Good Start for Jacqueline Silva at Maresia Girls International
Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (Tuesday, September 21, 2010) – As predicted the waves built up at Praia Mole, with good 3-5 feet lefthanders on offer for the start of the Maresia Girls International. All 44 surfers that entered in the contest competed today in Round 1 of the ASP Women’s 6-Star event held in Florianopolis.
Jacqueline Silva had a very good start in her quest towards earning a spot among the six womens surfers who make it to the ASP Women’s World Tour next year. She started the heat scoring an 8.0 out of 10 on her first wave to lead the whole heat. In the next round Silva will face Claire Bevilacqua and Bethany Hamilton, two direct contenders in the running for a position on next year’s ASP World Tour.
“I was a bit anxious at the start,” Silva said. There is a lot of pressure competing here at Praia Mole, but then I had that 8.0 point ride which gave me all the confidence that I needed. From then on all I did was focus on finishing the heat in first place. The waves are really good today, but due to a strong rip maintaining position was very difficult.”
Silva, who is currently ranked ninth on the ASP Women’s World Ranking, needs to advance to at least sixth position to requalify for the ASP Women’s World Tour.
“With this result I’m already replacing my worst result, but I want to get a good result here to go to Hawaii more comfortably,” Silva said.
Current ASP Women’s No. 2 Laura Enever, No. 3, Courtney Conlogue, No. 5 Claire Bevilacqua, Alana Blanchard and Canelle Bullard all advanced through to the next round and Silva’s improved result places her in front of Hawaiian Blanchard, and Bullard on the ASP Women’s World Ranking.
Alana Blanchard prefers not to think very much about rankings when competing. She advanced wining her heat with fellow Hawaiian Bethany Hamilton in second.
“That was a good heat, there’s a strong rip, but the waves are good and I’m happy to be in the next round,” Blanchard said. “I rather not to think about my rating and just make it through heats. I prefer to surf with no pressure at all. Besides, the last contest will be in Hawaii, where I live, so I’ll look to do well there.”
The Maresia Girls International is an ASP South America sanctioned event. The official sponsor is the Brazilian surf brand MARESIA and organized by Prefeitura Municipal de Florianopolis, Salva Surf Brasil, Federacao Catarinense de Surf e Associacao de Surf da Praia Mole. Co sponsor are: Praia Mole Eco Village, Jamaica Surf Shop, Tent Beach, Aloha Surf Shop, Overboard, Planeta Surf, Ecologica, Surf Trip, Sumatra, Bahamas Surf Shop, Bali, New Look Surfwear, Fissura Surf Wear, and Mabuya. Partners: Surf Magazines Fluir, Surfar and Solto, Portal Waves, Jornal Drop and broadcast by TV Woohoo.
Check the event live webcast at www.aspsouthamerica.com.br
Category: All ASP News, ASP Star News
