Thu Oct 09 2008 13:45:00

MANLY BEACH, Australia (Thursday, October 9, 2008) – Tyler Wright (AUS), 14, has won the Oakley Trials, defeating fellow finalist Arini Mason (AUS), 18, earning a berth into the Beachley Classic, stop No. 5 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour.

The victory was a repeat performance from last week, when Wright bested Mason at Bells Beach, Victoria in the ASP Grade-1 Billabong Pro Junior.

“It feels amazing to be able to perform well at Bells last week and then come up here and win again,” Wright said. “Arini is an amazing surfer so bad luck to her, but stoked to be into the main event.”

Wright will square off against reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, in Round 1 of the Beachley Classic when competition commences.

“Steph (Gilmore) is my favorite surfer and I’m excited to get the opportunity to compete against her,” Wright said. “I don’t know if they’re going to run competition again today but hopefully the waves improve.”

The Beachley Classic and the Oakley Trials are supported by Events New South Wales (NSW) which aim to us surfing which provides a unique and targeted foundation from which to build economic and brand marketing benefits for New South Wales.

“Events NSW current investment in surfing encompasses a regional and a Sydney-based platform, extending from the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival in Port Macquarie to Surfest in Newcastle and of course the prestigious Beachley Classic at North Steyne, Manly,” Geoff Parmenter, Events NSW CEO, said. “Sydney is one of the few cities in the world where there are magnificent beaches and surf breaks within 15 minutes of a downtown CBD area. Indeed it is one of the major attractions that makes Sydney and its surrounds so attractive to international tourists.

“Surfing is not only an Australian pastime, it’s also one of our most successful exports, seriously big business for the surf wear brands,” Parmenter said. “By securing significant high profile professional and participatory surfing events like the Beachley Classic we can strategically position NSW as the surfing capital of Australia.”

The Beachley Classic will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com and http://www.swellnet.com.au/beachleyclassic08/

OAKLEY TRIALS RESULTS:
Final: Winner receives wildcard into Beachly Classic
1 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.25
2 – Arini Mason (NZL) 8.00

Semifinals: 4 surfers remaining (1st advances)
SF1: Arini Mason (NZL) 13.75 def. Kirby Wright (AUS) 9.25
SF2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 15.25 def. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 5.85

Round 2: 6 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Kirby Wright (AUS) 15.00, Arini Mason (NZL) 9.25, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 9.25
Heat 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.65, Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 9.25, Laura Enever (AUS) 8.85

Round 1: 8 surfers remaining (1st, 2nd and 3rd advance)
Heat 1: Kirby Wright (AUS) 12.75, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.25, Arini Mason (NZL) 8.40, Charlotte Hand (AUS) 2.65
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 12.75, Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.00, Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 6.00, Tiana McNeven (AUS) 5.25

BEACHLEY CLASSIC Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Karina Petroni (USA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Tyler Wright (AUS)
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Megan Abubo (HAW), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 5: Layne Beachley (AUS), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER)