" I haven’t won an event all year, so I’m so stoked,” said Georgeson

Photo : Karen Wilson / ASP / Tostee.com

“I can’t believe it,” she continued, on her Triple Crown win. “Someone just told me that I’ve won, and it’s not even the Triple Crown it’s the double crown, so that’s even better (laughs). At the last event they doubled the prize money, so it’s been a great winter for us girls. Now I’ve won the Triple Crown I’ll be going home even happier.

“I’ve been sitting in fourth all year, just hanging there. Layne was in third and I knew it was pretty close. I can’t take anything away from Layne, she’s an unbelievable surfer and she’s had six world titles. It’s just the luck of the draw some times, and it can all come down to that last event.”

And what a last event it was. Unfolding in idyllic six-to-eight foot conditions at the breathtakingly picturesque Honolua Bay, with light 5-15 knot variable winds and clear skies, the peaceful surrounds were contrast with the strong building swell expected to unleash the largest waves to hit Maui’s infamous big wave Mecca, ‘Jaws’, since 1978. The rising swell continued to pulse throughout the day, offering competitors intense rides and pristine walls in which to battle out crucial end-of-year placings.

Organizers for the prestigious US$62,5000 event opted to monitor conditions throughout the morning in order to capitalize on a forecasted increasing swell. The decision paid off ; when competition commenced at midday competitors were greeted with arguably the most contestable conditions the women’s tour had experienced all year.

24 year-old finalist Samantha Cornish, although disappointed by her loss, enthuses ; “The conditions were awesome today. It wasn’t always barreling, but it was just so rip-able all the way down the line with solid six-to-eight foot sets. An unbelievable day ; the sun was out and the crowd was awesome. The local people were cheering and you could hear them on the headland. It was pretty amazing.”

In a rematch of last year’s dramatic final, Samantha and six-time world champion Layne Beachley had clashed early in the fourth round, with Sam once again beating the in-form Beachley ; “Layne was always going to be hungry to get revenge for last year. But I’m not one to back down,” said Cornish. But the seemingly invincible Cornish met her match in Georgeson, “ It was really exciting just to be back in the final again here. It’s such a great place and such a perfect wave. Chelsea surfed unbelievable and just got the right waves, she deserved to win on the day. I had the best surf Surf #Surf and I had great day too, so I’m really happy.”

Also graceful in defeat was twenty-year-old Australasian champion Rebecca Woods, who just recently qualified for next year’s WCT. As a wildcard Woods had eliminated newly crowned ASP World Champion, Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich, but Rebecca’s dream run came to an end when the Copacabana local was matched up against fellow Australian Trudy Todd in the quarterfinals. The youngster, who ironically has the word ‘Believe’ tattooed on her left foot, claims self-doubt saw her Billabong Pro Maui campaign come to an end ; “I just buckled from pressure from myself basically. I just really wanted to get out there and show what I can do. I’m definitely a bit bummed because I didn’t surf Surf #Surf to my potential. It’s something I’m going to have to get over, and just learn how to combat. Trudy’s a fierce hassler, but I let my own head mess with me too. But on a positive it’s just going to make me hungrier for next year. I’m not going to be here just making up numbers as a wildcard, I’m going to come back fiercer and grateful for the experience this year has brought me - and a new respect for this amazing wave.”

On the other side of the spectrum, veteran campaigner and this year’s highest placed Hawaiian surfer, Rochelle Ballard, was narrowly beaten by South African Heather Clark in the quarterfinals, finishing fifth overall in the Billabong Pro Maui to retain her position at number two on the end of year WCT ratings. “I just kept thinking that the waves were going to be good all day so all I wanted to do was surf again. I just went into it with an open heart, praying to God. He blessed me with waves and I tried to give it all I had. I was really stoked about that.

“I was just going to go out there completely focusing on the waves, trying to have fun. Everything usually falls into place if you stay with the moment. I’ve really enjoyed this year, and have being using pressure to my advantage at the moments it’s been critical. The ocean does it’s own tricky things, but so long as you can keep your head in the right place and your heart, that’s the way it should be,” said Ballard of her amazing run.

• Billabong Pro Maui Finals (1st> US$10,000 ; 2^nd US$6,000)

F : Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) def. Samantha Cornish (AUS)

Semifinals (1st>Finals ; 2^nd=3rd receives US$4,000)
 SF1 : Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) def. Trudy Todd (AUS)
 SF2 : Samantha Cornish (AUS) def. Heather Clark (ZAF)

Quarterfinals (1st>Semifinals ; 2^nd=5th receives US$3,000)
 QF1 : Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) def. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)
 QF2 : Trudy Todd (AUS) def. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
 QF3 : Samantha Cornish (AUS) def. Layne Beachley (AUS)
 QF4 : Heather Clark (ZAF) def. Rochelle Ballard (HAW)

Round Three (1st>Rnd4 ; 2^nd=9th receives US$2,750)
 H7 : Heather Clark (ZAF) def. Keala Kennelly (HAW)
 H8 : Rochelle Ballard (HAW) def. Melanie Bartels (HAW)

WCT Ratings After Event #7 Billabong Pro Maui 2004
 1. Sofia Mulanovich, Peru
 2. Rochelle Ballard, Haw
 3. Chelsea Georgeson, Aus
 4. Layne Beachley, Aus
 5. Maria Tita Tavares, Bra
 6. Jacqueline Silva, Bra
 7. Keala Kennelly, Haw
 8. Laurina McGrath, Aus
 9. Megan Abubo, Haw
 10. Samantha Cornish, Aus
 11. Trudy Todd, Aus
 12. Heather Clark, Zaf
 13. Melanie Redman-Carr, Aus
 14. Pauline Menczer, Aus
 15. Melanie Bartels, Haw
 16. Lynette MacKenzie, Aus
 17. Prue Jeffries, Aus