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Boardfolio.com >> ASP World Tour News >> Georgeson Defeats Beachley To Win First WCT

Australian Chelsea Georgeson defeats five-time world champion Layne Beachley in the Roxy Pro France in good 4-6 ft surf. The Quiksilver Pro & Roxy Pro France (Sept 30-Oct 11) Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com World Championship Tour (WCT) Press Release Georgeson Defeats Beachley To Win First WCT October 9, 2003 (Hossegor, France) Australian Chelsea Georgeson today defeated five-time world champion Layne Beachley to win the Roxy Pro France. The US$60,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) resumed this morning with quarterfinal heats, progressed through the semifinals and then climaxed with the grand finale. Good 4-6 ft (1.3-2m) waves were on offer, though conditions remained difficult due to tide changes and strong currents. A beautiful sunny day greeted the strong beach crowd at the main site of La Graviere. Georgeson - the 2002 ASP Rookie of the Year - commenced her maiden WCT final determined to win. The 19-year-old committed herself to a huge backhand barrel first wave, and despite being smashed at the end of a long tube, paddled back out with a slender lead she continued to improve upon. Putting her backhand attack through its paces, she soon collected a 6.17, and then the finals' top single score of 7-points, following a series of re-entries and a closeout floater. By winning the Roxy Pro France, she jumped into third position on the ratings, collected US$10,000 and is now well within range of this year's world title. With only one event remaining at Honolua Bay, Maui-Haw, this coming December, Georgeson is only 60-points behind leader Keala Kennelly (Kauai, Haw). "I'm so stoked and can't believe it," began an elated Georgeson. "I've had a couple of heats against Layne before and never beaten her, so it's so good to beat her in a final. The waves were pretty tough, but I found a couple with open faces. I'd made a couple of quarters and a semifinal last year, so I've just been trying to hack away at it. I'm so happy to make a final for once. "Oh my gosh," she responded, when informed of her world title possibility. "Well, I guess it's going to come down to Maui. I didn't even know I was in the running, but that's something to look forward to. Hawaii's going to be all on." Beachley - the defending Roxy Pro France champion - played catch-up throughout the 30-minute decider. Despite failing to post any high scores, she remained in contention needing an 8.5 to win, though it wasn't to be. Nonetheless, she achieved her main goal of narrowing the ratings margin and is now only 36-points shy of the mark. "It was really difficult to read the conditions, but Chelsea did perfectly and picked the right waves and out surfed me," said Beachley. "She deserved to win that one and is always a tough competitor to come up against. I'm obviously disappointed, but happy I've kept the world title race open. We're going into Hawaii with a really exciting race. There are five girls in contention, so once again it will come down to the Billabong Pro at Honolua and hopefully we get really good waves." Equal third were Lynette MacKenzie (Aus) and Heather Clark (SAfr). MacKenzie stopped local French wildcard Emmanuelle Joly this morning, but was unable to continue her run past Georgeson in the semifinals. The Australian spent much of the heat paddling, and was searching for another 7.84 ride. "I had a little bit of a shocker out there then," admitted MacKenzie. "I got stuck in the current for ages and I also had some oil on my foot, but I was just stoked to make it past the quarterfinals, as I haven't for a while. It's good to make a semi. I saw Chelsea's best wave, but I knew I could comeback if I got another wave, but I couldn't get back out into the lineup and my arms felt like jelly." Clark - who was sitting just behind Beachley on the ratings prior to their semifinal - remained in contention throughout, but was unable to find a low 3.84 ride toward the end. Despite posting the best single score of 7.5 in the heat, she lost the narrow decider and now heads to the final WCT event in fourth position. "It was a tough one and Layne's always really hard to beat," said Clark. "Being close to her on the ratings was on my mind too, and obviously I wanted to win. She got the better of it though, and I was a little mixed up with who was leading at one point. I thought I was, and let her take a good wave when I had priority. I stuffed up, but I'm really happy with a third. I'll just have to train really hard for the last event in Hawaii." Finishing equal fifth in the Roxy Pro France today were Megan Abubo (Haw), wildcard Joly, Samantha Cornish (Aus) and last year's runner-up Sofia Mulanovich (Peru). The Peruvian also retains a slender shot at this year's world title, lying in fifth position on the current ratings heading into the final tournament. Roxy Pro France Final Results 1st Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) - US$10,000 2nd Layne Beachley (Aus) - US$6,000 Current Ratings Top Five (all still have 2003 world title chance) 1. Keala Kennelly (Haw) 3,120 2. Layne Beachley (Aus) 3,084 3. Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) 3,060 4. Heather Clark (SAfr) 2,844 5. Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 2,424

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