Australian rookie Stephanie Gilmore has been crowned champion at the Mancora Peru Classic today after a last-minute victory over seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion Layne Beachley.
Spinning around on a “walling lefthander” in the last minute, Gilmore scored an 8.10 out of a possible 10 to win the event. “I don’t know how I managed to get that last wave in the dying seconds. The ocean was dead flat, and then out of nowhere came this little wave and it was pretty special. I’m pretty proud of myself” says Gilmore.
Earlier in the day, Gilmore defeated Australian Jessi Miley-Dyer in the quarterfinals and Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich in the semifinals. “It is really hard to lose out in the Semifinals. I was very much looking forward to bringing a win back to Peru, but Steph (Gilmore) was on fire. I’m disappointed that I didn’t win today, but I am very happy that the event was a success here in Peru and I will head to Hawaii in hopes of reclaiming the world title” says Mulanovich following her semifinal defeat.
The Mancora Peru Classic is Gilmore’s third event victory of the season and increases her ratings lead with two events remaining in the 2007 ASP Women’s World Tour. The next stop on the tour is the Roxy Pro in Oahu from Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, 2007 followed by the Billabong Pro in Maui from Dec. 8-20, 2007.
