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HONOLUA
BAY, Hawaii (Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006) Seventeen-year ASP Women’s World Tour
veteran Layne Beachley has won an unprecedented 7th ASP Women’s World Tour
Title in Honolua Bay, Maui today. It has been two years since Beachley last secured
a world title.  "It's
surreal, absolutely surreal,” Beachley said. “It's been such a journey
this year and to not have to actually fight for it, to have it almost handed to
me, it's one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. This is probably one
of the most rewarding and satisfying world titles I've ever won.”
This
is the fifth world crown the 34-year-old has clinched in Maui. She clinched her
first title in 1998 in France, and her second, in 1999, at Sunset Beach. Each
of her five since have been won at Honolua Bay. “This
is my fifth world title in Maui and my seventh title overall,” Beachley said.
“Maui obviously has a very special place in my heart; it’s such an amazing
amphitheater. It’s been such a beautiful day and such a surreal experience
– I don’t know how to explain it.”  Beachley’s
win came after Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), the only surfer who could challenge Beachley
for the title, was eliminated by Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) the quarterfinal before
hers. Beachley paddled into her heat against Rebecca Woods the 2006 ASP Women’s
World Champion.
“I’m not finding it anti-climatic
that Chelsea didn’t get through her quarterfinal but I anticipated it coming
down to the final so we could fight for it – that’s how I’ve won
all of my other world titles out here,” Beachley said. “To have Chelsea
go down and to paddle out there as the 2006 ASP World Champion rather than fighting
for it was unbelievable.” Beachley was the world’s
No. 1 female surfer for six successive years – from 1998 to 2003 – and
holds the record for the most consecutive surfing world championships, male or
female. Her ASP Women’s World Title stranglehold was interrupted by Sofia
Mulanovich (PER) in 2004 and Georgeson in 2005.
Only Kelly
Slater (USA) has won more ASP World Titles than Beachley, having won his eighth
ASP crown this year. Slater’s five consecutive titles from 1994-1998 are
the closest anyone has come to nearing Beachley’s six-year pro-surfing monopoly.
When asked what it meant to her to have seven world titles
to Slater’s eight, Beachley joked: “It means I’m going for eight
and Kelly better not win nine! It’s means I’m going to go out there
and have some more fun. I think Kelly is going to go for 10 and if he does he
can have it!” Beachley fought with Melanie Redman-Carr
(AUS), who won the first three events of the 2006 season, for pole position through
much of the year, but Redman-Carr bowed out of contention with a Round Three loss
earlier this week. She finished the season as world No. 2. Defending
world champion and 2006 world No. 3 Georgeson was a late addition to the 2006
title race. “It was a pretty interesting year,” Georgeson
said. “I definitely didn’t make it easy for myself. I left my run a
little bit late. Coming off a [world title] win last year; it’s pretty hard
to back that up. I was pretty excited coming into this last event, having a chance
still so I’m happy with third place, it could have been worse.” Georgeson,
who at 23-years-old is 11-years younger than Beachley, was gracious in defeat
and full of praise for Beachley’s contributions to the sport. “Layne
has always been there and she’s always been such a good role model for all
of us girls,” Georgeson said. “What she’s done for women’s
surfing –running her own event, still competing on tour and then winning
seven world titles – it’s pretty amazing. I give her a lot of credit.
It takes a lot to just win one, but to be able to go back each year and win; it’s
pretty awesome to see.” The ASP Women’s World Tour
will take a break until late February of 2007 when it resumes on the Gold Coast
of Australia – Georgeson’s home turf. “It’ll
be interesting to see what happens next year… if Layne’s still hungry
for more,” Georgeson said. “I’m sure she’ll probably be heading
for eight now so congratulations to her for sure. She’s an amazing competitor.” | 
