Roxy Pro Day 1 Highlights

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 25 February, 2012): The Snapper Rocks sandbank reformed in perfect time for the start of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover allowing the 2012 ASP Women's World Championship Tour to commence in quality 3-4ft point break waves.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, the 4-times ASP Women's World Champion came exploding out of the gates in her opening heat of 2012. The hometown favourite unleashed a barrage of powerful hacks that saw her earn a massive 9.00 (out of a possible 10) to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that she will be a contender again this year.

Gilmore said she was in the perfect position for the heat high 9 point ride.

Defending champion and world No.1 Carissa Moore from Hawaii posted the highest wave score of the day (9.4), on her way to a crushing win over Rebecca Woods from Copacabana, NSW, and rookie Phillipa Anderson from Newcastle. Anderson came into the event on a wild card after winning the women's trial on Friday. The 19 year-old showed that a six month break from competition hasn't slowed her down, posting a win in her opening heat of 2012. Moore did admit to some nerves paddling out for the first time as the world No.1.

Tyler Wright (AUS), 17, put on a dominant performance in her opening heat at the Roxy Pro today, posting multiple scores in the excellent range to net the highest heat total of the day - 17.70 (out of a possible 20). Wright recovered from a big mistake at the start of the heat, taking off on a wave before the siren sounded, riding all the way to the inside on a wave that didn't count.

Malia Manuel (HAW), 18, took top honours in her first heat as an elite ASP Women's World Championship Tour competitor. Manuel scoured the Snapper lineup and picked off the biggest and best waves on offer and used her smooth, yet powerful Hawaiian style to beat her more experienced competitors Silvana Lima (BRA), 27, and Courtney Conlogue (USA), 19, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, fresh from a win at the ASP 6-Star Australian Open last week, kept the roll going at Snapper today. Fitzgibbons was in control of the heat from the first wave, opening up with a decent score and backed that up with a 7.97 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave score of the heat. The popular surfer said she is spurred on by the local support.

Fitzgibbons relegated her New Zealand opponents Paige Hareb and Sarah Mason into the sudden death round two heats. Masonn entered as a replacement surfer due to Justine Dupont withdrawing due to injury.

Tyler Wright (AUS), 17, put on a dominant performance in her opening heat at the Roxy Pro today, posting multiple scores in the excellent range to net the highest heat total of the day - 17.70 (out of a possible 20). Wright recovered from a big mistake at the start of the heat, taking off on a wave before the siren sounded, riding all the way to the inside on a wave that didn't count.

Event organisers will reconvene at 6:30am to access conditions for a possible 7:30am start.

ROXY PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:

HEAT 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.24, Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.73, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 8.10

HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 17.70, Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.26, Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.33

HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.73, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.33, Philippa Anderson (AUS) 11.33

HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.64, Paige Hareb (NZL) 10.10, Sarah Mason (NZL) 7.94

HEAT 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.33, Sage Erickson (USA) 13.70, Laura Enever (AUS) 6.40

HEAT 6: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.73, Coco Ho (HAW) 12.13, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 7.54