have disappeared.

"I was nervous in the trials because of the waves and the conditions," Bartels said. "Heat by heat I just got more confidence and believed in myself more and more. In the last heat I knew I was up against Melanie Redman-Carr, she's a very, very, good surfer and I was just thinking in order for me to beat her I needed to go big. It's the only way I could win, so I tried my best and just went for it on every wave."

Beachley also went for it today, posting several waves in the excellent range (8.0 and above) in her Round 1 and 3 heats.

"It's a combination of the waves that I'm choosing and the confidence in the calm, relaxed manner in which I'm surfing," Beachley said of her success at Honolua today. "When I pulled into that barrel in the first wave of that heat I was just inside this massive cavern thinking ?I'm coming out of it.' There was no apprehension, no anxiety, no nerves, just full confidence and love of surfing Honolua Bay."