BILLABONG PRO MAUI HOSTS DRAMATIC SEASON FINALE

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Will Be Decided At Honolua Bay in the Contest Season Finale

Maui, HI – The Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines may be a race to the wire when it opens just two weeks from today. The final contest on the 2009 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women's World Tour, the Billabong Pro runs from December 8-20 at Honolua Bay, Maui and is considered the crown jewel of women’s elite-level competition.

Held at one of the world’s best right-hand reef waves, the event offers a $90,000 purse while the competitors are housed in the luxury of the Kapalua Villas. Not only does the Billabong Pro Maui crown the Van’s Triple Crown Winner, may also decide the 2009 Women’s World Champion as well. This year that honor will have a nice bonus as the Triple Crown has added a $25,000 bonus to the women’s Triple Crown champion.

“There is still a wide open race for the title this year,” says Candy Harris, Brand Director for Billabong Girls. “It’s always exciting to Crown the Champion and to see the progression of women’s surfing showcased at this spectacular break each year.”

Billabong athletes from around the world will be coming to compete at the final stop of the ASP Women’s World Tour: Brazil’s Silvana Lima (who is vying for the World Title) Australia’s Rebecca Woods and Paige Hareb from New Zealand. Hot Hawaiian local Billabong team rider Alessa Quizon will compete in the Billabong Pro Maui Trials to hopefully secure the lone wildcard into the ASP Women’s World Tour event. One main event wild card will be awarded to the winner of the Trials which features six local Hawaiian competitors.

To kick off the event Billabong will be hosting a live concert with Donovan Frankenreiter at The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua on December 7th.   Tickets are $10 presale or $5 with a food donation.  They will also be available at the door for $15 or $10 with a food donation.  All donations will be made to the Maui Food Bank. 

As an additional prize at the event, Nixon will be giving a “Winner-Takes-All” award: a custom, limited edition Nixon valued at over $10,000. This one-of-a-kind watch will be awarded to the woman with the highest heat score during The Billabong Pro and also marks the first time this award has been available at a women’s ASP contest. The prize is open to any surfer from trials to finals, meaning it is up for grabs to anyone regardless if they advance.

As part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing the Billabong Pro Maui showcases the world's top female pro surfers in three Hawaiian tournaments that run concurrently with the men's series.   The women’s events at Haleiwa and Sunset Beach and the Billabong Pro Maui will collectively determine the 2009 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion. The Billabong Pro Maui would like to thank our sponsors Hawaiian Airlines (Presenting Sponsor), G’s One Casio, Nixon, Verizon Wireless, Kapalua Villas, Dollar Rent-A-Car, Surfing Magazine and Smart Water.