Georgeson and Redman-Carr relegated to rund two in the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle

World No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) and world No. 3 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) will surf the event’s first elimination round when the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle reconvenes at Seignosse. Both surfers finished third in their Round 1 heats at Les Estagnots today.

GEORGESON AND REDMAN-CARR RELEGATED TO ROUND TWO IN THE RIP CURL PRO MADEMOISELLE

SEIGNOSSE, France (Friday, Sept. 1, 2006) – World No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) and world No. 3 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) will surf the event’s first elimination round when the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle reconvenes at Seignosse. Both surfers finished third in their Round 1 heats at Les Estagnots today.

Early morning conditions were perfect; a building four-foot swell and offshore winds were a welcome sight for the ASP Women’s World Tour surfers who had to surf the often closed-out waves of Brazil last week. Unfortunately for Redman-Carr, the wind whipped onshore right before her heat and she was unable to advance over Brazil’s Silvana Lima and French wildcard Pauline Ado.

Ado, who is the current ASP Europe champion was pleased to advance straight to round three: "I’m just very happy because they are the best girls in this contest. I got some good waves today and I hope I can continue to do well in the rest of my heats."

Only surfers who finish third in Round 1 have to surf Round 2 – two three woman heats in which the third place surfer is eliminated. Round 1 first and second place finishers automatically move to Round 3.

Redman-Carr, who won the first three events of the year, was forced to surf Round 2 in Brazil last week as well. She lost her heat, finished equal 17th and relinquished her ratings lead to Layne Beachley (AUS).

Georgeson, who is surfing on borrowed boards because her boards were lost in transit from Brazil, will join Redman-Carr in the unenviable Round 2 club. Both surfers are in jeopardy of hindering their world title campaigns should they fail to advance to Round 3.

Only one surfer has won each of her Round 1 heats to advance directly to Round 3 this year. That surfer is Jessi Miley-Dyer, who with a runner-up finish in Brazil, now sits fourth on the ratings. Miley-Dyer beat Jacquline Silva (BRA) and Georgeson today.

"I really don’t want to be surfing in that second round – more than anything,” Miley-Dyer said. “I’ve had good Round 1 heats all year and have been kind of lucky. For this one I was just happy to get one good wave and get through. I’m stoked."

Also winning her heat today was former world champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER). Mulanovich, who was leading the ratings this time last year, sits equal 8th at present. Surfing in one of the early morning heats while the wind was still offshore, the Peruvian posted the day’s highest heat total of a 15.75 out of a possible 20. She was stoked with the conditions after surfing in less desirable conditions last week.

"It feels good to surf here because there is more time to go down to the bottom and turn it hard off the top,” Mulanovich said. “I’m pretty happy. Everytime I say I’m feeling good though I lose my next heat so I’m not even going to say it anymore! I’m just happy to have made it through."

Indications are strong that Rounds 2 and 3 will run tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006.

Round One Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle Results: 1st and 2nd advance; 3rd surfs Round Two
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 7.75, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 5.50, Trudy Todd (AUS) 1.75
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.75, Julia Christian (USA) 11.25, Heather Clark (ZAF) 9.65
Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.75, Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.50, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 10.30
Heat 4: Keala Kennelly (HAW) 11.40, Layne Beachley (AUS) 11.35, Serena Brooke (AUS) 9.75
Heat 5: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 12.50, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00, Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 8.00
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 8.85, Megan Abubo (HAW) 7.55, Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 6.50

RIP CURL PRO MADEMOISELLE ROUND ONE IN THE WATER

SEIGNOSSE, France (Friday, Sept. 1, 2006) – Competition at the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle has commenced in building three to four foot (one metre) swell at Seignosse this morning. Rounds one and potentially two are slated to run in first-rate offshore and sunny conditions at the beach break of Les Estagnots today.

Defending world and event champion Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), along with Serena Brooke (AUS) and Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) will surf borrowed boards today. Though surfers like Layne Beachley (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) finally arrived (after being re-routed due to a Miami hurricane) yesterday, several board bags are still missing.

Should contest directors opt to run round two, two surfers will be eliminated today. As the fifth of eight events on the 2006 ASP Women’s World Tour calendar, the tournament is critical to both world title and requalification campaigns.

Round One Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle Match-Ups: 1st and 2nd advance; 3rd surfs Round Two
Heat 1: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Trudy Todd (AUS)
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Heather Clark (ZAF), Julia Christian (USA)
Heat 3: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA), Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Keala Kennelly (HAW), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 5: Chelsea Gerogeson (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 6: Megan Abubo (HAW), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS)