Welcome to the Surf Life
Welcome to the Surf Life
Imagine travelling around the world to do - as your profession- something you love. Surfing. Think of the amazing places you would see, the people you would meet, the waves you would ride and the experiences you would have. And, along the way, carve out the chance to be an influence on a generation and cement a place in the history of the world's most dream like sport.
For over 30 years, this dream has been a reality for the world's best female surfers as they follow the ASP Women's World Tour, the most sought after professional circuit in competitive surging. The top 17 travel the planet competing in Australia, Brazil, Peru, Europe and Hawaii. Come season end, the surfer who has accumulated the most points through-out the year earns the prestigious honour of being crowned the undisputed ASP Women's World Champion.
With surfers from Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Brazil, Hawaii and South Africa, the top 17 is made up of a diverse and dynamic group of girls looking to add the title 'ASP Women's World Champion' next to their name. A title which opens doors and opportunity all around the world.
South African, Wendy Botha and American, Lisa Andersen led the way in the 90s. Now, Peruvian superstar Sofia Mulanovich and two Australians, the records breaking seven times World Champion Layne Beachley and exceptional two time ASP Women's World Champion Steph Gilmore, lead a new generation of talented exuding athleticism, vibrancy and femininity.
Long recognised as a male dominated sport, today's female surfers are giving their male counterparts a run for their money.
"The young crop this year has created a new era for women's surfing," Kelly Slater, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, said "They're younger, faster, more radical surfers, with good looks and great style to match. The girls on the 2009 tour now would challenge most of the guys surfing today- and that's saying something."
"I'd like to see more of them in the spotlight," Slater said. "I don't think there's enough emphasis placed upon the enormous and diverse talent of each individual in surfing. This year's Top 17 are particularly marketable, so it's time we saw this happen."
The Top 17 travel year-round, competing in some of the most exotic and desirable venues on the planet. At the end of the season, the surfer who has accumulated the most points throughout the year seizes the prestigious honour of being crowded the ASP Women's World Champion, a title which brings with it much prestige and adulation, open doors and opportunities right all around the world.
Names like Tom Carroll, Tom Curren, Wendy Botha and Lisa Andersen dominated the sport in the 1990s, contributing to the rise of the surfing niche lifestyle and industry.
Today, two Australians, Layne Beachley (a record seven-times ASP Women's World Champion) and reigning ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, are synonymous with the progression of female surfing. While Beachely cemented herself as an icon within the sport, it is Gilmore leading the next generation of talent, exuding athleticism, vibrancy and femininity.
With two ASP Women's World Titles and a multiple endorsement deals at her helm, Stephanie Gilmore knows firsthand how fortunate she is to form part of the ASP Top 17.
"The ASP Women's World tour presents the most exciting, challenging and talented female surfers on the planet, taking the surfing lifestyle on a journey around the world all with the quest to be crowned ASP Women's World Champion. The surfing lifestyle is certainly beautiful and rare."
"Being on tour is the most wonderful thing ever," Sofia Mulanovich, 2004 ASP Women's World Champion and current Dream Tour star, said "You get to surf good waves, meet amazing people, experience differently cultures and at the same time you do what you love, it is living the dream."
These fortunate women are dispersed across the globe in preparation for the next chapter in the ASP Women's World Tour, when the Beachly Classic kicks off in Sydney, Australia on September 30, followed by the Rip Curl Pro Search, somewhere in the North Atlantic on October 26th.
17 Women
17 Personalities
17 Dreams
Welcome to the ASP, Women's World Tour, Welcome to the Life:
Meet the Gold. Meet the Worlds' Best Women Surfers...
Bruna Schmitz 'The Rookie'
Born: 3rd April 1990
Home: Matinhos Beach, Parana- Brazil
Talent: Beauty or competitive beast? Don't let this Brazilian bombshell fool you, this rookie means business.
Life: is being who you want to.
Quote: "Being on the tour is about surfing all the best spots, and getting to know places and people. It's like the best promotion job."
Alana Blanchard 'The Pin Up'
Born: 5th March, 1990
Home: Hanalei, Kauai- Hawaii
Talent: She's down to earth, beautiful and charges infamous Banzai Pipeline. She's a pin-up who sure can surf.
Life: adventure, love and happiness.
Quote: "surfer girls rip and they are hot."
Melanie Bartels 'The Magician'
Born: 2nd May, 1982
Talent: Sponsored by Hawaii Royalty, rides a body-board for fun, has a son, gives away her surfboards to those less fortunate and surfs like a World Champion; she just doesn't have the trophy... yet.
Life: iS wHAt u mAke oF iT.
Quote: "I love travelling to amazing places doing what I love to do which is surfing, being on the ASP Women's World Tour has allowed me to do all of this for a living. I'm so grateful to be a part of the women's tour and the progression of women's surfing."
Chelsea Hedges 'The Mum'
Born: 15th October, 1983
Home: Duranbah Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Talent: ASP World Champion in 2005, mother in 2008, ASP Women's World Tour competitior comeback in 2009. Who said Mum's can't surf?
Life: cherish every moment
Quote: "Being a part of the ASP Women's World Tour is a dream that many of us have had since we first started surfing. Travelling around the world to exotic locations, competing, surfing... what more could you want in a lifestyle?"
Sofia Mulanovich 'The Hero'
Born: 24th June 1983
Home: Punta Hermosa, Lima- Peru
Talent: Sofia Sofia Sofia; 30 million people in Peru chanted when she won the 2004 ASP World Title. A national hero, permanent security abounds, a rock-star reception guaranteed.
Quote: "being on tour is the most wonderful thing ever, you get to surf good waves, meet amazing people, experience different cultures and at the same time you do what you love, it is living the dream."
Rebecca Woods 'The Sea Eagle'
Born: 14th September, 1984
Home: Copacabana Beach, New South Wales- Australia
Talent: ASP World Junior Champ, ASP World Qualifying Series Champ and Most Improved, if she is not kicking goals in the surf, she is on the sidelines cheering for tries at a Manly Sea Eagles footy match.
Life: live it like you love it!
Quote: "The tour allows for a lifestyle people dram of living; travel, shopping, culture, oh yeah and we go surfing too!"
Paige Hareb 'The Kiwi'
Born: 6th June, 1990
Home: Oakura Beach, Taranki- New Zealand
Talent: New Zealand's first ever female to qualify for the tour. Young, but not innocent, this girl has the World Title firmly in her sights, she means business.
Life: fun, family and friends.
Quote: "All of us girls travel around the world together seeing amazing places, meeting cool people and experiencing different cultures and food while living a happy, exciting life and having a whole lot of fun along the way!"
Silvana Lima 'The Threat'
Born: 10th October, 1984
Home: Rio de Janeiro- Brazil
Talent: Two time runner-up to the ASP World Title. Her winnings go to supporting her city's surf team. Will good karma bring this world title threat the trophy?
Life: cheers.
Quote: "Competing with the best female surfers in the world is very special, it is like a dram come true. We have a good life on tour, we are like a big family of surfers! Competing is always funny, after our heats we have dinner together, we hang out together and we spend most of out time taking about the thing we love most; surfing, waves and competition. Then, when the sun rises and the next heat begins, we become competitors again! We all do what we love, we have this passion in common."
Steph Gilmore 'The Champion'
Born: 29th January, 1988
Home: Rainbow Bay, Gold Coast- Australia
Talent: She's musically gifted, gorgeous and gracious with a hint of glamour, she is the two time ASP Women's World Champion with the perfect record.
Life: is formidably enjoyable- and short, so make the most of it.
Quote: "The adventurous, healthy nature of the surfing lifestyle is beautiful and rare. Mixed with competition and a court that is forever changing, the ASP Women's World tour presents the most exciting, challenging and talented female surfers on the planet, taking the surfing lifestyle on a journey around the world all with the quest to be crowned ASP Women's World Champion."
Sally Fitzgibbons 'The Athlete'
Born: 19th December, 1990
Home: Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa- Australia
Talent: She's fast. The fastest ever qualifier for the ASP World Tour, one of the fastest distance runners Australia has ever seen. This athlete chose surfing.
Life: an adventure.
Quote: "The tour provides an extraordinary lifestyle. It gives me the opportunity to live my dreams at such a young age, explore the world and continually test myself while having the best time ever!"
Coco Ho 'The Princess'
Born: 28th April, 1991
Home: Sunset Beach- Hawaii
Talent: Niece of former ASP World Champion Derek Ho, daughter of Hawaiian charger Michael Ho, this is surfing's royal bloodline.
Life: Health and Happiness
Quote: "When I think about my lifestyle and the tour I think about the unique travelling experiences with a close knit group of peers, friends and heroes while pushing my progress and competition for points and prestige."
Rosy Hodge 'The Gypsy'
Born: 27th April, 1987
Home: Queensbury Point, East London- South Africa
Talent: South Africa's soul tour representative feels at home at every tour stop. Natural and vibrant, it's a snug fit with the gypsy life.
Life: short and sweet
Quote: "I'm grateful to be a part of the surfing lifestyle. I get to do what I love, everyday. I'm happy with the life that I have and the role surfing plays in it."
Samantha Cornish 'The Competitor'
Born: 8th November, 1980
Home: Crescent Head, New South Wales- Australia
Talent: Feisty, spirited and practically born surfing. Sam is the competitive package; "what-ever the mind can conceive, it can achieve."
Life: live in the moment and breath it!
Quote: "When I think of ASP Women's Dream Tour and lifestyle, I constantly remind myself of how incredible it is to be one of the select surfers who get to compete against the best surfers in the best waves around the world!"
Amee Donohoe 'The Individual'
Born: 8th November, 1980
Home: Macmasters Beach, New South Wales- Australia
Talent: In the water; consistent and hardworking. Out of the water; honest and direct, especially when it comes to promoting the message of Drug Free Australia.
Life: Living, surfing, exploring, beers, mates, love.
Quote: "The highs? Having a job that enables you to discover all corners of the globe, rocking up to countries and being able to experience their waves, food, culture and night life. The lows?: Body clock battles and excess baggage barneys!"
Jacqueline Silva 'The Thoroughbred'
Born: 17th July, 1979
Home: Barra da Lagoa Beach, Florianopolis- Brazil
Talent: After ten years on tour she is fit, toned and athletic; a true thoroughbred ready to run any race or surf any heat.
Life: be happy. Live your life every second.
Quote: "It's so cool to be travelling around the world searching for good waves, meeting people, competing, living from the sport, doing what you love, it's just beautiful."
Jessi Miley-Dyer 'The Thinker'
Born: 29th May, 1986
Home: Bondi Beach, Sydney- Australia
Talent: National Champion, ASP World Junior Champion, Rookie of the Year, ASP World Qualifying Series Champion, a scholarship to study law at the University of New South Wales. Overachiever? Perhaps. Talented? Definitely.
Life: Be in IT! Smile and people will wonder what you are up to.
Quote: "Surfing is one of those things that's hard to define because it is kind of the ultimate portal to freedom. That's what comes to mind when I think of the ASP Women's World Tour, the best surfers in the world, the best waves in the world, and we're free to follow our dreams."
Interview with Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley 'The Iron'
Born: 24th May, 1972
Home: Manly Beach, Sydney- Australia
Talent: Seven times ASP Women's World Champion, 29 World Tour victories, 2009 years on tour, what comes next? "To continue building an empire that becomes big enough to give back to a sport that has provided me with so much."
Life: get on with it
Quote: "Being a part of the ASP Women's World Tour for 20 years has enabled me to travel the world, experience a variety of cultures and live enviable lifestyles."
Tell us a little bit about the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic:
Layne Beachley: I started the Beachley Classic back in 2006. My goal was to have the richest event in women's surfing history and we did it! Thanks to the Commonwealth Bank, we are doing it all again in 2009. The Classic brings the world's best women surfers to New South Wales as they fight it out for the record prize purse and all important world title ratings points. It is a great event with lots of activities including a wine and food fair, celebrity challenge and all sorts of fun and games!
What have you learnt being apart of the ASP Women's World Tour?
Layne Beachley: Well, I have been on tour for 19 and a half years so I guess you could say it has taught me a lot! It has shaped my life in a number of ways.
What are the pros and cons of being on tour?
Layne Beachley: Pros - travel, friendships, reading food labels in foreign languages and opportunities that travelling the world offers.
Cons - time away from home, friends and family, travelling with surfboards... the airlines hate us.
What are your future dreams in regards to surfing?
Layne Beachley: I hope to see women's surfing go from strength to strength, more prize-money, more events and a true career pathway. It would be nice to look back in 5 years time and see a legacy in place so I will continue to do what I can to nurture this growth.
Tell us about Blue Kiss designs:
Layne Beachley: Blue Kiss is a vibrant, youthful, energetic girl's surf brand which will be available at Myer stores across the country come November.
You were recently a star of Australia's Dancing With The Stars- how did that go?
Layne Beachley: It was a crazy experience! My life was consumed by the world of dance, something I never expected. I now have a new found respect for dancing and really enjoyed seizing the opportunity to learn something new.
What charities do you support?
Layne Beachley: My charity, the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation which through offering financial grants and moral support, provides opportunity for girls and women across Australia to achieve their dreams in all endeavours.
And then I also represent the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Day ofDifference, Planet Ark, World of Difference.
What is a typical day for you?
Layne Beachley: No one day is like the other. It is ever changing and there never seems to be a dull moment! A near normal or should I say ideal working day would be an early surf, brekky, some emails, meetings, afternoon nap, exercise and dinner.
Favourite Food?
Layne Beachley: Poached egg, pesto on gluten free toast - it is a staple, as are rice crackers and hommus.
Favourite Health tip:
Layne Beachley: Drink lots of water....lots!
Interview by Brooke Hunter
* Photo credit ASP/Robertson
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