The Honda Women's US Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach (Surf City), California

The Ladies Rip the Waves

July 23, 2008

2 - 4 ft. waves welcomed the ladies competing in the 2008 Honda Women's U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill this morning at the Huntington Beach Pier, California. Glassy conditions prevailed throughout the morning until light winds blew away the clean swell in the afternoon. Several ASP Women's World Tour stars, along with many ASP World Qualifying Series competitors, were in Huntington Beach to challenge the waves for the US Open championship. The first three rounds of women's surfing where completed today.

Two of the ASP Women's World Tour ladies showed why they are World Tour champions. Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich, former women's world champion, led the way with the day's highest single wave score of 9.87/10: almost perfect. Australian Stephanie Gilmore, current ASP women's world champion and 2007 US Open champion, advanced through both of her rounds with one of the day's highest heat scores: 17.87/20. Both women will see action again on Friday in the round of 12.

Another fantastic performance of the day was delivered by Bethany Hamilton, the surfer from Hawaii who lost her arm in a shark attack. She convincingly won her first round heat and in a closely fought heat in her second round, defeated Hawaiian Coco Ho, one of the finalists in the ASP S3 Supergirl Pro Junior. Bethany Hamilton and Coco Ho both advanced to Friday's round of 12. Several notable local lady surfers not advancing to Friday's round of 12 are: Anastasia Ashley, Erica Hosseini, Courtney Conlouge, and Katrina Petroni.