FROM ASP
SUNSET BEACH, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, November 28, 2009) - Carissa Moore (HAW), 17, won the sixth of seven stops on the ASP Women's World Tour today, the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, over fellow finalists Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, freshly crowned three-time ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, and Vans Triple Crown ratings' leader Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19, to claim her first ASP Women's World Tour event victory.

Moore, who entered the Gidget Pro via a Trials' victory, stamped her authority on ASP Women's World Tour competition when she surfed with amazing poise and maturity throughout the event's entirety to eventually win on her home Island of Oahu.

"It's such an honor," Moore said. "I'm speechless right now. I never thought that I would make the Final in this event. All of the girls were surfing so well and congratulations to Steph (Gilmore) for winning the World Title."

Moore is no stranger to ASP Women's World Tour competition despite her young age, and had already made the Final's at a Roxy Pro Gold Coast event in 2007 when she earned a Runner-Up finish to Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26. Having entered previous ASP Women's World Tour events in the past as a wildcard, the young Hawaiian looked comfortable in the heightened level of competition.

"It definitely helps having other World Tour experience under my belt," Moore said. "I also know surfing on the North Shore is always going to be challenging and the girls surf at such a sick level and each heat is a clean slate."

The Hawaiian talent also looked comfortable out in the tricky lineup of Sunset Beach and had been receiving some crucial coaching under the wing of Hawaiian legend Pancho Sullivan (HAW).

"My coaches have been such a big help," Moore said. "Having Pancho (Sullivan) out in the water helping me was great."

Fitzgibbons nabbed her first Final appearance of her rookie year on tour and absolutely dominated her bouts, posting the event's highest scores including the only perfect 10-point ride of Gidget Pro competition in the Semifinals to earn her maiden Final berth and finished runner-up to Moore.

"I was really happy to get that wave," Fitzgibbons said. It was tricky. "There were not that many waves in that heat and I was happy to get the score and move on through to Final."

Gilmore, who clinched her third consecutive ASP Women's World Title just minutes before paddling out for the Final, was in amazing form throughout the event's entirety and claimed a third place finish overall.

"There were some legitimate bombs coming in out there," Gilmore said. "I was on a 7'0" all day and just stayed on the North Peak and I knew Carissa has been training with Pancho, so I figured I'd follow her around a little bit."

Blanchard, who is currently leading the Vans Triple Crown ratings, continued to flare throughout Gidget Pro competition and wrapped up a fourth place finish. Her final appearance was no easy task, as she defeated ASP Women's World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, crushing Lima's hopes of an ASP Women's World Title while significantly helping her chances of requalification for the 2010 ASP Women's World Tour.

"I feel bad that I knocked out Silvana (Lima), but there's also a lot on the line for me," Blanchard said. "If I don't do well at the end of the year I'll get knocked off of the tour for next year. This is my best result of the year, so I'm happy."


GIDGET PRO SUNSET BEACH FINAL RESULTS:

1 - Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.24

2 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.07

3 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.17

4 - Alana Blanchard (HAW) 11.17


ASP WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR RATINGS (After Gidget Pro Sunset Beach):

1 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5521 pts

2 - Silvana Lima (BRA) 4548 pts

3 - Coco Ho (HAW) 4117 pts

4 - Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4071 pts

5 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 3792 pts

6 - Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3595 pts

7 - Melanie Bartels (HAW) 3333 pts

8 - Paige Hareb (NZL) 2886 pts

9 - Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2604 pts

10 - Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 2509 pts

11 - Alana Blanchard (HAW) 2490 pts

12 - Rebecca Woods (AUS) 2431 pts

13 - Samantha Cornish (AUS) 2388

14 - Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 2010 pts

15 - Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 1656 pts

16 - Amee Donohoe (AUS) 1638 pts

17 - Megan Abubo (HAW) 1440