Mon Oct 06 2008 11:30:00

FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil (Saturday, October 4, 2008) - ASP Top 17 member Silvana Lima (BRA) has claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star Billabong Ladies Pro in Costão do Santinho against fellow Brazilian Tita Tavares.

The victory with a score of 16.75 x 6.50 points sacrament the South American title of Silvana Lima, that she won in advance on Thursday, when she passed into the semifinals of the event. The decision of the Billabong Ladies Pro – Costão do Santinho was the last of the day, with Silvana Lima already ping a good wave of 7.0 points in her first wave.

Betting in the rights who offers a better space for maneuvers, Silvana increased her advantage with a 7.5 score in the second wave, with these two scores being exchanged for a 8.00 and 8.75 waves in the last two presentations of the South American Champion of 2008. Brazilian Tita Tavares didn’t find the waves, and just surfed a regular wave of 5.5 points.

"I was seeing these rights since the beginning of the event and they came to me in the Final," Lima said. "I am happy because I surfed well. Too bad it didn’t have good waves for us too because Tita almost didn’t get anything. This is the first time that we compete together in a Final, and we were able to show the power of Ceara state surfing in this event. Thank God that this has been overcome and I only have to apologize to all once again for my attitude there in Barra da Tijuca".

Despite failing to show her best surfing in the great final, the 4x times Brazilian National Champion Tita Tavares liked the result and also talked about the return of friendship with Silvana Lima.

"The sea was difficult right in the Final - almost no waves came and Silvana got all the good ones that came on the final heat, deserving the victory," Tavares said. "But I am happy to have made the Final and also for having talked to her, telling her that I’ve known her since she was younger and I will never hate it. I wish the best for her in the ASP Women’s World Tour and I know that she has potential to be the ASP Women’s World Champ one day, like she proved today."

Florianopolis, also determined the team that will represent ASP South America in January’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

In addition to the winners of the final ASP South America Pro Junior Series event of the season, the Billabong Pro Junior, Alex Ribeiro and Diana Cristina, fellow Brazilians Alejo Muniz, Ricardo dos Santos, Alex Lima, Magno Pacheco and Nathelie Martins will travel to Sydney’s Narrabeen next January to compete for the ASP World Junior Title.

The Billabong Ladies Pro was the 12th stop on the women’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) and highlights can be found at waves.terra.br and www.aspsouthamerica.com.br

BILLABONG LADIES PRO RESULTS:

FINAL:
1 - Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.75
2 - Tita Tavares (BRA) 6.50

SEMIFINALS:
SF 1: Tita Tavares (BRA) 11.75 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 5.15
SF 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.40 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 10.50

BILLABONG PRO JUNIOR RESULTS

MEN’S FINAL:
1 - Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 18.90
2 - Alex Lima (BRA) 14.60

WOMEN’S FINAL:
1 - Diana Cristina (BRA) 14.50
2 - Bethany Hamilton (HAV) 5.80


ASP WQS WOMEN’S RATING – After Stop No. 12
1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) – 9,695 points
2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) – 7,855 points
3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) – 7,520 points
4: Rosanne Hodge (AFR) – 7,415 points
5: Paige Hareb (NZL) – 7,120 points
6: Bruna Schmitz (BRA) – 6,925 points
7: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) – 6,845 points
8: Alana Blanchard (HAV) – 6,695 points
9: Laurina McGrath (AUS) – 6,645 points
10: Silvana Lima (BRA) – 6,415 points